What is BS EN 15426 - Sooting behaviour of candles about?

BS EN 15426 discusses sooting behaviour of candles. BS EN 15426 specifies requirements and the test method for evaluating the sooting behaviour of burning indoor candles.

Note1: BS EN 15426 is applicable to single wick candles with a diameter up to 100 mm or equivalent cross-sectional area intended to be burned indoors.

Note2: Single wick candles with a diameter above 100 mm or equivalent cross-sectional area and multi-wick candles cannot be evaluated with this test method for technical reasons. Evaluation of the visible release of soot is a possibility for these candles.

Who is BS EN 15426 - Sooting behaviour of candles for?

BS EN 15426 on the sooting behaviour of candles is useful for:

Candles manufacturers and suppliers

Why should you use BS EN 15426 - Sooting behaviour of candles?

Candles have accompanied mankind for more than 2 000 years serving as a light source. 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.

BS EN 15426 describes the requirements and a simple method for measuring the sooting behaviour of candles. The soot index obtained by this procedure may be considered as characteristic of the sooting behaviour of the type of candle tested.

BS EN 15426 helps to ensure a reasonable degree of safety during use, thereby improving personal safety and reducing the risk of fires, deaths, and injuries.

To keep damages caused by candle soot to homes and to the health of their residents to a minimum, the BS EN 15426 suggests a standard test protocol that allows manufacturers to measure the amount of soot emissions.

What is changed since the last update?

BS EN 15426:2018 supersedes BS EN 15426:2007, which is withdrawn.

BS EN 15426:2018 includes some technical changes with respect to BS EN 15426:2007.

These include:

Improved terms and definitions
Simplified requirement for the sooting behaviour
Clearer description of test equipment and apparatus
Clearer description of the test method including improved illustration for setting up the equipment and new illustrated guidance for selecting the wire mesh cylinder
Modified characteristics of the candles for selecting the soot test cycles
New informative Annex B for the calculation of the hourly fuel consumption

BS EN 15426:2018

Candles. Specification for sooting behaviour

Current, Under Review

Published:

31 Dec 2018