
The European standard “EN 15494 Candles - Product safety labels” outlines the safety information regarding burning candles indoors and the requirements for displaying this safety information.

The EN 15494 standard defines a structured product safety label that combines a general warning sign (based on ISO 7010 - W001) with mandatory and optional additional safety symbols or text. This standard applies to candles intended for indoor use (including tea candles, cup candles, floating candles, and votive candles) and sets rules to improve consumer awareness and reduce the risk of fire from misuse.
In short, this standard aims to reduce the risk of fire, burns, and other accidents by ensuring consumers receive clear, consistent, and easily understandable safety instructions before and during candle use.
The EN 15494 standard is a significant complement to the “EN 15493 Candles – Fire safety specification” standard, which defines fire safety requirements for candles themselves. While the EN 15493 standard focuses on product performance, the EN 15494 standard focuses on communicating safe usage practices to consumers.
The EN 15494 standard specifies the requirements for the following:
This standard applies to candles intended for normal consumer use, including:
The primary objectives of the EN 15494 standard are:
The basic requirements in the EN 15494 standard are defined as follows:
To increase clarity, creators may combine symbols with descriptive text.
The latest revision of the EN 15494 standard includes several improvements, including:
These updates provide greater consistency and improve consumer understanding.
The EN 15494 standard is closely related to the “EN 15493 Candles – Fire safety specification” standard. These two standards complement each other. The purpose of the EN 15493 standard is to define candle fire safety requirements. The EN 15494 standard includes product safety labels and consumer warnings. Together, they help manufacturers produce candles that are both inherently safer and accompanied by appropriate usage instructions.
Implementing the EN 15494 standard helps manufacturers in the following areas:
The EN 15494 standard provides consumers with the following benefits:
Examples of safety messages encouraged by the EN 15494 standard include:
The EN 15494 standard is widely applied by the following sectors:
Although most candle fires are caused by misuse rather than manufacturing defects, clear safety communication can significantly reduce these incidents. The EN 15494 standard introduces a uniform approach to product labeling, helping consumers quickly recognize hazards and use candles more safely. This standard, along with EN 15493, also contributes to a comprehensive European framework for candle safety.
In summary, the EN 15494 standard is a European standard regulating safety labeling for candles intended for indoor use. By standardizing warning symbols, label design, and safety instructions, this standard increases consumer awareness and helps reduce candle-related accidents. Compliance with the EN 15494 standard enables manufacturers to provide clear and consistent safety information while supporting product quality and consumer confidence in the European market.
For many years, our organization, with its competent and experienced staff, has been understanding the needs of its clients, providing the advanced testing services they require, and assisting them in the establishment, implementation, and improvement of management systems. Within this framework, we also provide testing services in accordance with the EN 15494 standard.
