Heating Season Begins: Which Heaters Are Safe and Which Are Not?
When the heating season begins, fan heaters, radiators and radiant heaters are brought out of cellars, storerooms and cupboards. Such appliances are safe only if they are suitable for the intended room, technically undamaged, positioned with adequate clearance and connected correctly. Improvised heat sources and combustion appliances that are not expressly intended for indoor use are particularly dangerous.
Adequate clearance, distance from combustible materials and a suitable power connection are the basis for safe operation. Image note: AI-generated illustration.
The short answer: what is safe and what is not?
An open window does not make a charcoal barbecue, patio heater or generator a safe indoor heater. These appliances belong outdoors.
Fixed and portable heaters are safe if they are in perfect technical condition, designed for the location and operated exactly as instructed by the manufacturer. For supplementary electric heaters, a stable position, unobstructed airflow, sufficient clearance and a suitable power connection are particularly important.
Charcoal barbecues, gas barbecues, patio heaters, camping stoves, generators and other combustion appliances are not safe indoors unless they are expressly designed for that purpose and professionally installed. In addition to fires, they can cause life-threatening carbon monoxide poisoning.
Before heating for the first time: a five-minute appliance check
Inspect portable appliances before switching them on again for the first time. Cracks in the casing, loose controls, discolouration, unusual smells, damaged cables or a loose plug are reasons to stop using the appliance. Repairs to electrical or gas-powered equipment must be carried out by qualified professionals.
Remove dust only when the appliance is unplugged and in accordance with the instructions. Ventilation slots and air inlets must remain clear. Follow the manufacturer’s instructions, inspection intervals and mandatory checks for gas boilers, fireplaces and stoves. Unusual flame patterns, soot marks or noises require professional investigation.
inspect the casing, feet, castors and protective grille
check the power cable and plug for crushing or discolouration
keep air openings free of dust and objects
check the instructions and permitted location
do not continue heating as a test if anything appears abnormal
Operating electric fan heaters and radiators safely
Electric heaters often have a high power demand. Connect them to a suitable wall socket in accordance with the manufacturer’s instructions. Improvised extension leads, coiled cable reels and heavily loaded multi-socket adaptors can overheat. Never exceed the maximum load stated on a socket strip, and never connect multiple strips in series.
Place the heater where it cannot tip over and maintain the distance from paper, cardboard, furniture, curtains, beds and other textiles specified in the instructions. Air openings must not be covered. Drying clothes on a fan heater or radiator is not a harmless shortcut. Heat can build up and ignite the material.
do not cover the heater or use it to dry laundry
do not place it on escape routes or where it can easily be knocked over
do not hide it beneath a desk among paper, bags and cables
use only appliances designed for damp rooms or outdoor areas in those locations
switch it off and unplug it when leaving the area unless the manufacturer specifies otherwise
Before first use, unplug the appliance, remove dust and inspect the cable, plug and casing for damage. Image note: AI-generated illustration.
Useful safety features
Overheat protection, tip-over protection and an adjustable thermostat can reduce the risk. They do not replace adequate clearance or monitoring of the appliance. Safety features can fail, and even a technically safe heater can warm combustible materials if it is positioned incorrectly.
Use only appliances whose origin, instructions and technical specifications can be verified. A voluntary test mark may provide additional guidance. The CE marking alone is not an independent quality seal and does not remove the need for safe use.
Open combustion: the invisible danger of carbon monoxide
Carbon monoxide is colourless, odourless and tasteless. It can arise from incomplete combustion and prevents the blood from transporting oxygen. Charcoal barbecues and glowing charcoal must never be used to heat homes, offices, tents, conservatories, cellars or garages, even with windows or doors open.
The same precaution applies to patio heaters, gas barbecues, camping equipment and generators. They may be used only in the sufficiently ventilated location intended by the manufacturer. A smoke alarm does not detect carbon monoxide. A CO alarm can provide an additional warning, but it does not make unsuitable use permissible.
take headaches, dizziness, nausea and tiredness seriously
if you suspect carbon monoxide, go outside immediately and warn others
call 112 from a safe location
do not re-enter affected rooms
have combustion appliances professionally installed and maintained
Additional rules for offices and workplaces
At work, individuals cannot decide on their own to use a personal heater. The employer must provide suitable work equipment, select electrical equipment appropriate for the environmental conditions and arrange inspections. Dust, moisture, mechanical stress, combustible substances or an explosive atmosphere can make an appliance commonly used at home unsuitable.
Define whether portable heaters are permitted, who procures and inspects them and which sockets may be used. Include seasonal supplementary heaters in workplace instruction. The article Fire Safety Instruction or Fire Safety Assistant Training? explains which topics apply to all employees.
no personal heaters without workplace approval
no appliances in areas containing flammable vapours, dusts or substances
keep escape routes, doors and fire-fighting equipment clear
check inspection status and visible damage
assign responsibility for switching off appliances and ending seasonal use
If there is a smell, scorching or fire
If you notice an unusual smell, crackling, discolouration or smoke, disconnect the appliance from the power supply only if it is safe to do so. Warn people present, leave the area and call the fire brigade if there is a fire. Do not inhale smoke or attempt to extinguish the fire if your escape route is at risk or the fire is spreading.
The guide Extinguishing an Incipient-Stage Fire: When to Act and When Not To explains the safe order of actions. Organisations should also check that their fire extinguishers are suitable for the hazards present and are accessible. Guidance is provided in Fire Extinguishers in the Workplace: Which Ones Does My Organisation Need?.
Checklist for the start of the heating season
A brief seasonal check prevents old makeshift arrangements from continuing unnoticed. Organisations can use the list to supplement autumn instruction, while households can work through it when switching on heaters for the first time.
appliance is undamaged and suitable for the room
cable, plug and socket show no abnormalities
position is stable and clear of combustible materials
air openings are clean and uncovered
power demand and electrical connection are compatible
no unattended use or improvised heat source
gas and combustion systems have been professionally inspected
smoke alarms and, where appropriate, CO alarms are operational
Frequently asked questions
Can a fan heater be connected to a multi-socket adaptor?
The manufacturer’s instructions and the permitted total load of the socket strip are decisive. Because fan heaters draw high power, a suitable direct wall connection is the more robust solution. Multi-socket adaptors must not be overloaded or connected in series.
Can clothes be dried on an oil-filled radiator?
No, unless the manufacturer expressly permits it. Covering the appliance obstructs heat dissipation, can cause overheating and may ignite textiles. Heaters should remain unobstructed.
Is a gas radiant heater safe indoors with the window open?
A radiant heater intended for outdoor use does not belong indoors. Open windows do not provide reliable protection from carbon monoxide. Use gas appliances only in the intended location and in accordance with the manufacturer’s instructions.
Does a smoke alarm warn of carbon monoxide?
No. Smoke alarms react to smoke particles, not to the invisible gas carbon monoxide. Special CO alarms are designed for this purpose, but they do not replace professional installation and safe use.
May employees bring their own fan heaters?
The organisation should establish binding rules. The employer must consider suitability, electrical safety, location and inspection. Personal appliances without approval can bypass workplace fire safety arrangements.
Sources and technical basis
Refresh fire safety knowledge in the workplace
Address seasonal fire hazards in practical training
Workplace instruction and a practical fire-extinguisher exercise turn general rules into specific, safe procedures for the site.
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