In 2021, approximately EUR 200 million in fire damage was compensated, and around 50 people lose their lives in fires every year.
Many of these losses could be avoided if more effort were put into fire safety in advance.
The latest revision of the SFS 6000 standards pays particular attention to fire safety. The new requirements entered into force at the beginning of 2023.
In terms of fire safety, the key update concerns the installation of stoves and cooktops. The strictest requirements apply to new housing for older people, supported housing and housing for special groups, where a stove guard is now mandatory. According to the standard, a stove guard must be installed together with a new stove or cooktop if the dwelling is intended for a special group.
Fire safety is not limited only to new stove and cooktop installations in housing for special groups.
According to the SFS 6000 regulations, property owners must also take care of fire safety in other types of housing. Installing a stove guard is recommended in all homes, and the regulations also present other ways to improve the safety of stove use.
Why is special attention now being paid to stove safety?
The updated SFS 6000 standards are an important step towards safer living, because by far the largest share of residential fires start in the kitchen.
Around three stove fires break out every day and require a response from the fire brigade.
Stove fires are especially dangerous in homes where the stove user's functional ability is reduced because of old age, memory disorders, disability, substance abuse or mental health issues. In these groups, accidents happen more often, and when a fire does occur, the person's ability either to escape from the home or to extinguish the fire is also reduced.
In most cases, the hazardous situation starts because of forgetfulness or careless stove use, such as turning on the wrong cooking zone. Stove fires are therefore caused almost without exception by human error, while actual appliance faults are rare. This is why the updated standard is especially important for risk groups, because accidents happen to them most often.
A Finnish-made Safera stove guard complies with both SFS 6000 and the EN 50615 standard
A Safera stove guard is an easy and reliable way to meet the new requirements. The SFS 6000 regulations require the use of a stove guard that complies with the European EN 50615 standard.
All Safera stove guards have always been approved in accordance with the requirements of the standard, so by choosing a Safera stove guard, you can be confident that you meet the requirements of the regulation.
Safera was involved in developing the original EN standard, and the same test methods that Safera had already developed years earlier in its own product development laboratory were written into it. This means that the stove guards of Safera Oy, founded in 2007, had in practice already met the requirements of the EN 50615 standard even before the standard was approved as part of the European standards collection in 2015.
A stove guard is a unique solution to stove fires: it stops dangerous situations before a fire starts
A Safera stove guard is a cost-effective option. By investing in a Safera stove guard, property owners can easily ensure that they meet fire safety requirements.
However, using a Safera stove guard is not only important for property owners. Residents benefit as well, because a stove guard improves safety at home. Safe everyday living is especially important for special groups, such as older people and people with memory disorders, who are particularly vulnerable to fire damage.
Fire safety is also part of responsible property management
Responsible property owners invest in preventive fire safety so that unnecessary personal injury and property damage can be avoided. This benefits both the property owner and the residents.
According to statistics from Finance Finland , approximately EUR 200 million in fire damage was compensated in 2021, and around 50 people lose their lives in fires every year. A large share of fires are related to electricity. The causes include improper use of electrical appliances or a faulty electrical device. Other causes of fire include arson, careless handling of open flames, hot work and lightning strikes.
A stove guard can help prevent a significant share of these incidents, because stove fires account for around one third of all residential fires.
More than 300,000 people already live more safely thanks to our Finnish-made Safera stove guard
We founded Safera Oy in 2007 for one purpose: that no stove fire would ever start anywhere in the world again. There is still work to do, but our stove guards already make everyday life safer for hundreds of thousands of people around the world.
Careless stove use is the most common cause of residential fires. With our smart technology, stove fires can in practice be prevented almost completely.
What is the SFS 6000 standard series and where can I find the updated version?
Standards ensure that residential properties meet the requirements of electrical safety legislation. The Finnish Safety and Chemicals Agency Tukes publishes a list of standards that can be followed to meet those requirements. The standards in the SFS 6000 series are essential for complying with the requirements of electrical safety legislation.
Electrical installation standards are generally very similar from one country to another, but their national versions may include some local features because of natural conditions or construction practices, for example. The standards related to electrical installations that take Finnish national conditions into account have been prepared by SESKO, the standardisation organisation for the electrotechnical sector in Finland.
The SFS 6000 series of standards are important tools for electrical installation designers and installers to ensure safety. Following them also meets the requirements set by the authorities.