Legal requirements for appliances with built-in heating elements

Many businesses ask what requirements legislators place on appliances with heating elements. This means coffee machines, kettles, toasters, fan heaters and similar appliances. They deliberately generate heat and are therefore considered a particular fire risk.

Which legal requirements apply in Germany?

There is no single law just for such appliances. Instead, several German rules work together:

• The Industrial Safety Regulation (BetrSichV): under § 3, the employer must assess the hazards posed by work equipment.
• DGUV Regulation 3: electrical appliances are tested regularly.
• VdS 2000: the insurers’ guideline for fire protection in businesses.
• VdS 2046: safety rules for electrical installations up to 1000 volts.
• DIN VDE 0105-100: rules for operating electrical installations.

What do the insurers say?

The insurers’ fact sheets are clear: heat-producing appliances should be placed so that they cannot start a fire. This includes sufficient distance from combustible items, and they also recommend a non-combustible base. Anyone who ignores this risks trouble with the insurer after a fire. Read more on the page VdS 2000.

What does this mean in practice?

• Place heat-producing appliances on a non-combustible base such as the FireMat (certified by TÜV SÜD according to DIN EN ISO 11925-2).
• Keep a distance from paper, curtains and boxes.
• Do not plug power strips into one another.
• Have the appliances tested regularly.
• Switch appliances off at the end of the working day.

Who is responsible?

In a business, the employer is responsible but can delegate tasks, for example to a fire safety officer, who regularly checks staff kitchens and offices for hazards. Read more about this role in the article Fire safety officer. Private appliances such as kettles or fan heaters are often only allowed by agreement, because they too must be tested.

Typical appliances with a heating element

• Coffee machine and bean-to-cup machine
• Kettle
• Toaster and sandwich maker
• Microwave
• Fan heater and radiator

Several of these appliances often stand side by side in the staff kitchen. If they run at the same time, the load on the sockets increases.

Which rules apply specifically to staff kitchens is explained in the article DGUV Rule 115-401. An overview is given in Fireproof mat for electrical appliances. You will find suitable mats under Fire protection mats for electrical appliances.