CHILD AND BABY FIRE GUARDS
Frequently Asked Questions
A beautiful fireplace is the perfect backdrop to family life when the weather is cold, but safety is always a consideration when you have young children and pets. It doesn't matter if it’s an open fire or a heating appliance (like a log burner) that gets extremely hot, you need to take the right precautions when high heat is involved. A proper child safety guard creates a secure barrier around your fireplace, and keeps kids and pets from getting too close to flames and hot surfaces. Here are some of the questions you might have before investing in one.
CERTIFIED BABY FIRE GUARD VS GENERAL ENCLOSED FIRE GUARD
What's The Difference?
EN1930:2011 Certified Baby Fire Guards
For added safety reassurance, choose a baby fire guard which has a gate tested to EN1930:2011. This is a European safety standard for child safety barriers, and is designed to prevent young children up to 24 months of age from passing through (source). Baby fire guards that meet this standard tend to look like baby gates that surround the hearth, and often come with wall fixtures or pressure mounting to stop them from being pulled over.
Although they're not certified, enclosed fire guards can still provide an effective barrier to stop children and pets from getting too close to the fireplace because they surround the entire hearth. They can either be attached to the wall or be freestanding, and are often heavy duty for stability. Some models come with lockable gates for easy adult access. These fire guards can be useful for older children or pets, or if you're happy with the protection they offer.
In UK domestic homes, there's no legal requirement when it comes to using a baby or child fire safety guard so you can use your judgement about what will be suitable for your family. Certified models can give extra security and peace of mind, especially if your children are very young. But standard enclosed models may be fine for what you need. Regardless of what you choose, certified or not, children should always be supervised around fires and hot appliances
CAN I USE A CHILD SAFETY FIRE GUARD WITH AN OPEN FIRE?
Yes, but it's important to be aware of what a baby/ child safety guard does; they provide a physical barrier to stop children from getting too close to the heat. The additional danger with open fires is that they can spit out sparks and embers, which child safety fire guards won't protect against. To solve this, you could add a suitable mesh fire guard in front of the fire, and then enclose the entire hearth area with a child safety guard. Child fire guards and mesh fire screens have different purposes, and both might be needed.
CAN I USE A CHILD SAFETY GUARD WITH A LOG BURNER?
Yes, the fire guard acts as a barrier and helps prevent children from getting too close to the log burner and the heat it generates. The stove door and its surrounding surfaces can become extremely hot during use, so a safety guard can provide an extra layer of protection. Enclosed stoves and log burners are designed to contain sparks and embers, so a mesh fire screen is generally not needed in the same way it would be for an open fire
DO FIRE GUARDS GET HOT?
Even when they’re installed correctly, child fire guards can become hot during use. Children should never be allowed to touch, lean against or climb on a fire guard, even when it is being used as a safety barrier. It's important that you don't see your fire guard as a cool to the touch surface that's safe for children to handle.
HOW FAR SHOULD A FIRE GUARD BE FROM A FIRE?
Your fire guard should create an effective barrier, while leaving enough space for the fireplace or stove to operate safely. It should be positioned so that children can’t easily reach through the bars to the fire or hot surfaces, but check the manufacturers information for your stove as well as the fire guard itself for precise distances. Bear in mind the size of your hearth when you're looking at different models, three panel guards can work well around standard fireplaces while five panel and extendable designs can give you more coverage if you have a larger or wider fireplace.
CHOOSING THE RIGHT FIRE GUARD FOR CHILDREN AND PETS
When you’re choosing a child safety fire guard, consider the level of protection you're likely to need. Baby certified models can be more secure due to their child safe latches and wall mounted fittings. Freestanding models can be less secure against movement, but can still enclose the hearth area and also be folded away between uses. Think about how you’ll use the guard, for example an opening door makes it easier for adults to light and tend the fire.
You can still use and enjoy your fireplace when you have little ones at home, just take the time to invest in the right fire guard to keep everyone safe.
