About Fire Findings testing of electric space heaters

As part of Fire Findings’ staff engineer Nathan Dwyer’s research for the Electric Space Heaters Special Report (Fall 2004 • Vol. 12, No. 4), he tested seven different electric space heaters and collected indicators he thought would be helpful in measuring a heater’s performance.

From the temperature of the heating element while the unit was on, to the time it took the high limit to automatically reset after it tripped, the chart on this page lists those different models and the information he gathered from each.

A particularly interesting category was the maximum temperature he measured at the recommended 3 feet from each unit while it was operating. Most manufacturers recommend combustibles be kept at least 3 feet from the heater to prevent a fire hazard. He wanted to see just how hot it got at this recommended distance. (As you see, not very.)