Fire Code 3a
Fire Prevention in the use of
Domestic Electrical Equipment
Health & Safety Services
FPS/FC3(a)
Revision 0
(Ratified at Health & Safety Committee 15 October 2010)
Contents
PURPOSE ..................................................................................................................③
PRINICIPLES – Portable Space Heaters ...................................................................③
Domestic Electrical Equipment
(Portable Heaters)
PURPOSE
This code of practice is to clarify and issue guidance on the safe use of portable space
heaters.
Statistically this type of equipment is amongst the biggest single cause of fires nationally
with over 1,700 fires being attributable to portable space heaters and over 5000 for
other electrical appliances.
To enhance the existing Energy Saving and Electrical Policies issued by Estates and
Facilities and to support the recently ratified Fire Policy, the indiscriminate use of
portable fan heaters is not permitted. These are dangerous when no control over their
positioning or use is applied.
The paragraphs below contain the guidance approved and issued by the Health and
Safety Committee.
PRINICIPLES – Portable Space Heaters
Where people feel that the fixed heating within their offices is insufficient, they should
make a report to Estates and Facilities who will endeavour to investigate the matter
within 5 working days.
If Estates and Facilities are unable to attend to the problem within this timescale or the
problem has arisen due to a failure in the heating system that cannot be easily and
quickly resolved, then a number of Portable Heaters may be made available by them for
short-term loan. However, it must be noted that numbers may have to be restricted to
ensure the electrical infrastructure can cope with the increased loading.
If the problem is one that cannot be resolved without major works being undertaken,
and urgent need for heat within offices, classrooms is required then in order to comply
with health & safety guidelines on minimum temperatures within workspaces oil-filled
radiator type heaters may be used.
Oil filled radiators should be used in accordance with the manufacturers
instructions/recommendations and need to be sited against a wall to prevent any
obstructions in circulation spaces and to remove the risk of any trip hazard which may
be caused by trailing leads.
Oil filled radiators must not be covered with items such as clothing, towels, etc. Anyone
found to be contravening this instruction faces having his or her heater removed.
Heaters must also fall within the Schools’ or Directorates Portable Appliance Testing
(PAT) regime.
To ensure all users of the space benefit from the additional heat portable heaters should
not be placed under desks.
At the end of the working day, all heaters ‘must be switched off’ at the mains. This will
help to reduce the fire risk and will contribute to the reduction of the carbon footprint and
energy conservation at the University.
Oil filled radiators can if deemed necessary be purchased centrally through Estates and
Facilities by contacting their help desk.
In order to comply with current University policy on electrical
appliances personnel are respectfully reminded that no personal
electrical appliances should be brought into the place of work.