Playing with fire in decor
TO most of us, candles are simply a finishing touch -- a bit of wax and a wick to create the kind of mood enhancement that, until recently, electric light could not hope to equal.
But to the candle industry, which sold about $2 billion worth of pillars, votives, tapers, floaters and other candle styles last year, the increased popularity of this ancient item raises safety issues. Consumers, eager to use candles as an integral part of their decor -- a kind of jewelry for the home -- sometimes forget that they are literally playing with fire.
This year, the big safety issue is the flammability of newly popular candle rings -- those plastic garlands of flowers or leaves meant to sit at the base of the candle as a festive touch. New standards are being discussed by candle industry officials and independent safety experts.
Although candles have been around for about 5,000 years, it wasn’t until 2000 that safety standards were formulated in the United States. When sales of decorative candles surged in the mid-1990s, fire safety experts and the candle industry itself noted an accompanying rise in accidental fires resulting in damage, injuries and deaths. Voluntary standards were published in 2000 by ASTM International, a standards development organization.
Fire safety warning labels were suggested for all candles, telling consumers not to leave lighted candles unattended, to burn them away from combustibles, and to keep children and pets away. These might sound like common-sense rules. But most accidents occur because consumers ignore such basics, says Barbara Miller, spokeswoman for the National Candle Assn. in Washington, D.C. An adult leaves the room where a candle is burning, and another family member (often a child) tosses a towel or a T-shirt too close to the flame. Or the candle’s glass container shatters from the heat, and no one notices until too late.
Since 2000, candle design has become even more creative, luring new groups of consumers to their flame. In 2004, more standards were published. These related to the optimum height of the flame (no higher than 3 inches) and stability (candles should not tip over when placed on a 10-degree incline).
And then there’s the issue of what the industry calls “the end of useful life” -- a euphemism for a near-dead candle, with little wax left to melt. When that stage is reached, the published standard calls for the wick to self-extinguish. But some candles, even today, don’t have that feature, Miller says.
“We don’t use the phrase ‘self-extinguish’ in our talks or literature, because we don’t want consumers to get complacent and think they don’t have to worry about putting out the flame.” They should worry, she says.
None of the above manufacturing safety standards are mandatory, and there’s no enforcement mechanism against candle makers who don’t adhere to the guidelines. Reputable manufacturers test rigorously to make sure their products perform at the highest level, she says. But candles arrive here from around the world, many from places where manufacturers may not know of the guidelines, or simply don’t care.
James Becker, ASTM’s candle subcommittee chairman and president of Candle Solutions, a Kentucky technical consulting company for candle manufacturers, says there’s no way a consumer can know how safe a candle is simply by looking at it. “The proof is in how the candle performs during the burn.”
Miller says to make sure the printed safety warning label is on any candle you buy. “If the manufacturer hasn’t adhered to that primary standard, it’s a good bet they haven’t adhered to any of the other rules, either.”
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Romantic alternative
Although candles will never disappear, there’s a new crop of simulated candles -- portable, battery-powered lights with much of the charm and none of the dangers of the real thing.
Flame-free: Plow & Hearth offers battery-powered candles, four for $39.95; 10 flame-free tea lights for $24.95; and votives and outdoor candles for $2.99 to $24.95. www.plowandhearth.com.
High design: Candelas and Candeloos from Vessel -- elegant portable, rechargeable candle-like lights in a variety of shapes and colors. Set of two, $49; set of four, $89. www.vessel.com.
Beyond the tabletop: Just HomeDecor has a variety of battery-powered candle lanterns and wall sconces. Prices vary. www.justhomedecor.com.
-- Bettijane Levine