Steer clear of flammable decorations

Candles and flammable materials are a dangerous combination. Moss, driftwood, twigs, cones, twine and other dry natural materials catch fire quickly and burn well. This is why you should never put candles near decorations made from these kinds of materials. If you want to use candles for table decoration, it’s a better idea to put them in a glass or well-ventilated lantern. This will ensure that the candle is steady and will not come into contact with flammable materials.

Replace candles with LED lights

LED lights can be a good and safer substitute for candles, for example near flammable decorations or if you have children or animals in the house that could knock over a candle. Check that the socket and voltage of the LED bulbs match the requirements of the equipment.

Choose a fireproof base

If you want to make your own candlesticks and candle decorations, make sure the candle is steady and the materials cannot catch fire. Fireproof materials include metal, porcelain, sand or stone. Never stand a lit candle directly on a tablecloth, wooden board or anything else that could catch fire.

Keep candles well apart

If you want to light several candles, make sure they aren’t standing too close together. A distance of around 10 centimetres is enough to ensure that the candles will not start to melt each other. The same also applies to tealights. If you put several tealights next to each other, the wax in the lights can become overheated and run out, which could cause the tealights to flare up to dangerous levels.

Lanterns, glasses and figures designed to hold candles must also be well ventilated in the top. Otherwise, the wax may become too hot and catch fire.

Never leave candles unattended

Candles can burn down faster than you think because of draughts or impurities. Candleholders can also crack and cause a candle to tip over. A fire can get out of control very quickly. That’s why it’s so important never to leave a room in which there is a lighted candle.

Basic rules for candles:

• Never leave candles unattended 
• Never use flammable candlesticks or candle decorations that are made from flammable materials.Replace flammable decorations with, for example, stone, glass or ceramics
• Keep candles well away from flammable objects
• Use a fireproof base
• Place tea lights 10 cm aparts (or the distance the manufacturer recommends)
• Choose stable candlesticks
• Replace candles with LED lights
• Make sure you only light candles in rooms where there is a functioning smoke detector