EU regulation for ethanol fireplaces is based on the German DIN standard
Newly founded specialist department of the manufacturers association HKI is committed to greater safety at European level
Frankfurt am Main. – The German DIN standard for decorative fireplaces for liquid fuels, which was published in January 2011, is now also the basis for a European regulation. This is what the HKI Industrial Association for Home, Heating and Kitchen Technology eV is drawing attention to, under whose umbrella a separate specialist department for safe ethanol fireplaces was founded in June.
Member companies of the new specialist department had already been involved in the development of DIN 4734-1 for decorative fireplaces in private households prior to its establishment and are now also involved at EU level. They are also preparing a second standard for the commercial sector.
The German standard defines a whole series of safety-related requirements: for example, the fuel tank capacity must not exceed 3 liters for floor-standing devices and half a liter for table-top devices. In addition, the device must neither tip over nor slide on a smooth surface - even at an angle of 10 degrees. And the devices must even withstand blows from a 20 kg sandbag during testing without anything happening.
In addition, there are specific requirements for the manufacturer's operating instructions for proper installation, operation and maintenance. To make things easier to understand, specific pictograms are also required - as well as clearly visible warnings on the burners themselves.
Safety First: Quality standards serve the safety of consumers
There is a serious background to the whole thing: Unfortunately, there have been repeated serious accidents involving ethanol burners in the past. The devices involved were usually cheap products with safety defects. Another reason for accidents was operating errors.
In order to prevent similar accidents in the future, the HKI will be increasingly reaching out to the public. The aim is to provide information, to educate people about possible dangers, but also to allay unfounded fears. In this respect, the criteria set out in the standard serve first and foremost to ensure consumer safety.
Contact and contact person:
HKI Industrial Association for Home, Heating and Kitchen Technology
Peter Täubl
Lyoner Str. 9
60528 Frankfurt am Main
Phone: +49 (0)69-25 62 68-0
Fax: +49 (0)69-25 62 68-100
Email: info@hki-online.de