How to Avoid Fire Hazards in the Bedroom

Your bedroom might not seem a likely place for a fire, but bedroom fires are more common than you think, and several factors increase the risk.

Statistics show that 66% of accidental fires have a human cause, like negligent use of candles, while 31% are caused by misuse of equipment or appliances.

For every million people in England, there were 4.8 fire-related fatalities in the year ending March 2022. This is higher than in 2020-21 (4.2 deaths per million).

So, what can you do to avoid fire hazards in the bedroom? This article provides several top tips to help keep your bedroom safe.

Let’s jump in!

Identify sources of ignition

The primary sources of ignition in bedrooms are as follows:

• Naked flames, including candles
• Smokers’ material, such as cigarettes
• Overloaded sockets
• Misuse of portable heaters
• Non-CE-marked electronics
• Misuse of flammable liquids near flames, such as aerosols.

You can choose the sources of ignition that are relevant to you. For most people, candles, overloaded sockets, and dodgy electronics are common.

Identify sources of combustion

Combustion sources are materials that are likely to catch fire relatively quickly, such as curtains, rattan furniture, and wicker baskets.

Knowing your most likely combustion sources is crucial so you can distance or isolate them from the ignition sources in your bedroom.

Anything flammable is a combustion source, but some materials, such as wool, polyester, and nylon, are resistant to flames.

Look for CE marks on electronics

One of the most common ignition sources in bedrooms is dodgy electronics.

Dodgy electronics are manufactured in countries without safety standards and are illegally imported into the EU and UK. Unfortunately, some products are also fraudulent, with a fake CE mark to make them appear legitimate.

You can assure the safety of electronics by looking for CE marking. The CE marking must be visible, legible, and indelible, with the company’s address and name. You can verify these to seek assurances that the electronics are safe.

Avoid extension overloading

Electronics and appliances that plug into a 3-pin socket draw no more power than 230 volts, which is perfectly safe. However, problems arise when you use an extension lead, which can overload the cable, making it overheat.

Never overload an extension lead by plugging in appliances that exceed the maximum current rating for the extension lead. Overheating can cause the extension cable to smoke and burst into flames, causing a fire.

Handle naked flames and heat safely

Naked flames from candles and open fireplaces are significant fire risks because they can directly start a fire quickly, and it only takes a few seconds for a naked flame to burn cotton and set dry materials like wicker ablaze.

You should place candles on trays to ensure they cannot topple over, and if your bedroom has an open fire, you should use a fire guard.

Use portable heaters safely

Portable heaters are fantastic for heating your bedroom but also have a fire risk, so they must be handled and used with care.

Whether you use a heated fan/blower, a convection heater, a ceramic heater, or an oil-filled radiator, you should do the following:

• Give the appliance space to breathe
• Always operate it in the proper position
• Do not cover the appliance
• Do not overuse the appliance
• If the appliance overheats, stop using it immediately.

The most dangerous appliances have heating elements, like fan blowers.

Be aware of lithium-ion battery fires

While lithium-ion battery fires are relatively rare, when over-charged, short-circuited, submerged in water or damaged, batteries can burst into flames. They are notoriously difficult to put out and emit toxic fumes.

Sources of battery fires include:

• Vapes
• Smartphones
• Tablets
• Laptops
• Smartwatches

Vapes can explode and seriously injure people when misused, but the biggest problem is that many products are manufactured without safety standards. You should always check the safety of the vape before buying it.

Other devices should be charged to 80% or 100% and then taken off charge and switched off, so the battery is not in use while you sleep.  

If you enjoyed this article, read our piece on mattress standards.