Foreword
The World of Candles, Waxes and Other Products 2007
Candles: Assessment of Quality and Application Tests
Before the Candle Flame
Begins to Glow
a candle manufactured in accordance with specific requirements, a so-called standard candle. The modern unit is defined more precisely and is reproducible, but the intensity of
light produced by a typical candle is still equal to ca. 1 cd or,
more precisely, 1.02 cd.
Candle standards
and regulations
Photo „Ylidogs”
Candles
– a source of light
The product commonly known as the candle has several
professional definitions. According to the definition provided in Polish standard PN-C-98000 dated 2005: “A candle
is a product made of a solid flammable material fitted with
a wick which generates light after lighting thanks to the
uptake of the flammable material which melts due to the
heat generated by the flame”.
The definition in the American ASTM F 1972:1989 standard provides a slightly different approach to the subject,
namely: “A candle is one or more combustible wicks supported by a material that constitutes a fuel which is solid,
semi-solid, or quasi-rigid at room temperature (20-30 °C); it
can also contain additives which are used for colour, odour,
stability, or to modify the burning characteristics, the combined function of which is to sustain a light-producing flame.” This definition has been adopted in a new draft of the
European standard DRAFT pr EN 15493:2006.
A typical candle produces a beam of visible light equal to
13 lumens [lm], generating approximately 40 watts [W] of
heat energy. By comparison, a 40 watt light bulb generates
a stream of light equal to 500 lm. But this comparison shows
that you cannot have your cake and eat it too, because an
efficient, intense stream of electric light loses the mood of
mystery and remarkable texture present in candlelight.
The modern SI unit of the intensity of a light source is the
candela [cd]. It was established based on an older unit called
candlepower, equivalent to the intensity of light emitted by
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T H E
W O R L D
O F
C A N D L E S ,
The quality of candles manufactured over the past 20
years has improved significantly. Quality requirements for
candles have been developed and implemented in many countries. Numerous studies have been conducted for potential harmfulness and toxicity of products emitted during the
combustion of candles.
Today, candle production is subject to increasingly stricter control, which encompasses four important types of requirements: technical parameters, purity of raw materials
used, safety guarantees and user information.
National standards function in the individual member states of the European Union. They specify test methods, quality requirements and conditions for the safe use of candles.
The tests specified in the standards pertain to the assessment of the following properties of products available on
the market:
• external appearance, dimensions and mass;
• properties connected with the candle combustion process,
such as flame stability, combustion time, soot generation;
• stability of construction;
• resistance to dripping;
• other properties, e.g. thermal resistance and flammability
of poured candle vessels.
Germany has introduced quality and quality control standards for candle products, i.e. candles (RAL 040 A2) and tea
lights (RAL 040 B2).
The widely known and respected RAL-GZ 041 Kerzen.
Gütesicherung standard was implemented in 1997. The
standard sets out quality requirements and testing methods
for candles, tea lights and cemetery lights, as well as quality
requirements for raw materials and auxiliary items used in
candle production (Anlage 1).
The ASTM F set of standards sets out candle production
and application requirements in the United States. These
include:
• terminology and accessories (ASTM F-1972-99);
• warning labels for candles used in households (ASTM F-2058-00);
• specifications for glass vessels used for poured candles
(ASTM F-2179-02);
• collection and analysis of the visible spectrum generated
during candle combustion (ASTM F-2326-04);
• fire safety in candle use (ASTM F-2179-04).
W A X E S
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O T H E R
P R O D U C T S
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