Candle Safety - A few fire safety tips
We burn candles to light our homes, to make that special dinner that bit more special and to fill our homes with beautiful scents.
To enjoy our candles also means that we must use them wisely, candle safety is essential.
Great care should be taken when using candles and here are some simple fire safety tips when burning candles.
All Candles
Always check the labels and warnings with the candle and candle holder
Use a suitable non-flammable holder.
To avoid damage to surfaces always place candle and candle holders on a surface that will not be damaged by heat e.g. ceramic tiles or plates. Table mats are NOT suitable.
Do not move candles when lit or when wax is still liquid.
Never Leave Burning Candles Unattended
Ensure the candle is upright in the holder before lighting and in a holder that cannot fall over easily.
Always place candles well away from flammable items such as curtains and furniture.
Keep candles away from clothes and hair.
Always read and follow manufacturer's instructions supplied with candles and candle holders. Remove all packaging before use.
Burn out of reach of children and pets.
Extinguish candles with a candle snuffer. Do not blow them out. Never use water to extinguish a candle.
Ensure candles are placed at least 10cm/4 inches apart and allow headroom above the candle for the heat to disperse.
Candles should be burned away from other sources of heat such as television sets and away from direct sunlight.
Candles should be burned in an area free from draughts.
Trim wick to 1cm/ 1/2 inches before lighting and relighting. If the candle smokes extinguish and trim the wick.
Tapered, Pillar and Tall Candles
When using these candles, ensure there is a tight fit at the base of the candle holder.
Candles with a diameter of over 5cm/ 2 inches should be burned on a spiked holder or flat dish.
Pillar candles over 6cm/ 2 1/2 inches should be burned for at least 4 hours at a time.
Allow wax to solidify before relighting.
Ensure candles are positioned securely in an upright position.
Extinguish candle before flame reaches within 2cm/1 inch of the holder.
Room Scenters and Votive Candles
Remove base label before burning.
These candles liquefy in use. Burn in suitable flat based holder to contain molten wax.
Never let the flame come into contact with the container.
Do not move the candle when lit.
To maintain an even burn make sure the wick remains in the center of the container.
Do not allow foreign objects e.g. match heads to fall into the wax pool. If enlarged or second flame occurs extinguish candle immediately. Clean out holder before using a new candle.
Place holders on a surface that will not be damaged by heat. Do not burn on a television or other warm place.
Tealights and Nightlights
Tealights
Tealights are ideal for lanterns or for holders which have holes in them as the tealight case will hold the wax as it melts.
Place Tealight holders on a surface that will not be damaged by heat. Do not burn on a television or other warm place.
Nightlights
Nightlights are suitable for lighting uses. Do not use in food warmers or vaporisers.
Place Nightlight holders on a surface that will not be damaged by heat. Do not burn on a television or other warm place.
Do not use in oil burners or lanterns where there is less than 8cm/ 3 inches of space above the flame.
Oil Burners
Make sure that oil burners are well ventilated.
There must be at least 8cm/ 3 inches of space above the flame within the holder. Only use metal cupped unscented Tealights.
Do not allow aromatic oils to come into contact with skin. When using aromatic oils in a burner always use with water.
Do not use water with Wax Scenters.
Outdoor Candles
Burn outdoors only.
Torch Candles
Position upright in soft earth away from overhanging trees and branches.
Do not use on a patio or near decorative stone ornaments, due to possible wax spillage.
Light the top of Torch candles.
Glass, Tin & Ceramic Wax Filled Items
Place on a surface that will not be damaged by heat. Do not use if the container is cracked, chipped, or scratched.
Never let the flame come into contact with container. Do not move candle when lit.
Extinguish candle when lit. Extinguish the candle before replacing the lid.
Discontinue use when 1/2cm/ 1/4 inch of wax remains.
Do not place lid on base of container whilst burning.
Floating Candles
Floating candles should only be used in suitable water filled bowls.
Novelty Candles
Novelty candles are designed to be decorative. Place on a large holder as irregularly shaped novelty candles may drip profusely.
Flower Rings
Flower rings are for decoration only. They may be flammable. Remove flower rings before lighting candles.
Guttering Preventors
Guttering preventors should only be used with Price's Sherwood 10's candles.
JC Regali has a beautiful range of quality candles.
After reading the candle safety tips take a trip around the Candle Department and see how you can brighten up your home.
Other articles that may be of interest:
Getting Candle Wax off carpet is a problem many of us have to face sometime!
The history of the candle making methods used throughout time
