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Read MoreWe all love staying warm in winter. We turn up the thermostat, burn logs in our fireplace, heat up the bed with an electric blanket, and sometimes use electric space heaters to keep the temperature cozy. When it comes to space heaters, it’s important to note any objects in close proximity and/or in contact with the heater that could cause a fire. In this paper, we examine common causes of electric space heater fires, discuss methods to prevent their occurrence, and review fire investigation and subrogation considerations to be aware of following a fire event.
According to the National Fire Protection Agency (NFPA), heating equipment is a leading cause of fires in U.S. homes. Local fire departments have responded to an average of 52,050 fires involving heating equipment each year from 2012-2016, accounting for 15% of all reported home fires during this time. As a result of these fires, there were 490 civilian deaths, 1,400 civilian injuries, and one billion dollars in direct property damage.
The Consumer Product Safety Commission reports that approximately 1,200 fires a year are caused by portable electric space heaters. Although electric space heaters are generally more expensive to operate than combustion space heaters, they are the only unvented space heaters that are safe to operate inside your home due to the lack of carbon monoxide emissions.
There are four basic types of electric space heaters:
To understand how space heaters cause fires, it’s important to know the basic dangers of the appliance. The first danger is the amount of current that is drawn during use. A common rating for electric heaters is 1500 watts, which equates to approximately 12.5 amps. This amperage is well within safe limits for operation in your home; provided the heater, power cord, receptacle, and electrical wiring are all in good working order, and that only one heater is used per electrical circuit. A defect in any of these crucial components can lead to a failure that may result in a fire.
A common problem associated with portable electric heaters involves the use of under-rated extension cords, or a RPT (Relocatable Power Tap, also known as a multi-outlet power strip or plug strip). UL listed heaters (UL 1278) require the heater manufacturer to caution the user of an electrical space heater, that the heater should be connected directly into an electrical receptacle and should not be used with an extension cord or a RPT. Supplying any electrical load with an underrated cord can lead to overheating of the cord’s wiring insulation materials, potentially resulting in personal injury burns or shock if handled or a short circuit that could lead to a fire.
Another common fire hazard associated with portable electric heaters is their proximity to common combustibles. Most portable heaters warn consumers to maintain a minimum of three feet of clearance from all combustibles. Many newer space heaters have safety features that will eliminate the heat or shut the appliance off if the space heater overheats or falls. Most, however, can’t detect if the objects around them are overheating or are in danger of ignition.
According to the CDC (Centers for Disease Control), at least 430 people die annually in the U.S. from accidental carbon monoxide (CO) poisoning. While electric space heaters do not produce carbon monoxide (CO), non-electric space heaters (propane gas, natural gas, kerosene, wood) can if incomplete combustion occurs. If these types of heaters are in use, it is recommended that a working CO detector be used to indicate the presence of high-level CO gas.
Symptoms of Carbon Monoxide Poisoning
Victims of carbon monoxide poisoning often report flu-like symptoms. The following may indicate a high-level exposure:
Space heaters are tested by organizations like Underwriters Laboratories (UL) and Canadian Standards Association (CSA). As an example of one of the numerous required tests, a UL listed portable electric heater must pass a tip-over test that simulates the most severe tip over orientation. The U.S. Consumer Safety Protection Commission (CPSC) helps reduce space heater risks by developing voluntary standards, issuing and enforcing standards, and banning unsafe consumer products. The CPSC also has a current list of recalled space heaters to protect consumers. Space heaters are also covered under the International Code Council (ICC) and National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) Fire Code (NFPA 1).
The ICC covers space heaters under the International Fire Code (IFC), Sections 605.10.1-4. The IFC lists under what occupancies, or types of spaces, space heaters can be used. It also specifies that only listed and labeled portable space heaters can be used, and that they should be plugged into an approved receptacle. While many organizations note to avoid using an extension cord with space heaters, Section 605.10.3 of the 2018 IFC unequivocally prohibits the use of extension cords with space heaters, with the following statement:
605.10.3 Extension cords. Portable electric space heaters shall not be plugged into extension cords.
The NFPA covers space heaters in NFPA 1 - 2018, Section 11.5.3. One of the areas addressed in this section of the Fire Code covers space heaters used in offices. Some employees place heaters under their desk. While this may keep them from tipping over, they can also be forgotten and left on after workers leave for the day. The areas under a desk can also contain combustible materials in close proximity to the space heater, such as plastic waste receptacles which could create significant fire risks. In addition, it is nearly impossible to maintain three feet of clearance under a desk.
NFPA 1 - 2018, Section 11.5 requires space heaters to be plugged directly into an outlet due to the amount of current drawn to operate them. Extension cords should not be used to plug in an electric space heater. NFPA 1 allows the Authority Having Jurisdiction (AHJ) to prohibit the use of space heaters based on their past inspection findings that violate this requirement.
While most space heater fires are caused by proximity to combustibles, there are instances where space heaters can overheat and cause the units to melt, then ignite nearby available materials. The following are examples of space heaters that have been recalled by the CPSC (www.cpsc.gov):
Twin-Star Duraflame DFS-220-RED | Photo Credit to www.cpsc.gov
Twin Star recalled 31,000 Duraflame heaters that were overheating, then melting, then potentially igniting nearby materials. There were 32 reports of heaters burning or melting.
Home Depot Soleil Portable Heater | Photo Credit to www.cpsc.gov
Home Depot recalled 103,000 portable fan heaters due to the potential for the plastic housing to melt and catch fire. There were 464 reports of the fans melting. https://www.cpsc.gov/Recalls/2013/home-depot-recalls-soleil-portable-fan-heaters
H.E. Industrial - Profusion Heat HA-22-48M | Photo Credit to www.cpsc.gov
H.E. Industrial recalls 8,500 electric garage heaters due to the potential of the heating element overheating and causing a fire hazard.
Dyson Hot and Dyson Hot+Cool (AM04 and AMO5) | Photo Credit to www.cpsc.gov
Dyson recalled 338,000 bladeless portable heaters in the U.S. and 43,000 in Canada due to a potential short that could cause the unit to overheat and cause a fire. There have been 82 incidents of units short-circuiting and overheating.
The fire site, whenever possible, should be secured if an electric space heater is believed to be a potential cause of the fire. This will allow the forensic expert to properly investigate origin and cause, as well as subrogation potential. The scene should be documented with photos and/or video as soon as possible before spoliation occurs. If the site has been disturbed, the space heater and any and all parts should be procured. The chain of custody should be protected with all transfers and secure locations documented in writing. The electric space heater should be stored in a secure location until it can be properly examined by the forensic expert, the manufacturer, and any other interested parties.
Fortunately, there are simple safety guidelines that help greatly reduce the chance of a fire caused by a portable electric heater when properly followed. The following safety tips are outlined by the CPSC and most of these tips are also posted on new packaging when an electric heater is purchased:
While electric space heaters can help keep room temperatures warm, they can also be dangerous and cause fires. Space heaters should never be left unattended or used within three feet of any combustibles and should always be plugged directly into an outlet. While most new units have built-in safety features to help prevent fires, there are many older units still in use without those features.
In the event of a fire, the fire scene should be protected and secured to prevent spoliation of the scene before a qualified fire origin and cause investigator can inspect the site. If the electric space heater is determined to be the cause of a fire, the unit and any parts should be secured and protected. The chain of custody outlining handling of the space heater and all transfers should be documented in detail. The unit should be stored in a secure location until a qualified expert and the manufacturer can inspect and evaluate the space heater.
We would like to thank Marc Fennell, IAA-CFI, Rodney Sanders, IAAI-CFI, CFEI, CVFI, PI & David L. Montague, PE for providing insight and expertise that greatly assisted this research.
David L. Montague is a Professional Engineer (PE) in J.S. Held’s Equipment Consulting Practice. David conducts forensic investigations involving residential, commercial, institutional, and industrial facilities and the myriad of systems involved in these varied occupancies. His experience encompasses vehicular and equipment investigations stemming from fire, lightning, manufacturing defect, maintenance defect and other failure modes. He leads forensic investigations involving personal injury, has experience testifying, and has been a qualified forensics expert.
David can be reached at [email protected] or +1 901 351 6849.
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