National foreword

This British Standard is the UK implementation of EN 15493:2026. It supersedes BS EN 15493:2019, which is withdrawn.

The UK participation in its preparation was entrusted to Technical Committee CII/369.

A list of organizations represented on this committee can be obtained on request to its committee manager.

Contractual and legal considerations

This publication has been prepared in good faith, however no representation, warranty, assurance or undertaking (express or implied) is or will be made, and no responsibility or liability is or will be accepted by BSI in relation to the adequacy, accuracy, completeness or reasonableness of this publication. All and any such responsibility and liability is expressly disclaimed to the full extent permitted by the law.

This publication is provided as is, and is to be used at the recipient’s own risk.

The recipient is advised to consider seeking professional guidance with respect to its use of this publication.

This publication is not intended to constitute a contract. Users are responsible for its correct application.

Compliance with a British Standard cannot confer immunity from legal obligations.

This British Standard was published under the authority of the Standards Policy and Strategy Committee on 30 September 2026.

This European Standard was approved by CEN on 5 August 2026.

CEN members are bound to comply with the CEN/CENELEC Internal Regulations which stipulate the conditions for giving this European Standard the status of a national standard without any alteration. Up-to-date lists and bibliographical references concerning such national standards may be obtained on application to the CEN-CENELEC Management Centre or to any CEN member.

This European Standard exists in three official versions (English, French, German). A version in any other language made by translation under the responsibility of a CEN member into its own language and notified to the CEN-CENELEC Management Centre has the same status as the official versions.

CEN members are the national standards bodies of Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Czechia, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Republic of North Macedonia, Romania, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Türkiye and United Kingdom.

European foreword

This document (EN 15493:2026) has been prepared by Technical Committee CEN/TC 369 “Candle fire safety”, the secretariat of which is held by DIN.

This European Standard shall be given the status of a national standard, either by publication of an identical text or by endorsement, at the latest by March 2027, and conflicting national standards shall be withdrawn at the latest by March 2027.

Attention is drawn to the possibility that some of the elements of this document may be the subject of patent rights. CEN shall not be held responsible for identifying any or all such patent rights.

This document supersedes EN 15493:2019.

EN 15493:2026 includes the following significant technical changes with respect to EN 15493:2019:

the terms and definitions have been improved and complemented;
the requirements for the container flammability of container candles and for multiple wick candles have been introduced;
test methods for the container flammability of container candles have been introduced;
the content of the test report has been described in more detail.

Any feedback and questions on this document should be directed to the users’ national standards body. A complete listing of these bodies can be found on the CEN website.

According to the CEN-CENELEC Internal Regulations, the national standards organisations of the following countries are bound to implement this European Standard: Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Republic of North Macedonia, Romania, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Türkiye and the United Kingdom.

Introduction

Candles have accompanied mankind for more than 2 000 years serving above all as a light source. Closely connected to the development history of the candle are the efforts made to improve its quality and its safety in use. Discussions in the past and present over possible self-forming, harmful emissions and fires caused by unsafe candles and/or inappropriate use during the burning of candles have led to consumer concern for these issues.

This document helps to ensure a reasonable degree of safety during use, thereby improving personal safety and reducing the risk of fires, deaths and injuries.

1 Scope

This document specifies requirements and test methods for the fire safety of candles intended to be burned indoors.

2 Normative references

3 Terms and definitions

4 Safety requirements

4.1 Stability

4.2 Secondary ignition

4.3 Flame height

4.4 Self-extinguishing

4.5 Behaviour after extinguishing

4.6 Container candles

4.7 Multiple wick candles

5 Test equipment and apparatus

5.1

5.2

5.3 Stop watch.

5.4

5.5

6 Sampling

7 Sample preparation

7.1

7.2

8 General test conditions

9 Test methods

9.1 General

9.2 Stability test

9.3 Burning test

9.4 Flammability test of containers

10 Test report

Bibliography