Fire Guards & Screens

Fire guards and screens stand in front of an open fire, stove or heater to keep people back from the heat and flames and to stop sparks and embers reaching the room. This category covers fireguards, extending nursery guards, flat and domed spark guards, and folding fire screens.

Types

• Nursery guards: tall guards, often extending, that enclose the hearth to keep young children away from the fire. Choose one with side clips that hook into brackets fixed to the wall.
• Fireguards: free-standing curved or shaped guards that cover the fire opening.
• Spark guards: mesh screens, flat or domed, that stop sparks and spitting embers from an open fire or fire basket.
• Fire screens: folding three or four panel screens that stand in front of the fireplace.

Standards and sizing

Look for guards made to BS 8423. It covers fireguards for domestic fires and heaters that burn gas, solid fuel or oil or run on electricity, and is intended to protect people, particularly children and older people, from burns and from touching burning fuel or hot parts. Measure the width and height of the fire opening and the depth of the hearth so the guard covers the whole opening. Gas fires and oil heaters sold for homes generally come with their own fitted guard under the Heating Appliances (Fireguards) (Safety) Regulations 1991.

Using a guard safely

A guard does not replace supervision: never leave young children alone in a room with a lit fire or heater. Where a heater already has a built-in guard, an extra surrounding guard gives small children more protection. Clip nursery guards into their wall brackets every time they are used.

For fire irons and brushes, see companion sets and tools, or browse fires, stoves and accessories.