In short:
Every bioethanol fireplace sold in the UK should be independently tested against BS EN 16647. BSI updated the BS EN 16647-1:2025 standard for alcohol-powered flueless fireplaces on 30th September 2026 and published a new Part 2 for automatic models. The standard involves putting fireplaces through various tests to ensure they are safe for use, and sets maximum/minimum requirements for carbon monoxide levels and room size. If you’re looking to bring real flames into your home in a safe way, make sure your supplier has independently tested and certified their bioethanol fireplace models to BS EN 16647, and always follow their safety instructions during use.
Bringing real flames into your living room can feel risky – especially if you have young children or pets running around. That’s why it’s so important to ensure that your fireplace supplier has tested their models to the relevant safety standards.
Our bioethanol fireplaces have been independently tested and certified to BS EN 16647-1:2025: the British safety standard for alcohol-powered flueless fireplaces. In this blog, we uncover what the bioethanol fireplace safety standards cover and the requirements that each model must meet, so you can rest assured that you and your family will remain safe while using ours.
Understanding BS EN 16647: the bioethanol fireplace safety standard
BS EN 16647 is the bioethanol fireplace safety standard that every model sold in the UK must meet. It mandates how alcohol-powered flueless fireplaces must be built and tested, covering freestanding, wall-mounted, and built-in decorative models with a maximum heat output of 4.5kW.
The standard has now been split into two parts:
BS EN 16647-1:2025 (updated in September 2026) – covers manual fireplaces that you light, refill, and extinguish by hand
BS EN 16647-2:2026 (published in September 2026) – covers automatic fireplaces that you control electronically
Testing fireplaces to BS EN 16647 isn’t technically a legal requirement, but it’s the accepted way for a manufacturer to show that their fireplaces are up-to-scratch in the safety department.
The six safety tests every fireplace must pass
1) The tilt test
The fireplace is filled to its maximum with fuel and placed on smooth glass. The glass is then slowly tilted to 5° in every direction. To pass the test, the fireplace mustn’t slide, tip, or spill.
2) The knock test
A 20kg bag of dry corn on a two-metre rope is swung into the side of the fireplace. It must not spill any fuel or move more than half its stated safety distance.
3) The weight test
A wall-mounted fireplace must carry two 30kg weights for 10 minutes and then take a 45kg sideways pull for 2 minutes immediately after burning. It must stay fixed in place with no bending or spills.
4) The overfill test
The fireplace’s fuel box is overfilled by 10% and then lit. Any excess fuel must be caught in a second chamber, which requires capacity to hold at least 110% of the fuel.
5) The draught test
Fans are set up around the fireplace to blow the flames from every angle. The flames must never flare beyond the manufacturer’s safety distance or 50cm (whichever is lower).
6) The 10-second test
The fireplace’s closing lid must extinguish the flames in 10 seconds or less when set at full output. The fire must also not relight once the lid is lifted.
The rules around bioethanol fireplace emissions
As well as passing specific tests, each fireplace must meet certain emissions requirements.
High-purity bioethanol fuel burns cleanly, producing only water vapour and a small amount of carbon dioxide (similar to lighting a couple of tealight candles). However, any fuel that doesn’t burn fully may give off tiny traces of carbon monoxide, which can be hazardous to human health.
The standard measures bioethanol carbon monoxide levels in a test room where half the air is replaced with fresh air every hour. In line with air quality guidelines, the levels must stay below:
87ppm averaged over a 15-minute period
52ppm averaged over a 30-minute period
26ppm over a one-hour period
9ppm over an eight-hour period
The carbon dioxide levels are checked too. To test this, the fireplace must burn at full output for eight hours and be topped up each time the fuel runs out. The average carbon dioxide level must stay below 5,000ppm.
The final carbon monoxide and carbon dioxide levels are then used to work out the smallest room that each model can safely be used in. This minimum room volume must then be printed on the packaging and in the manufacturer’s safety manual, so make sure you check this before you buy yours.
The minimum room volume for our bioethanol fireplaces is 40 cubic metres. Read our room size guide to help you choose the right sized model for your space.
How imaginfires fireplaces meet the bioethanol safety standard
We go through the trouble of independently testing our bioethanol fireplaces models to BS EN 16647 for your peace of mind. Our entire fireplace range passed all the safety tests and has been newly recertified as of September 2026.
As well as being compliant with BS EN 16647, each fireplace is designed with several smart safety features, including:
A patented, double lined ‘no-spill fuel box’ – stops excess fuel from spilling over the sides even if knocked
Tempered safety glass – our glass-fronted models have 6mm tempered glass (2mm over the standard requirements)
A flame adjuster tool – allows you to control the intensity of the flame if young children or pets are nearby
High-purity 96% bioethanol fuel – for a clean and steady burn, every time
All you need to do is follow our safety guidance and give the flame the same care and attention you’d give to a lit candle.
Ready to bring real flames in your home? Explore our bioethanol fireplaces to find your new favourite model.
Your burning questions, answered
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Are bioethanol fireplaces safe to use indoors?
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Do bioethanol fireplaces produce carbon monoxide?
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How much ventilation does a bioethanol fireplace need?
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Should I fit a carbon monoxide alarm near a bioethanol fireplace?
