Becker says the primary mistake consumers make is lighting a candle and then not monitoring it while it burns. The second mistake is ignoring the labels on the products.

While there is no ideal “safe” flame height, a candle’s flame should never exceed 3 in. in height in any instance. Photo courtesy of the National Candle Association (NCA)

“There are general use instructions on the label which, if followed, will minimize the chance for problems with burning candles,” Becker explains.

Examples of instructions that could be included on the label include such things as trimming the wick, keeping foreign materials out of the candle pool, burning for a certain number of hours, burning on a surface which is non-combustible or not near anything that is combustible and removing all packaging materials from the candle before lighting.

Stocking Safe Product
While the ASTM standards are currently in effect, at this time they are still voluntary—meaning there is no formal application process or requirement for manufacturers to comply.

“We would advise any retailer not to sell a candle that did not have a fire-safety label,” says Barbara Miller, spokeswoman for the National Candle Association, Washington, D.C. “As with all industry standards (regardless of the product), a reputable manufacturer will be cognizant of and follow those standards.”

Miller explains that if a manufacturer doesn’t follow the fire-safety labeling standard, it’s a good bet that they aren’t following other industry standards—many of which address the technical specifications for designing a candle to ensure maximum fire safety.