Do not plug space heaters into power strips, fire officials warn. Keep your office safe and warm with these portable space heater tips from esfi. Portable space heaters should be turned off every time you leave the room and before going to bed. Even though these are all listed in the infographic above, we wanted to recap a few important tips to keep you and your family safe. Before using a space heater, make sure your smoke and carbon monoxide detectors are in good working condition. First, you should place your heaters in an area where they wont come in contact with combustible materials. Oct 30, 2018 winter is coming, or so whispers that chill of cold air making its way through your office.
Portable space heaters are a potential source of fire if not used properly. Follow these safety tips to help prevent fires or other hazards during the heating seasons. Assistant fire marshal tracy summar with mfrd provides some safety tips when using a space heater. Weve all heard the dangers of space heaters, but many people still pull them out when its chilly. The ods will shut off a heater if it detects a reduced level of oxygen in the area where the heater is being used. Choose a thermostatically controlled heater, because they avoid the energy waste of overheating a room. However, portable electric space heaters today are safer than ever. Portable space heater safety in the workplace emilcott. When buying a heater, look for one that has been tested and labeled by a nationally recognized testing company. The electrical safety foundation international esfi offers the following space heater safety tips. Safety tips for propane construction heaters on site. Use extension cords or power strips with space heaters. Portable space heaters have become a popular way to supplement central heating or heat one room.
Read and follow the manufacturers instructions for operation and care. Space heater safety the city of san antonio official. Would you like to learn how you can advertise on ohs insider. Portable space heaters portable space heaters are used in millions of homes and workplaces. The requirements listed below, applicable code requirements, and manufacturers recommendations must be followed to maintain a safe environment. If you smell gas, do not attempt to light the space heater. Make sure the heater has an emergency shutoff that automatically turns off the heater if it tips over. Taking preventive action is your best defense against having to deal with extreme coldweather conditions. Regularly check the cords and plugs of your electrical appliances to see. Read or print the brochure space heater safety in english or space heater safety in spanish for additional tips. The best way to use a space heater to save money is to only heat one room, but leave the rest of your home cooler. Safety tips from csa international for the safe use of. Safety tips cpsc recommends the following for the safe use of electric heaters. If you plan to use portable electric space heaters, make sure to follow these tips and recommendations.
Make sure the unit has an emergency tipover shutoff feature and heating element guards. Safety tips for cadet electric heaters cadet wall and baseboard heaters are a safe and affordable way to warm your home. Space heater safety tips from nationwide dont zone out on heaters. Buy a heater that is the correct size for the area you want to heat. But they do pose a potential danger, if you are going to use a space heater please read the tips below to ensure you and your familys safety. Whether in an employee break room or office space, such as a cubicle, portable space heaters can be found in all places of employment. If you plan to use portable electric space heaters, make sure to follow these tips and. Safety tips from csa international for the safe use of cord.
Additionally, do not plug the space heater into a power. However, if you must use a space heater, consider the following safety requirements. Reducing fire hazards for portable electric heaters cpsc. Using a space heater is a popular method, but there are some dangers associated with these devices. Nov 29, 2017 you should also always follow these electrical safety tips, whether its a space heater, phone charger or something else. Choose and use a space heater with a guard around the heating element. If you have an appliance that is more than 20 years old, have a qualified service technician inspect the connectors to be sure they are safe and meet current safetycode requirements. The problem portable electric heaters are highwattage. Before you plug it in, know that portable electric space heaters can present a major workplace safety hazard, according to electrical safety foundation international.
Heating equipment is the second leading cause of home fires in the united states. Dec 01, 2016 there are no federal workplace safety rules that prohibit portable electric space heaters in the workplace and statistics regarding commercial property damage caused by space heaters are not readily available. Follow these tips for space heater safety in the workplace. More than 65,000 home fires are attributed to heating equipment each year. Tips for improving safety with your propane construction heaters safe heater placement. How to find the safest space heater for your home consumer. Jan 08, 2010 to use your space heater properly, there are several dos and donts. All space heaters should have the certification of an independent testing laboratory.
Make sure the heater carries the underwriters laboratory ul label. Keep safe clearances its critical to keep safe clearances around your heater and not block the flow of air. Now is a good time, as winter approaches, to start thinking about alternative ways for heating. Install and maintain co carbon monoxide alarms to avoid the risk of co poisoning. Reducing fire hazards for portable electric heaters the statistics. Guidelines or safety precautions for the use of portable space heaters are listed below. Home heating safety tips electrical safety foundation. These heaters have the most uptodate safety features. As frigid winter weather streams in across the country, families are searching for ways to keep themselves warm. Purchase only space heaters that have been safety tested and ul approved. Keep them at least three feet from things that can burn. Employees should be required to obtain approval from a supervisor or facility manager prior to using a space heater at work. Whether in an employee break room or office space, such as a cubicle.
A certified heater will have a safety certification mark. Follow these portable heater tips to help prevent winter fires and to stay safe this winter season. By preparing your home and car in advance for winter emergencies, and by observing safety precautions during times of extremely cold weather, you can reduce the risk of weatherrelated health problems. Compact cappliance space heater safety tips winter is here.
Space heater safety tips for many people, the holiday season falls during the coldest months of the year. Do not use space heaters to dry clothes, shoes, or boots. Only purchase newer model heaters that have all of the current safety features. This will help keep children, pets, and clothing away from the heat source. As tempting as it might be to have the space heater run at night or while youre away, these practices are extremely dangerous. These fire result in hundreds of deaths, thousands of injuries and millions of dollars in property damage. Nothing is ever placed on top of or touching the space heater. Look for a heater that is listed with a nationallyrecognized. Safety heater electric when the weather turns cold, it can bring a chill into our homes. Heating fire safety follow these heating tips to help maintain a firesafe home this winter.
Electric portable space portable space heater safety. If you do not have or understand the instructions, contact the manufacturer directly. Safety tips from csa international for the safe use of cordconnected, fanforced electric space heaters during the fall and winter months, space heaters are an effective way to provide temporary warmth to those involved in a profession such as construction or simply working in the garage or around the home. General portable heater safety tips keep space heaters at least 3 feet away from furniture or other. As the temperature drops during the winter holiday season, many families turn to alternative heat sources, such as space heaters, to. Safety tips if you must use a space heater for heat, use it as safely as possible. Portable space heater safety electrical safety foundation. The following tips will help keep your family safe and warm.
Turn off all controls, open a window or door and leave the area. With a few simple safety tips and precautions you can prevent most heating fires from happening. Check your space heater for cracked or damaged cords and plugs. Space heater safety the city of san antonio official city. We try to avoid the use of space heaters due to power consumption and fire safety concerns. Use a portable space heater which is ul underwriters. When using an electric space heater, it is wise to practice the following general safety tips. Your source for safety information safety heater electric when the weather turns cold, it can bring a chill into our homes. The space heater is always turned off when the area being heated is not occupied.
Jan, 2017 this winter warm up to these cpsc space heater safety tips. Consumer reports shares its picks for the safest space heaters and tips to keep your family safe. If you are purchasing a new heater, consider one with a tip. It is illegal to sell or use them in massachusetts. Always follow the manufacturers installation and operating instructions and all warnings before using a space heater. Space heater safety tips sagesure insurance managers. Also look for units with automatic shutoff features and heating element guards. The consumer product safety commission cpsc has warned that certain types of older connectors are extremely dangerous.
You might feel the need to use a portable electric space heater in your work area. Jan 30, 20 space heaters safety tips city of murfreesboro, tn government. Some key tips from loyola and the department of energy for space heater safety include. To help cut these costs, many people turn to portable space heaters. Winter is coming, or so whispers that chill of cold air making its way through your office. Cpsc recommends the following for the safe use of electric heaters.
Along with the lower temperatures outside, comes the high energy costs from keeping you warm inside your home. Use a space heater that has been tested to the latest safety standards and has been certified by a nationally recognized testing laboratory. Here are some safety tips to keep in mind as you turn up the heat this fall and winter. Space heater safety in the workplace travelers insurance. This ensures that it wont ignite tissue if tipped over. One of the most important elements of space heater safety is knowing when to use it. To keep warm, you may be considering using a portable space heater at your desk. The space heater is plugged directly into a wall outlet. Make sure the heater has an automatic shutoff, so if it tips over, it shuts off. Portable heater fire safety us fire administration fema. Heating equipment furnaces, space heaters, and water heaters. Dec 03, 20 its precisely because of these numbers that we have compiled our top safety tips to keep in mind when you use your portable space heater.
Following these safety tips will help keep you warm, but not too warm. Maybe youre not ready to turn on the heat in your entire home, or maybe you live with someone thats constantly cold. Use a portable space heater which is ul underwriters laboratories listed or listed by another nationally recognized testing laboratory. By following the recommended guidelines below, you lower your overall risk of an. Space heaters are useful for keeping warm at work, but can be dangerous if used incorrectly. These heaters have been determined to meet specific space heater safety standards, and manufacturers are required to provide important use and care information to the consumer.
Home heating safety tips according to the united states fire administration, more than onefifth of residential fires are related to the use of supplemental room heaters wood and coalburning stoves, kerosene heaters, gas space heaters and electric heaters so, before you put logs in the fireplace or plug in the electric heater, take. Safety tips from csa international for the safe use of cordconnected, fanforced electric space heaters. Place the heater on a hard, level, and nonflammable surface. Space heater safety tips electrical safety foundation. Authority esa website for a list of recognized certification marks and labels. As the temperature drops during the winter holiday season, many folks turn to alternative heat sources, such as space heaters, to help. Only use a space heater when you are in the same room, present and awake. To help stay warm, you may opt to use additional heating equipment throughout the house. Do not use space heaters with extension cords or power strips. When buying and installing a small space heater, follow these guidelines. While these stats may seem daunting, keep in mind, there are millions of portable space heaters being used every year. Consumer product safety commission estimates that more than 25,000 residential fires every year are associated with the use of space heatersresulting in read the. Space heaters must have an automatic safety switch tipover switch that turns the unit off if it is tipped over.
Space heater safety tips each winter, heating is a leading cause of residential structure fires. Space heaters must have a thermostatic control which ensures that the unit will turn itself off and pre vent overheating or creating an electrical hazard. For natural gas or propanefired space heaters, remember the following safety tips. Please call us or use the form below and an ohs insider representative will be in touch with you shortly. Space heater keep anything that can burn, such as bedding, clothing and curtains, at least 3 feet away from the heater. Your safety precautions should start with the placement of your propane construction heaters. Older space heaters may not meet newer safety standards. You should also always follow these electrical safety tips, whether its a space heater, phone charger or something else. Heating safety national fire protection association. Do not use extension cords or power strips because of the risk of overheating and possibly catching fire.
While current models of electric space heaters have many safety features, most fires and accidents are caused by improper use. The dos and donts of space heaters in the workplace. In 2014, heating equipment was involved in an estimated 56,400 reported u. Its precisely because of these numbers that we have compiled our top safety tips to keep in mind when you use your portable space heater. Keep anything that can burn at least threefeet one metre away from heating equipment, like the furnace, fireplace, wood stove, or portable space heater. Safety tips for the winter its getting colder out and that means its time to start turning on those space heaters. Keep anything that can burn at least threefeet away from heating equipment, like the furnace, fireplace, wood stove, or portable space heater. Supervise children and pets around space heaters to prevent burns. Make sure your space heater has a seal of a nationally recognized testing laboratory such as ul. Cooler weather will soon be approaching and many people will pull out their space heaters, cover up with electric blankets, or light the fireplace. Follow our simple guidelines and regular heater maintenance tips to enjoy years of comfort for your family.
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