In this guide, we’ll explain the BS EN 50615 standard in more detail, including its definition, compliance and penalties for non-compliance, and how it has improved fire safety in the UK and Europe.
What is BS EN 50615?
The main purpose of the BS EN 50615 standard is to identify “Particular requirements for devices for fire prevention and suppression for electric hobs (cooktops)”.
The standard identifies three categories of devices: Categories A, B and C. Category B relates to devices that prevent fires by cutting off power before ignition, and the standard ensures that products like the Firechief® Kitchen Stove Guard work as intended: cutting off the power to the stove before a fire starts, whilst not interfering with the actual process of cooking.
What are the critical components and criteria within the standard?
There are several key components within the standard, as well as criteria that must be met to pass the test, which is made up of three parts.
Key guidelines for a Category B device under BS EN 50615 include the following:
- The ability to completely disconnect the cooker from the electricity supply before temperatures reach a dangerous level or a fire starts
- An audible warning must be given
- The device cannot be triggered by false alarms
- Must provide a low battery warning (if applicable)
- Should be compatible with wiring regulations when connected to mains electricity
Are there specific tests required?
Only products that pass three different tests receive the standard and if one of those tests is not successful then the BS EN 50615 standard will not be awarded to that product.
To achieve the standard, a Category B device such as the Firechief ® Kitchen Stove Guard must be able to completely cut off the electrical supply before the temperature reaches 320°C.
Additionally, the temperature on the stove must not exceed 350°C for at least 10 minutes after the cut-off point.
When pre-fire conditions are identified, an audible warning of at least 65 decibels must be given for a maximum of 15 seconds.
Why was BS EN 50615 developed?
Whilst standards like BS EN 50615 are essential to ensure products meet a specific set of requirements, they are also there to give users peace of mind that those products will work when they need them the most.
What are the main reasons for creating this standard?
In the case of Category B devices under BS EN 50615, this standard can make all the difference in terms of preventing a fire before it has the chance to start, rather than products that are designed to react to a situation when the stove is already alight.
The standard, created in March 2015, soon became the standard requirement across Europe for all stove safety products, to significantly reduce the number of kitchen fires which, despite the introduction of products like the Firechief® Kitchen Stove Guard, continues to be a significant issue.
In attempts to combat this issue, countries across Europe have brought in different policies. For example, Norway passed a law that means all kitchens with electric cookers must have a stove guard installed. Their Scandinavian neighbours, Sweden, developed a policy that meant those over the age of 65 could apply to their local council to have a stove guard fitted in their property free of charge.
What gaps or issues does it address in fire safety?
As we wrote about recently on the Firechief® blog, the most common cause of house fires is cooking. Despite so much awareness in terms of the risk of leaving hobs unattended or not having measures in place to prevent or extinguish kitchen fires, the BS EN 50615 standard was necessary to ensure the quality and safety of products being sold to help manage those risks.
Before the introduction of the standard in 2015, there was no clear set of requirements for fire safety devices for stove fires. This meant that there were several different products available, with varying levels of effectiveness in preventing or suppressing cooker fires.
Since its introduction, the BS EN 50615 standard has given manufacturers and customers the peace of mind and clarity required to assist them in their ongoing development of these products and their buying decisions.
How does BS EN 50615 improve fire safety?
The standard has introduced a level of expectation for the performance of stove safety devices, improving cooking fire safety wherever BS EN 50615 devices are specified. Education will always be key, because the availability of approved fire safety devices is not enough on its own to reduce the number of kitchen fires. Specifiers and consultants need to understand the benefits of BS EN 50165 devices, and that will result in more stoves being fitted with approved devices, resulting in reduced risk of fires.
The BS EN 50615 standard has improved fire safety significantly by ensuring that products developed to manage and prevent the risk of cooker fires do so effectively and efficiently.
What are the expected benefits or improvements in fire safety practices due to this standard?
The introduction of the BS EN 50615 standard has given fire safety consultants and practitioners a standard to work with when specifying solutions to manage the risk of cooking fires, especially in multiple-occupancy buildings such as student accommodation.
How does it enhance the protection of people and property?
In terms of people and their properties, the Standard has helped save hundreds, perhaps thousands of lives already and has created safer living spaces for all who have installed products meeting the requirement.
Less than a decade old, the BS EN 50615 standard has helped manage the risk of cooking fires, with Category B devices preventing fires that would previously have ignited, resulting in disastrous consequences.
What are the consequences of non-compliance with BS EN 50615?
The standards are put in place to keep people and their properties safe, and failure to meet those standards can have serious, life-threatening consequences for those directly affected.
Fire safety professionals place their trust in manufacturers, so when a manufacturer publishes that a product meets a particular standard, such as BS EN 50615, this must be backed up by testing and certification. Failure to deliver products certified to those standards can have serious repercussions for the specifier, the manufacturer and ultimately, the residents.
What penalties or risks do organisations face if they fail to comply?
If a manufacturer makes a false claim about the performance of a device and there is a significant kitchen fire that results in serious injury or even loss of life or lives, for example, they could face several potential consequences if found guilty. These include:
- Penalties and fines
- Legal proceedings
- Custodial sentences
- Damage to the reputation of the business and loss of revenue
How is compliance monitored and enforced?
Compliance relating to BS EN 50615 is monitored by the Office for Product Safety and Standards (OPSS). If the OPSS identified a device that is claiming certification to BS EN 50615, they have the power to verify these claims, and if found to be false, to enforce a product recall by the manufacturer of the device. The OPSS publishes a list of product recalls on a regular basis.
Occasionally, where a genuine manufacturing error is identified, manufacturers will enter into a voluntary recall to replace faulty devices with functioning devices.
How does BS EN 50615 relate to other fire safety standards?
There are legal requirements for manufacturers to meet when it comes to fire safety standards. These affect those who are designing and manufacturing the products, as well as those who fit and maintain them.
How does it fit within the broader framework of fire safety regulations and standards?
As it stands, BS EN 50615 is a recommendation and not a legal requirement when it comes to fire safety design. However, there has recently been a revised code of practice released (BS 9991:2024), which includes a specific mention of BS EN 50615 as an effective method to reduce the risk of ignition.
What the revised BS 9991:2024 guidance means for BS EN 50615 systems
Published at the end of November 2024, the British Standards Institution (BSI) announced a revised code of practice because of what they called “increasingly complex modern building designs.” The standard now states that “the inclusion of thermal cut-off devices for cooking apparatus (as specified in BS EN 50615) can reduce the risk of ignition.”
One of the main factors behind the revision to the code of practice is the increased demand for open-plan living but of course, open-plan kitchens have their risks, and the new BS 9991 gives guidance for fire engineers to work with when designing fire safety solutions to accommodate open-plan kitchen layouts. Under the revised guidance, a hob must be more than 1.8 metres from an escape route, which itself must be 0.9 metres wide from the edge of any fixed obstacle.
This has, of course, created problems in areas where space is at a premium such as student accommodation and social housing, which is why the new code also states that “a fire-engineered approach is needed… where open plan kitchens do not meet these criteria.”
This means that BS EN 50615-compliant products, like Kitchen Stove Guard systems, are now key to mitigating fire risks. The new standard references BS EN 50615 and states that “systems conforming to BS EN 50615 monitor the heat of cooking and cut power to the hob before a fire can start. This way the risk of occupants being trapped in their rooms by a hob fire is drastically reduced.”
Where can I find more information about BS EN 50615?
Additional information regarding BS EN 50615 – or any other British Standard for that matter – can be found on the BSI website.
Who can provide expert advice or training on BS EN 50615?
In addition to the PDF documents and other downloads available on the BSI website, you can learn a whole lot more about BS EN 50615 from the Firechief® Academy.
Our CPD-accredited training course can be tailored to suit the needs of your business. Our knowledgeable and friendly Academy team are experienced in the fire industry and can help deliver a CPD-accredited course to help you understand the BS EN 50615 Standard in more detail.
To find out more, head to the Academy page and complete the enquiry form.