• Stove guards will prevent many stove fires
• You can buy stove guards in most electrical shops, many kitchen suppliers and from online shops
• Stove guards are a legal requirement in all new homes
• This requirement also applies to any renovation work involving the installation of an extra circuit for the stove
• The same rules apply to holiday homes
• Get a stove guard for you and your family!

FAQs about stove guards

What is a stove guard?

A stove guard comes in two parts: one part which monitors the hob, and one part which is either hidden behind the stove or installed in the fuse box. If the monitor unit detects a risk of fire on the hob, the stove guard emits a warning. If no one reacts to the alarm, it turns off the power to the stove.

Do they work?

When you fit an approved stove guard and use it correctly, you sig­nificantly reduce the risk of fire.

Where can we buy a stove guard?

You can buy stove guards in most electrical shops from many kitchen suppliers and online shops, f. ex. stove guard producers and insurance companies.

How much does a stove guard cost?

Stove guards can be pursued in a wide price range, starting at around NOK 3500.

What type of stove guard should we buy?

There are many different types of stove guard on the market, and the quality of older stove guards tends to vary a great deal. The new European standard, EN 50615 (described in more detail below), aims to ensure that stove guards react to situations that could lead to a fire, while not giving false alarms and cutting off the electricity unnecess­arily. If you buy a new stove guard, it’s important to make sure that it complies with this standard, and ideally is approved by the Norwegian Insurance Approval Board (FG approval). At sikkerhverdag.no, you can find a link to a list of stove guards approved by the Norwegian Insurance Approval Board.

Can a homeowner install a stove guard?

Stove guards with a plug and socket (fixed stove guard) can be installed by anyone. The type that has a switch in the fuse box must be installed by an electrician.

We already have a stove guard. What should we do?

Older stove guards are better than nothing. If you have a stove guard that is not working, you should buy a new one.

Do they entitle you to a discount on your insurance?

Some insurance companies give discounts on insurance premiums if you have installed an approved stove guard. Talk to your insurance company about what schemes they have regarding stove guards.

Do any stoves come with built-in guards?

A few stove manufacturers state that their stoves have built-in guards.

I have an induction hob, which automatically turns off the heat when you take the pan away. Do I still need a stove guard?

Induction hobs are safer than traditional stoves. But because fires often start in a pan that has been left on the hob too long, fires can still start on an induction hob. Legal requirement to stove guards apply independent of type of hob.

My oven is not in the same place as my hob. What system is right for me?

Stove guards monitor heat build-up on the hob and must be installed above the hob. Oven fires aren’t usually as serious as hob fires, although forgotten food left cooking in the oven can emit toxic gases.

Who is at risk of stove fires?

Most stove fires start during the day and tend to affect elderly people, but most deaths are caused by fires that start at night. This tends to mean young people who are under the influence of alcohol. People who are intoxicated have impaired judgement and are less alert, and can easily doze off after putting something on the stove. Virtually all stove fires are caused by pans or casseroles boiling dry rather than by technical faults.

Who is entitled to borrow a stove guard from the Centre for Assistive Technology?

It is the municipal ergotherapy service that evaluates an individual’s need for a stove guard and, if necessary, applies to the Centre for Assistive Technology. It is generally cognitive failure (such as forgetfulness) that entitles someone to borrow a stove guard, but people may also be entitled if they have other combinations of functional impairments. If you think that you or someone you know could be entitled to borrow a stove guard from the Centre for Assistive Technology, contact the ergotherapy service in your municipality. Remember to ask for a stove guard that complies with the standard.

I have a gas cooker, do I still need a stove guard?

It is now a legal requirement for gas cookers to have a flame guard, which means that the gas shuts off if the flame goes out. These cookers are not subject to the same stove guard requirements as electric hobs.

I have heard (or found) that the stove turns off even though there is no danger. Are some stove guards more reliable than others?

In the past, stove guards were not subject to any technical require­ments. This meant that they varied in quality. Standard EN 50615 now ensures that stove guards do not give false alarms, but that they react when there is a risk of fire on the hob. However, an older stove guard is better than nothing.

What do the authorities recommend?

The authorities recommend that everyone gets a stove guard that complies with the new standard.

What do the regulations say?

All homeowners are legally obliged to comply with the regulation re­lating to low-voltage electrical installations. This refers to installation standard NEK 400, which since 2010 has contained a legal require­ment stipulating the installation of a wired-in stove guard in all new electrical systems. The requirement applies to any renovation work involving the installation of an extra circuit in the kitchen. The same rules apply to holiday homes. Since 2014, it is a legal requirement that stove guards must comply with the stove guard standard (EN 50615).

Why do they need approval from the Norwegian Insurance Approval Board?

Because EN 50615 includes a range of levels, grades and classifications against which stove guards can be tested, the Norwegian Insurance Approval Board has chosen some important criteria to ensure safety in your home. There are no official requirements stipulating who can verify that a stove guard actually complies with EN 50615. This means that anyone can declare that the requirements have been met. As it has done for other safety products, the Norwegian Insurance Approval Board has stipulated that an independent party must review the test documentation to ensure that the unit has passed the mandatory tests.

You can find a list of stove guards with Norwegian Insurance Approval Board approval here:

www.fgsikring.no/brann/fg-godkjente-komfyrvakter/

Ask your supplier for documentation of the stove guard complies to current requirements. There are stove guards which have alarms but do not cut off electricity. These products are not approved in Norway.

Where can I find more information?

Visit www.sikkerhverdag.no to find out more about stove guards.

You can also contact your local electrical contractor.