Are bioethanol fireplaces safe? What the standard says

Short answer: yes, when the fire is made to the right standard, installed to the manufacturer's clearances and used the way the manual says. A bioethanol fire is a real, open flame and it deserves the same respect as any other.

The standard to look for

The ethanol burners and fireplaces we sell are made to comply with BS EN 16647:2015, the standard for decorative bioethanol fireplaces. We strongly advise against using any fireplace that does not comply. If you are comparing fires, ask the seller which standard the burner is made to.

Refuelling is where care matters most

Bioethanol is a highly flammable liquid, and the moment to be careful is when you are filling the burner. Three rules cover it.

• Do not fill while it is operating. Never add fuel to a lit burner.
• Do not fill while it is hot. Let the burner cool completely first. A bioethanol flame can be hard to see in bright light, so check that it is out, not just that you cannot see it.
• Do not fill above the max line. Overfilling leads to spills. Wipe up any spilt fuel before you relight.

A pouring nozzle makes this easier. See our refuelling accessories, and the step-by-step guide to lighting and refuelling safely.

Lighting and putting it out

• Light the burner with a long lighter or lighting rod, not a match or a cigarette lighter.
• Put it out with the tool supplied with your fire. Never use water.
• Put the fire out when you leave the room and before you go to bed.

Clearances and the room

• Keep the clear space the manufacturer specifies between the flame and walls, furniture, curtains and anything overhead.
• Match the burner to the room. Our Technical Specs page lists the minimum room volume for each burner size.
• Follow the ventilation guidance in the manual for your model.

Children and pets

Treat it like any open fire. Supervise children and pets whenever the fire is lit, and remember that surfaces stay hot after the flame is out. Outdoors, a glass fire screen puts a barrier around the flame.

Storing fuel

Keep fuel sealed, upright and away from heat and flame, out of reach of children. Use the fuel specified for your fire. Substandard fuel can void the warranty on most brands.

Manual or automatic?

A manual burner is simple: a stainless steel reservoir you fill and light. An automatic burner, such as those from Planika, lights, adjusts and switches off from a remote, an app or a touch panel, with electronic fuel management built in, so you never pour fuel near the flame.

Six things to know before you light it

1. Do not fill while hot.
2. Do not fill while operating.
3. Do not fill above the max line.
4. Bioethanol is a flammable liquid. Store it sealed, upright and away from heat.
5. Use the supplied accessories to light and extinguish.
6. Keep away from children.

Read the user manual before you light your fire for the first time. If anything is unclear, call us on 0800 468 836 and someone who has lit that fire will talk you through it. More on our Safety page.