When a cold snap hits and a guest complains, it is tempting to stick a plug-in heater in the cupboard for emergencies. Before you do, it is worth knowing what the guidance says about portable heaters, because in holiday accommodation they are treated as a hazard to avoid where possible.
What the guidance says about portable heaters
The Home Office guidance is direct: the use of portable heaters should be avoided as far as possible. If they are used, you should follow the manufacturer’s guidance and, ideally, only use heaters fitted with automatic cut-off switches, such as electric oil-filled radiators. The All-Wales guidance lists portable heaters among the ignition risks to consider in any fire risk assessment.
The types to avoid
The guidance singles out the more hazardous heaters to steer clear of: radiant bar fires and LPG heaters. These get extremely hot or involve bottled gas, and both raise the risk of igniting nearby materials. If you must provide supplementary heat, an oil-filled radiator with a cut-off switch is the safer choice because its surface stays cooler and it shuts off if knocked over.
Placement is everything
Wherever a heater is used, the guidance says you should never place it close to combustible materials or within exit routes. A heater drying clothes, tucked behind a sofa, or sitting in a hallway that forms part of the escape route is an accident waiting to happen. Guests will not always think this through, so the safest approach is to design the problem out rather than rely on a warning label.
Why guests reach for them
If guests are using portable heaters, it usually means the fixed heating is inadequate or they cannot work out how to use it. The Home Office guidance says heating and hot water systems should be serviced annually by a qualified contractor. A properly maintained, well-explained central heating system removes the need for portable heaters altogether, which is the cleanest fix.
If you do provide one
Choose an oil-filled radiator with a cut-off, leave clear instructions in your guest information, keep it well away from furnishings and exits, and record it in your assessment. Treat it as you would any other heat source in the property.
Get advice if unsure
Kent Fire and Rescue Service can advise, and a competent assessor can help you weigh heating choices against your property and guests.
If you must provide portable heating
Fixed heating is always safer than portable heaters, so the first question is whether you need them at all. Where you do provide one, choose a modern oil-filled or convector type with a tip-over cut-out and a thermostat, and avoid older bar fires and second-hand units. Make clear in your guest information that heaters must be kept clear of curtains, bedding and furniture, never used to dry clothes, and switched off when the room is empty. Keep them off escape routes, where a knocked-over heater could block the way out. Avoid LPG and paraffin heaters in let accommodation altogether, since the fuel itself adds a serious hazard, and note any heater you supply in your assessment. Kent Fire and Rescue Service warns that portable heaters are a recurring cause of accidental dwelling fires.
If guests bring their own heaters because the property feels cold, treat that as a sign your fixed heating needs attention rather than a portable patch that adds a fresh hazard each winter.
Get the right advice for your property
Wondering whether your heating set-up is safe? For advice tailored to your property from a competent professional, speak to Jamie at ESI: Fire Safety on 01276 300 351.
