Notice of danger to human health or safety and risk mitigation for portable electric heaters

Health Canada's mandate includes helping to protect the public by addressing or preventing dangers to human health or safety posed by consumer products. For that purpose, Health Canada's Consumer Product Safety Program (CPSP) administers and enforces the Canada Consumer Product Safety Act (CCPSA) and its regulations.

Danger to human health or safety

Health Canada has assessed the hazards associated with the use of portable electric heaters. These products may pose a burn or fire hazard.

Based on the danger to human health or safety assessment, Health Canada has determined that the following products pose a danger to human health or safety:

Certain portable electric heaters that do not conform to the applicable criteria set out in:

CSA C22.2 NO. 46-13 (R2018) – Electric Air-Heaters, or
CAN/CSA E60335-2-30:13 (R2018) – Household and similar electrical appliances - Safety - Part 2-30: Particular requirements for room heaters (Adopted IEC/CEI 60335-2-30:2009, fifth edition, 2009-11, with Canadian deviations), or
the equivalent.

Certain portable electric heaters where the abnormal testing criteria set out in the following standards indicates a hazard exists:

CSA C22.2 NO. 46-13 (R2018) – Electric Air-Heaters, or
CAN/CSA E60335-2-30:13 (R2018) – Household and similar electrical appliances - Safety - Part 2-30: Particular requirements for room heaters (Adopted IEC/CEI 60335-2-30:2009, fifth edition, 2009-11, with Canadian deviations), or the equivalent.

Risk mitigation

Based on the information currently available, CSA C22.2 NO. 46-13 (R2018) – Electric Air-Heaters and CAN/CSA E60335-2-30:13 (R2018) set out criteria that may be sufficient to mitigate the risk of burn and fire. These standards set out testing requirements for portable electric heaters including those related to the burn or fire hazard posed under the following conditions:

portable heaters directed at a surface;
drape tests for portable heaters;
furniture restrictions;
shredded paper test;
stalled fan;
overturning of portable heaters;
air filter blockage (if applicable);
ruptured element test (if applicable), and
dielectric testing pre and post abnormal operation.

CAN/CSA E60335-2-30:13 (R2018) includes equivalent criteria to CSA C22.2 NO. 46-13, with the addition of criteria to address a slowing fan.

You can find additional details about the scope of products affected and the hazards in the danger to human health or safety assessment.

Responsibilities

Manufacturers, importers, advertisers and retailers are reminded that:

Health Canada may take immediate compliance and enforcement actions in line with the Department's compliance and enforcement policy framework when it has reasonable grounds to believe that a consumer product is a danger to human health or safety. Regulated parties that fail to comply voluntarily may be subject to enforcement actions under the CCPSA, which may include seizure, orders to take corrective measures, orders to recall products, administrative monetary penalties, or criminal prosecution.

Health Canada will continue to monitor the situation and may update this notice and the associated danger to human health or safety assessment as warranted.

Information resources

If you require additional information regarding this Notice, visit the resources below or contact Health Canada Consumer Product Safety via email (ccpsa.lcspc@hc-sc.gc.ca) or telephone at 1-866-662-0666 (toll-free within Canada and the United States).

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2024-11-28