Unvented Portable Kerosene Heaters — Safety Considerations
Portable kerosene heater can a valuable temporary heat source for homeowners to use during winter power outages to prevent pipes from freezing, for heating small areas for family comfort until the power is restored. The Consumer Product Safety Commission estimates thar there may be as many as 9 million kerosene heaters in use in consumers' homes. Of those, 5.5 million are unvented heaters. There are a number of potential safety and health, h risks associated with these heaters if they are not properly operated, located, maintained or stored. These risks include fires, burns, asphyxiation, and exposure to combustion by-product such as carbon dioxide, Sulphur dioxide and nitrogen dioxide.
According to the recent study conducted by the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) supplemental heating equipment, such as a kerosene heater, is the leading cause of home fires during the months of December, January and February. The study found that space heaters accounted for more than two in five home heating fires, as well as the vast majority of deaths (81%) and injuries (80%).
Most portable kerosene heaters are similar in design. They include a wick so kerosene can be drawn from the tank to the combustion area, a device for igniting the wick, an automatic tip-over device designed to extinguish the wick if the unit is kicked or turned over and a fuel tank.
Manufacturers praise the units as a "new generation" of portable kerosene heaters because they are equipped with such features as battery-powered ignition devices, automatic extinguishing devices, fuel gauges, protective metal grills, leveling indicators, carrying handles, lift-out fuel canisters and decorator finishes. Many also have a wide base to prevent easy tip-over.
However, many fire officials, government agencies and safety specialists feel the heaters are not hazard-free and feel kerosene heaters present hazards not found with other heating systems. The major hazard is fire that could result from the use of gasoline instead of kerosene in the heater. Carelessness while refueling and improper storage of combustible liquids are also hazardous. Many health officials are also concerned about health hazards from the pollutants an unvented kerosene heater puts into the building.
Operator's knowledge
Before purchasing or using a kerosene heater, consumers must learn the safety and maintenance procedures necessary to safely operate a kerosene heater.
Before you purchase a heater, make sure local building and fire codes permit its use in residential structures. Check with your insurance carrier to determine what impact the use of these heaters may have on your homeowner's policy.
To ensure the safe operation of the heater, every adult member of the family must become an informed consumer and operator.
Adults should be aware of
- Equipment maintenance
- Safety considerations
- Operating procedures
- Emergency procedures
- Fuel storage requirements
Never allow children to operate the unit
The best source of information for the unit should be the owner's manual. Read, heed and follow the procedures and safety alerts in the owner's manual before you attempt to operate, service or perform maintenance on the unit.
Kerosene heater safety guidelines
Follow these recommendations when buying and using a portable kerosene heater.
Use only listed heaters
Only heaters that have been tested and listed in accordance with Underwriters' Laboratories (UL) Standard 647 should be purchased and used. This listing should be shown on the name plate of the heater.
Use the correct fuel
The National Kerosene Heater Association, the American Petroleum Institute, the Consumer Product Safety Commission and others recommend only 1-K kerosene be used in these heaters. According to American Society of Testing and Materials Standard D-3699, "Standard specifications for kerosene," there are two types of kerosene fuels, 1-K and 2-K. The primary difference is sulfur content. Type 1-K contains 0.04 percent sulfur by weight and 2-K contains 0.30 percent sulfur by weight. The higher sulfur content of 2-K fuel tends to adversely affect proper fuel wicking and increases sulfur dioxide emissions. The use of 2-K kerosene creates the need for frequent wick cleaning and maintenance that, if not carried out properly, may produce a fire or explosion hazard.
The distinction between 1-K and 2-K kerosene fuels cannot be made through visual examination. The terms "water clear" or "clear white" are often used to describe the type of kerosene that can be used in the unvented heater. Although water clear or clear white kerosene may be 1-K in most cases, color should not be used as a sole indicator. The type of crude from which the kerosene is refined, temperature, aging and contamination can all cause kerosene to yellow and become darker. So if the retail dealer does not specifically market the kerosene as the 1-K type of fuel, you should assume the product is not 1-K kerosene. Find a dealer who can certify you are buying 1-K grade kerosene.
In addition, never use diesel, jet "A" fuel, number 1 fuel oil, number 2 fuel oil or gasoline in your heater. The use of any of these fuels could result in a fire or explosion that could cause death or injury.
Always store kerosene in a container intended for kerosene, not in a gasoline can or a container that has contained gasoline. This will help avoid the using contaminated fuel or the wrong fuel by mistake. Regulations related to the color coding of fuel containers t established that blue is the designated color for Kerosene container, red for gasoline, yellow for diesel and green for oils.
Proper clearances from combustible material
The heater should be kept a minimum distance of 36 inches from all combustible materials such as curtains or furniture unless otherwise specified by the manufacturer. If fewer than 36 inches are acceptable, the manufacturer will specify on the name plate. Do not use flammable solvents, aerosol sprays or lacquers near the heater. Do not operate the heater in the same room where other flammable liquids such as gasoline are stored. Don't operate in dusty environments. The surface temperature of some units can exceed 500 degrees Fahrenheit, which can ignite flammable liquids, combustible liquids, flammable vapors or grain dusts and result in a fire or explosion.
Provide required maintenance and upkeep
Consult your operator's manual for instructions or recommended maintenance and upkeep to ensure the heater's proper operation. Required maintenance should include periodically cleaning the unit, trimming the wick, cleaning off soot and carbon, inspecting for fuel leaks and other maintenance procedures recommended by the manufacturer. If you suspect the heater is not working properly, extinguish it immediately and allow it to cool. Then perform the necessary maintenance or take it to a qualified service center for repair.
Don't take a chance
An improperly operating heater can result in a fire or can generate an excessive amount of the byproducts of combustion: soot, carbon monoxide and sulfur dioxide.
Provide adequate ventilation
Adequate ventilation is necessary for safe operation of the kerosene heater. Burning kerosene consumes oxygen and produces carbon dioxide, sulfur dioxide, nitrogen dioxide, carbon monoxide and other gases. Ventilation must be provided to replace oxygen as well as to remove gases in order to prevent asphyxiation or respiratory problems. The manufacturer's recommendations should be followed to provide adequate oxygen for combustion; in many instances, this may require opening a window or a door leading to another room. If no specifications are listed in the manufacturer's literature, one rule of thumb is to provide 1 square inch of window opening for each 1,000 Btus of the heater rating. An example — a 10,000 Btu heater may require opening an outside window 10 square inches to provide the necessary air intake. In an energy efficient home, additional air intake may be necessary.
Use only as supplemental heat
The heater should never be used as the only heat source, except in an emergency situation. Don't operate it while you are asleep because heater malfunction could cause asphyxiation. Do not leave a heater unattended.
Keep the heater out of the traffic flow
Place it in areas where there is little chance someone will bump into it. UL Standard 647 requires that in the tipped over position, the burner "flame shall not continue to burn longer than 30 seconds." The standard also requires "that kerosene discharged from the reservoir or the burner shall not be ignited" as a result of the heater tip-over. Although equipment must meet a strenuous test before it is "listed" by nationally recognized testing organizations such as UL, the equipment could fail or malfunction. So take care to prevent the potential for heater tip-overs.
Allow heater to cool before refueling
The heater should be allowed to cool for a minimum of 15 minutes before refueling. The surface temperature of many of the heaters can be as high as 500 degrees Fahrenheit. Kerosene has a flash point (lowest temperature at which a liquid gives off enough vapors to form an ignitable mixture) of approximately 110 degrees Fahrenheit and an ignition temperature of 410 degrees Fahrenheit. If kerosene is spilled on a hot heater, it could ignite and cause a fire.
Refuel heater and store kerosene outdoors
Always refuel the cool heater outside in a well-ventilated area away from other ignition sources. Refueling should also be done in an area where small spills can be cleaned up quickly. Fuel should be stored outdoors in an approved blue safety can. "Kerosene" should be lettered on the safety can in a readily visible location. Never store kerosene in a red container that could easily be mistaken as a gasoline storage container.
Never overfill heater
When refueling the heater, leave sufficient space for fuel expansion. Follow manufacturer's refueling directions found in the owner's manual or on the name plate.
Do not let children operate or refuel the heater
Only an adult familiar with the operating and refueling procedures of the heater should be allowed to operate or refuel it.
Prevent burns
Warn children of the dangers of the hot surface temperature on the portable kerosene heater. Remember, the surface temperature of some heaters may be as high as 500 degrees Fahrenheitahrenheit.
Develop a pre-fire plan
Every family should take time to develop and practice a pre-fire plan. In your plan:
- Install and maintain a smoke detector system. NFPA recommends having at least one smoke alarm on every level of the home — including basements — as well as in every bedroom, and outside of each sleeping area. Larger homes may need extra detectors. It is best to use interconnected smoke alarm system in accordance with National Fire Protection Association Standard number 74, Standard for household fire warning equipment.
- Install and maintain a fire extinguisher. Install an approved multi-purpose dry chemical fire extinguisher in a visible and easily accessible location.
- Develop an evacuation plan. An evacuation plan should be developed and practiced by all occupants to ensure safe escape from the building in the event of a fire. Remember the plan is only good if everyone knows about it and has practiced it to make sure it works.
Summer and fall maintenance
Before storing for the summer:
- Remove all fuel from tank and discard at an approved hazards waste site or during a community or DNR Hazardous Waste Disposal Day or event.
- Clean the wick if it is dirty, if it is worn out, replace according to the manufacturer’s recommendation,
- Clean the unit and discard the batteries.
- Place the unit and accessories in a dust free and moisture-free container.
When you take the heater out of storage and before usage:
- Install fresh batteries.
- Fill tank with fresh fuel. Never use kerosene from the previous season.
- Review owner manual.
- Check all guards and components for damage and repair or replace.
References
- UL 647, Standard for Unvented Kerosene — Fired Room Heaters and Portable Heaters.
- Consumer Product Safety Commission, Pub. 5052, CPSC Kerosene Heater Safety, Revised4- 2011.
- Consumer Reports, October 1982, Mount Vernon, N.Y. 10550, Are Kerosene Heaters Safe? pp. 499-507.
- McKelvey, Susan,” Heating Equipment Is The Leading Cause Of Home Fires Between December And February, With One-Fifth Of All home Fires Occurring In January,’ Safety Source, January 12, 2021.
- NFPA's "Home Heating Fires", Campbell, Richard, January 2021.