Home

Warning
Halogen
Lamp Fixtures
Cause Fires

First available in 1983, the torchiere lamps are free-standing lamps with the light fixture mounted on top of a pole about six-feet high.

Tubular halogen light bulbs operate at temperatures much hotter than incandescent bulbs. Tubular halogen bulbs of 250, 300 and 500 watts have the potential to start fires in nearby combustible materials. These bulbs can reach temperatures up to 1,200 degrees.

Consumers must understand that lamps with tubular halogen bulbs are much different than lamps with incandescent bulbs - and therefore must be treated differently.

Follow these tips for safer use of halogen lamps:

• Purchase and use only fixtures tested by a recognized testing laboratory, such as U.L.
• Place torchiere halogen lamps away from curtains and combustible wall decorations.
• Use the lamp only for its intended purpose; clothing and towels should never be draped over a lamp.
• Turn off a torchiere halogen lamp when you leave the room or are not home.
• For torchiere halogen lamps equipped with a dimmer switch, operate the lamp at a setting lower than the maximum whenever possible.
• Keep halogen torchiere lamps away from bunk beds and lofts where bedding may get too close to the tubular bulb.
• Replace 500 watt bulbs with 300 watt bulbs

In Case of Fire, Evacuate Immediately and Call 9-1-1.

• Alert U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission issues a warning on tubular halogen bulbs.
• Alert U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission & Tensor Corp. announce recall to replace 500-Watt halogen bulbs.

We would greatly appreciate your feedback about this site.  RSS Feed Copyright © 2008 University of Maryland DES

UM Home | Directories | Search | Admissions | Calendar Maintained by Department of Environmental Safety Direct questions and comments to safety@umd.edu