Skip to main content

Fire Safety and Portable Heaters

Portable heaters can be an effective way to heat a room without heating the whole house or when the property doesn’t have the benefit of a central heating system, however they can also pose a serious fire hazard when not used carefully.  This is especially true when being used by people unfamiliar with a premises.

Some general rules for Portable heaters

  • Always use on a flat surface
  • Leave at least 1 meter clearance to furniture and curtains.
  • Buy one with a trip switch in case it gets knocked over (ie. By the dog).
  • Never cover your heater or use to dry clothes.
  • Never use a faulty heater.

Types of Portable Heaters

Oil filled radiators – Relatively low risk

These are often on wheels and are quite heavy so less likely to be knocked over. They don’t have any exposed heating elements so are less likely to ignite anything.  They take a while to heat up, but retain the heat for longer.  They can have timers and thermostats to help control the heat.

Electric Convector and Fan Heaters – Higher risk

These are usually light weight and easy to move around, so very easy to accidentally place near combustibles.  They heat up quickly and some get very hot to touch.  Heat is instant but often quite localised.    Vents are often on the top and can easily have items dropped into the heater causing them to overheat and set fire. Some have timers and thermostats.

Halogen heaters – High Risk

These heaters use intense heat to warm the area around them, they get extremely hot but do not spread the heat into a larger room, so the tendency is to crowd the heater.  Some are very portable and lightweight and easy to knock over.  The majority have an inbuilt trip switch, but this may not stop something igniting due to retained heat. Anything close to a halogen heater, material or flesh will burn.

Portable Gas Heaters – Double Risk

These are quite bulky and unlikely to be knocked over due to the gas cylinder.  They are effective in heating rooms quickly.  These require a lot of space and usually have a guard on the front to protect the heated elements and flame.  Anything too close or poking through the guard will burn.  There is the additional risk of carbon monoxide poisoning and they require an alarm to be sited in the room they are used in.  Gas heaters should be serviced every year.  Spare cylinders should be stored safely outside away from sunlight and protected from the weather.

Clothes Dryers - Safe

These are not for heating rooms but are becoming more popular to help dry clothes efficiently.  These are safe if used to the manufacturers instructions and they are undamaged. They should be kept away from any other source of ignition.



Labels:

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Furniture and Fire Regulations

Furniture is not just about aesthetics and comfort; it also plays a crucial role in safety, particularly concerning fire hazards. When furniture catches fire, it can have devastating consequences. The materials commonly found in furniture, such as upholstery foam, wood, and synthetic fabrics, are highly flammable and can ignite quickly. Once ignited, the fire can spread rapidly, producing toxic smoke and gases that pose a serious threat to occupants. In addition to the immediate danger to human life, furniture fires can also result in extensive property damage. Moreover, the toxic fumes released during combustion can impair visibility and hinder escape efforts, making it challenging for individuals to evacuate safely. Legislation and labelling.  In the UK, furniture must meet specific flammability standards outlined in the Furniture and Furnishings (Fire) (Safety) Regulations 1988 (amended) which significantly reduce the speed and which furniture will ignite and flames spread. All ...
Post a Comment
Read more

Fire Doors - The basics

  A closed door can play a major role in preventing the spread of fire, smoke and hot gasses, but doors are not all equal with some made of flimsy egg box constructions, or single panel wood, others with standard glass.   What is a fire door? Purpose made certified Fire doors are designed to resist fire and prevent the passage of smoke and hot gasses for a designated period of time.   Delaying the spread of fire can enable people to escape a building safely and compartmentalise a higher risk area. Doors can be made of steel, wood or glass, providing they are made to the appropriate standard. These are different from final fire exit doors and are found internally in a building. How do I know if it’s a fire door? Every fire door will have a label, often on the top edge of the door or along the hinge side.   The label will state the fire resistance rating, usually FD30 (30 minutes), FD60 (60 minutes), or even FD 90 & 120. Other features include, intumescent ...
Post a Comment
Read more

EICR’s & Electrical Installation Certificates for Short Term Lets

What is an EICR? Electrical Installation Condition Report is an electrical safety certificate to show that all the fixed electrical equipment that is supplied through the electricity meter has been tested.  It’s basically the hard wired system through your property. Consumer board This is different from Portable Appliance Testing (PAT) which covers portable equipment and appliances such as washing machines, hairdryers, kettles and tv’s, and will be covered in a different blog post. Do Short Term Lets need an EICR? In short yes, Scotland is the only part of the UK where an EICR is mandatory for any short term let property.  Why do we need a certificate? Faulty electrical installations can cause electric shocks and fires by generating high temperatures. The risk of fire and shock can be reduced by ensuring the electrical installations and appliances are safe. The Scottish Fire and Rescue Service figures for 2022 – 2023 show that 12% of accidental house fires and 6% of deaths ar...
Post a Comment
Read more