What's On...under your desk?

  1. Types of Heaters
  2. Safety
  3. Environment
  4. Reminder

The last few weeks has seen a return of cold weather prompting the use of personal electric heaters around the university.  Please ensure that your portable heater is used safely and efficiently not only to prevent the risk of fire but also to reduce unnecessary electricity consumption. 

It has been noticed that portable heaters are sometimes left on overnight and are left on unattended.  Not only does this practice pose a significant fire risk but most portable heaters are high energy consumers and leaving them on unnecessarily wastes an enormous amount of electricity.

1. Types of Heaters

The photos on the right show a few of the typical portable heater types as well as their watt usage.

Some portable heaters are considered safer than others. The University does not allow radiant bar heaters to be brought in from home and used in the workplace as a result of the fire risk they present. 

Some heaters are also more efficient than others.  The panel heater is the most energy efficient of the heaters shown. 

2. Safety

NSW Fire Brigade Annual Reports indicate that fires have started as a result of portable heaters.    According to NSW Fire Brigade Annual Report for 2006/07 there were a total of 11190 building fires in NSW during 2006/07.  Worthy to note is that of these building fires 1119 were from unattended heat sources, 43 were from portable local heating units, and 269 were from electrical appliances.   

Listed below are a few safety tips for your portable heater:

  • Radiant bar heaters pose a higher fire risk than other portable heaters. 
  • Keep paper, plastics, clothes, linen and other combustibles at least one (1) metre away from all heaters. 
  • Never leave heaters on unattended.
  • Ensure the electrical cords are not crossing the front of the heater and are not run where they create a trip hazard or under carpets or rugs.
  • Never operate electric heaters in damp or wet areas.
  • Ensure there is space between portable heaters and the wall.
  • Never leave young children unsupervised near heaters.

The University does not allow radiant bar heaters to be brought in from home and used in the workplace as a result of the fire risk they present.

If you are to bring in a portable heater that is not a radiant heater please ensure it is tested and tagged accordingly.

For further advice on the safe use of heaters, and to organise testing and tagging of the heater please contact Dylan Smith, OH&S Officer on ph 4221 4365, dylans@uow.edu.au.

3. Environment

Many portable heaters are high electricity consumers. For example, the electricity consumed by a Kambrook “Thermoguard” electric portable heater was measured by the Environmental and Sustainability Initiatives Unit to consume 2230W.  If this heater was left on overnight (between 6:30pm and 9am) it would consume 32.335 kwh of electricity (equivalent to 28.78kg of Co2 emissions) which is equivalent to driving a car for 86km.

For more information and advice on the efficient use of portable heaters please contact the Environmental and Sustainability Initiatives Unit on environment_team@uow.edu.au.

4. Your Reminder 

To help you remember to turn off your heater, why not download and put up a reminder poster? Consider printing 2 to a page and encouraging someone in your office space who uses a heater to do the same. 

ESI Heater Reminder Download PDF

 

Last reviewed: 13 May, 2009

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