As the holiday season gets into swing, decorations like lights, garland, and Christmas trees are springing up in homes, offices, and stores everywhere. These symbols of holiday cheer are staples of the season, but without careful preparation they can also become fire hazards.
Tech Electronics sat down with JP Penet, former fire marshal and Kansas State Coordinator with the National Fire Sprinkler Association, to see what steps businesses and homeowners can take to get into the holiday spirit, safely.
First, Penet wanted to clear the air, he is not “The Grinch who stole Christmas,” and there are plenty of ways to decorate and get into the holiday spirit while mitigating fire hazards.
One hazard that Penet noted can often become an issue in commercial and office settings, as well as in the home, is the extension cord. Older extension cords or cords that are not rated for higher capacities can be a fire hazard when used outside of their intended purpose.
Extension Cords
"The main problem that we see with decorations is generally overuse of undersized extension cords. People plug way too many things on a cord that is way too small and that's, quite frankly, a recipe for disaster."
He said people should be careful to check that an extension cord is rated for the items they are using it to power and inspect decorations like lights and cords signs of damage like fraying.
It’s far safer to replace old or damaged cords than to risk short circuits or frayed connections that can lead to fires.
“Replacing those cords is an inexpensive way to stop a pretty good-sized catastrophe,” said Penet.
Penet said consumers should search for industry certifications from agencies like UL or ITC to ensure their cords are rated to safely bring holiday cheer into their homes and offices.
Space Heaters
Another frequent issue that Penet noted in office environments was space heaters, which he said are often used in the colder months and can lead to increased fire risk.
He said space heaters should be kept at least three feet from any combustible materials like clothing or other items that may be tucked under a desk.
People should look for UL or ITC certified products to ensure their space heaters have tipover protection and are designed to shut off before they can ignite other materials if they fall over.
Penet emphasized that space heaters should always be plugged directly into an outlet, and never into an extension cord.
Since space heaters draw a significant amount of power, when plugged into shorter extension cords that are not correctly rated it can quickly create a fire hazard.
“Most of your smaller extension cords are just not designed for that kind of load and you can overload that extension cord before even tripping a breaker,” said Penet. “So that extension cord effectively turns into a toaster wire.”
Fire Sprinklers
Fire sprinklers should never be used to hang decorations, said Penet. The bulb that activates sprinklers is very strong in the vertical orientation but can be very weak when weight is placed on it horizontally.
He said in those cases it can be easy to accidentally set off sprinklers, which are very effective at extinguishing flames in their early stages, but will also get everything “sufficiently wet” before they can be turned off.
Christmas Trees
Both natural and artificial Christmas trees can represent a significant fire risk when placed carelessly or not cared for correctly.
Penet said natural trees are especially combustible due to the wood and needles combined with pine oil. He said if natural trees do catch fire, they burn very quickly and are often past the threshold of what an untrained individual can put out on their own.
"Those are loaded with combustible wood and pine oil, which is a significantly increased fire risk that is not controllable by the average person."
Artificial trees also represent a fire hazard as the shredded plastic used to recreate needles is “easily ignitable” and can quickly raise temperatures enough to cause flashover, or the spontaneous burning of combustible materials.
Penet said the NFSA recently hosted a side-by-side burn with the Leawood Fire Department in Kansas, showing the difference that sprinklers make in a fire that starts with an artificial tree.
He said while the fire was contained in the side with sprinklers, the side without sprinklers reached flashover conditions within 90 seconds, leaving potential occupants with little time to combat the blaze or even leave the home.
While holiday decorations like these can be fire risks, with good practice and a little extra attention to detail, businesses and people can continue to celebrate while avoiding increased risks of fire.
“Whether it’s candles or space heaters or extension cords or other electrical cords that aren’t working properly, keep those away from things that can burn, whether that’s curtains or Christmas trees and holiday decorations,” said Penet. “They’re all very festive and add to the Christmas spirit, but it’s important to keep those away from ignitable surfaces.”
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