On March 1, we will observe World Candle Day, A joint initiative by two associations, ALAFAVE; (The Latin American Candle Manufacturer Association) and ECMA; (The European Candle Manufacturers Association), which started celebrating world candle day in 2020.
The primary purpose of candle day is to make people aware of the tragedy due to candle fires and how it is essential to read the labels of the candles before lighting them.
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The primary purpose of Candle Day is to make people aware of the tragedy due to candle fires and emphasize the importance of reading the labels of candles before lighting them. This awareness is crucial to prevent accidents and ensure safe usage.
The National Candle Association (NCA) and ASTM held a webinar in 2021 to explain the safety labelling of candles and highlight the importance of following the manufacturer's instructions regarding lighting candles. The webinar aimed to educate the public about safe candle usage practices.
The webinar started with introductions by both the presidents of the organizations, who explained how candle fires began increasing rapidly in the early 1990s. At that time, scented or fragrance candles gained popularity among customers in America, leading to a significant fire safety issue in the US.
The United States Consumer Product Safety Commission, a government agency responsible for ensuring the safety of home products, approached the NCA (American National Candle Association) to help produce safer candles. This collaboration aimed to address the growing problem of candle fires.
The NCA thought it wise to collaborate with ASTM, an independent body that produces safety standards for various products like construction materials and safety toys, to solve the fire issue. This partnership led to the incorporation of specific safety standards for candles in the USA.
It is imperative to read the labels of candles because the method of lighting each candle can differ. According to Rob Harrington, knowing how long a candle should burn, where and where not to burn it, and the difference between indoor and outdoor candles are crucial. Additionally, certain accessories are necessary for safely lighting and extinguishing candles.
When the candle fire safety standards were passed in 2000-2001, the number of candle fires at home dramatically decreased. This significant reduction confirmed the effectiveness of the safety measures implemented.
According to Stefan Thomann, many people think that using candles is simple and that they already know how to use them, so they do not read the label. Even if they do read the label, they often look for information like the scent rather than the user instructions.
A survey showed that most people (62%) look for the scent on a candle label, while only 6% of people were interested in reading the user instructions. This statistic highlights the need for increased awareness about the importance of following the safety guidelines provided on candle labels.
ASTM requires safety alert symbols and the three most essential warnings written in English, while the use of symbols for these warnings is optional in America.
In Europe, it was allowed that there should be a general warning sign with 3-4 mandatory safety messages for unscented candles and 5-6 for scented ones, with additional optional safety messages used as needed based on the candle type. Moreover, the safety information must be in the official languages of the countries of sale rather than English.
Safety symbols are more in use than text because pictures are more appealing to the younger generation, and for older people, it might be challenging to read the text as it is small.
To use symbols, these symbols should be easy to understand by an occasional user, which became a huge challenge. The solution that emerged was to create a simple and straightforward design. A comprehension test with 1400 consumers in three different countries was conducted, and feedback was used to improve some symbols and completely redefine others. Then, all stakeholders should use the same marks, and manufacturers, retailers, and associations should explain what the symbols mean.
There were certain symbols thoroughly explained by both Rob Harrington and Stefan Thomann in the webinar, which is very important if you love candles and frequently light them in your homes. These tips and tricks ensure you are cautious with fire safety and know what to do if an accident happens.
You can watch the whole webinar on worldcandleday.net to understand and share the importance of reading labels with your family and friends. So, this year on March 1, let’s celebrate World Candle Day and spread awareness to avoid any mishaps or accidents that can occur by lighting candles.
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