Are Ethanol Fireplaces Safe?
There has been a recent development in the ethanol fireplace industry around the safety of some ethanol fireplaces. The United States Consumer Product Safety Commission issued a Consumer Alert on December 19, 2024, making many people question ethanol fireplaces' safety.
This article sheds some light on the situation and clarifies which ethanol fireplaces are safe to use and which are dangerous and need to be avoided.
Consumer Alert From The United States Consumer Product Safety Commission
The consumer alert states "Stop Using Alcohol or Other Liquid-Burning Fire Pits That Violate Voluntary Standards and Present Flame Jetting and Fire Hazards; Two Deaths and Dozens of Serious Burn Injuries Reported". This sounds very serious and alarming which is why we are paying attention.
The products they are alerting us about: "Fire pits meant to burn pooled alcohol or other liquid fuel." "These products are also sold as tabletop fire pits, fire pots, miniature fireplaces, or portable fires for indoor use."
This CPSC consumer alert follows the agency’s recent warning to stop using FLIKRFIRE Tabletop Fireplaces and the recall of Colsen-branded tabletop fire pits.
Here is the hazard identified by CPSC:
"Fire pits that require consumers to pour isopropyl (rubbing) alcohol or other liquid fuel into an open container or bowl and then ignite the pooled liquid in the same location it was poured violate the requirements in voluntary safety standard ASTM F3363-19.
Flame jetting, a second hazard, can occur when refilling alcohol or other liquid-burning fire pits if any flame is present."
Response From Ethanol Fireplace Manufacturers
We reached out to our ethanol fireplace manufacturing partners for clarification and here is what we found out.
Here is a quote from EcoSmart Fire:
"The incidents mentioned in the piece involve small portable tabletop devices and are specifically addressed under the ASTM F3383-19 standard. Our products, however, fall under the ASTM/UL 1370 standard for larger devices, which ensures compliance with strict safety regulations for this category.
To clarify further:
Our alcohol burners are designed with dedicated fuel ports to prevent improper refueling practices.
All burners include jerry cans with safety nozzles for safe and controlled refueling.
Additionally, our e-NRG fuel bottles are equipped with flame arresters, significantly reducing risks like flame jetting.
We prioritize safety in every aspect of our product design, and we’re confident that our systems meet the highest safety standards. If you have any specific questions or need additional details to share with your customers, feel free to reach out."
A quote from Eco-Feu:
"We are aware (of the consumer alert) and you shouldn't not be concerned as all of our units are ULC Certified."
Other ethanol fireplace manufacturers have not commented on the issue yet, however, we know that The Bio Flame ethanol fireplaces are CE Approved & Certified which means that they have been assessed and deemed to meet the European Union's (EU) safety, health, and environmental protection requirements. - A pretty high safety standard to meet.
Other manufacturers of small ethanol fireplaces potentially fall under this warning. If you own one of these small ethanol fireplaces, please make sure to be extra careful when pouring fuel into your fireplace and NEVER ADD FUEL TO THE FIREPLACE WHEN IT'S STILL BURNING OR HOT to avoid flame jetting. Here is a video from CPSC that demonstrates flame jetting: click to watch.
We will update this article as we get more information.
For now, it is safe to purchase and use ethanol fireplaces from the following brands:
Bottom Line
Ethanol fireplaces are a wonderful eco-friendly alternative to wood and gas fireplaces as long as they are designed with safety in mind. Please make sure to choose brands that adhere to strict safety standards and are tested by and certified by various safety agencies.
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