A new guidance document from Euralarm’s Task Group Domestic Life Safety brings renewed focus to a major cause of residential fires: unattended cooking. The document offers practical recommendations for improving fire safety in domestic settings, with particular emphasis on the role of stove guard technology in reducing fire incidents across Europe.
Kitchen fires remain one of the most common sources of domestic fire emergencies. In European data cited by Zurich Insurance, cooking equipment consistently ranks as the leading cause of house fires. A similar trend is evident in the United States, where the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) identifies cooking as the primary cause of home fires and fire-related injuries, and the second most common cause of fatalities and property loss in residential fires.
The newly released Euralarm guidance document explores the issue in depth, offering a technical and regulatory overview of stove guards. These devices are designed to detect hazardous cooking conditions—such as overheated pans or prolonged unattended activity—and intervene before ignition occurs, either by shutting off power to the appliance or sounding an alert.
In its analysis, Euralarm evaluates the functionalities of stove guards, positioning them as a viable solution for mitigating kitchen fire risks. The document outlines how the technology integrates with existing safety systems and highlights how several EU member states are moving towards making stove guard installation a regulatory requirement in certain residential buildings.
The guidance also explores the broader societal and economic impact of implementing this preventative technology. According to Euralarm, widespread use of stove guards could significantly reduce incidents that strain fire services, lower insurance claims, and help prevent displacement or injury caused by domestic fires—particularly among vulnerable groups such as the elderly or individuals living alone.
Euralarm sees this document as a strategic tool for advancing fire prevention efforts and aligning domestic fire safety practices with the technological solutions currently available in the market. By standardising the approach across Europe, the association believes stove guard technology could become a cornerstone of residential life safety frameworks.
The guidance is intended for fire safety professionals, housing providers, regulators, and technology developers who are involved in shaping fire prevention standards and implementing practical solutions in domestic environments.
Copies of the guidance document are available for download via the Euralarm website.