New Guidance on Cooking Fire Safety Devices

Euralarm, the European trade association representing the fire safety and security industry, has published new guidance on implementing safety measures to prevent fires caused by unattended cooking appliances.

 

Research undertaken by groups such as the Zurich Insurance Company (Europe) and the National Fire Protection Association (USA) highlights that cooking is one of the leading causes of residential fires. Such fires can lead to injuries, property damage, and deaths as well as the financial and emotional costs associated.

 

Potential causes of cooking-related fire incidents are varied and could include children, pets, overheated oils and grease, flammable items, faulty or misused appliances, clutter, spilt food or oil, loose clothing, and alcohol.

 

To address these risks, Eualarm outlines a number of technologies that are designed to stop fire incidents related to cooking. These include:

• Stove guards
• Induction cooktops with safety features, e.g. stoves that automatically shut off when not in use or if the temperature exceeds a safe limit.
• Cooktop sensors
• Timer-based auto shut-off devices
• Smoke and heat sensors
• Automatic fire suppression systems
• Smart stove monitors, e.g. stoves that provide alerts and allow remote shutdown
• Fire-resistant mats and covers

 

The document places particular emphasis on the effectiveness of stove guards. Stove guards work by cutting the power of a cooker or providing a warning when a dangerous situation is detected. It does this through the use of sensors, which may detect heat, temperature changes, smoke, steam, and human presence. They are also capable of detecting when a hob/stove has been left on after cooking, when a pan is boiling dry, and if food is burning.

 

Eualarm recommends the widespread adoption of stove guards, as they work as a proactive measure able to prevent a vast majority of fires caused by common cooking-related incidents. This is especially valuable for protecting vulnerable individuals with reduced functional capacity, such as older adults, people with dementia, individuals with disabilities, and children, particularly in environments like care homes. The use of stove guards is also recommended in high-risk settings where fires are more likely to occur, such as student accommodation, certain care settings, and other shared living spaces.

 

Overall, the guidance provides an overview of the measures that can be put in place to prevent cooking-related fire incidents.

 

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