How Safe Are Fire Tables

Ever wondered how safe a fire table actually is? Short answer: an EcoSmart bioethanol fire table is very safe when it's used as designed, no gas line, no tank, no flue, but it's still an open flame and deserves the same respect as any live fire. Here's what actually matters.

What Makes a Bioethanol Fire Table Different

There's no gas line, no flue, no gasfitter and no annual service to book, because there's nothing to vent. Burning e-NRG bioethanol produces heat, steam and a little carbon dioxide, and that's genuinely it: no smoke, no soot, no ash. Ignition is entirely manual too, a lighting rod and fire lighter rather than an electronic igniter or pilot light, which also means there's no wiring or gas fitting to corrode or fail.

The Real Risks Worth Managing

The genuine safety rules on a bioethanol fire table centre on the fuel, not the flame itself: refuel only once the unit has been out for at least 60 minutes and is fully cool, always use the safety nozzle and bottle adaptor rather than pouring straight from the bottle, and never top up a burner that's still warm. Those three habits cover almost every real risk.

Keep the burner insert itself clear of anything. Glass media sits around it, never inside or over it. And treat the flame the way you'd treat any other live fire: never leave it burning unattended, and keep children and pets at a sensible distance rather than relying on the burner alone to manage that.

Clearance and Placement

Outdoors, EcoSmart's guidelines call for 2,000 mm of clear space above the unit and 600 mm from fixed objects, set up on a level, non-combustible base. The 360° articulating feet help it sit properly even on slightly uneven pavers or decking. None of this is complicated, it's just worth checking once at setup and again if you ever move it.

Indoor Use Has Extra Requirements

Both the Fire Base 40 and Pod 30 are rated for indoor use, but only with the Indoor Safety Tray fitted and the included AB8 Efficiency Ring in place, in a room with a minimum volume of 116 m³ and adequate ventilation. That's a genuine requirement, not a suggestion. An outdoor-only setup shouldn't be brought inside without it.

If Something Doesn't Look Right

A healthy flame burns evenly along the burner insert without excessive flickering or sudden changes in size. If ignition seems difficult, the flame looks uneven, or the reservoir or insert shows any sign of damage or corrosion, stop using it and get it checked before relighting. It's the same commonsense rule as any appliance with a live flame: when in doubt, don't use it, and ask.

Certification Worth Checking For

UL 1370, EN 16647 and ACCC compliance are the marks to look for. They confirm the burner and unit have actually been tested, rather than relying on a supplier's word for it. My Acre backs every fire table with a 2-year warranty on top of that.

If a fire table doesn't carry recognised certification, or the seller can't tell you which standards it's tested to, that's worth treating as a warning sign rather than a minor detail. It's the same logic as any other gas or fuel-burning appliance in the home: the certification is what separates a genuinely tested product from one that simply looks the part.

A Genuinely Cleaner Flame

Because there's no wood and no smoke, a bioethanol fire table sidesteps the smoke, ash and lingering smell that come with a traditional wood fire, and there are no embers or sparks drifting free the way there are with timber. That makes it a straightforward, low-mess option for most suburban backyards and courtyards.

Treated properly, refuelled safely and given the clearance it needs, a fire table is one of the lower-maintenance, lower-risk ways to bring a live flame into an outdoor space.

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Hayden Pearson

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About the author:
“I have a real passion for helping transform outdoor spaces so people can relax, connect and entertain with confidence and pride. With My Acre, I love guiding homeowners to create beautiful and functional outdoor living areas."