Artificial Christmas Tree Safety: Here’s What You Need to Know

It’s an annual tradition to gather around the Christmas tree and open up presents. The light in your little one’s eyes when they see what Father Christmas brought them is all you need to want a magical tree.

However, there is important safety information you should know so you can safely and happily enjoy your artificial Christmas tree at home this Christmas. At Christmas Tree World all of our artificial Christmas trees are fire retardancy certified, ensuring you can enjoy Christmas without worrying about safety.

Keep reading to discover our top safety guidelines to keep you and your family safe this festive season.

Safety benefits of an artificial Christmas tree

Many people buy artificial Christmas trees because they can use them year after year, saving money. On top of this, they don’t shed needles that you’d need to pick up, making them easier to maintain. You can easily set these trees up and store them in one of our Christmas tree storage bags once the festivities are over.

Furthermore, natural Christmas trees are wood, a material that is typically used as a fire-starter. As your tree sits in your home, it dries, making it more prone to fire. You can prevent fires through daily watering, but this extra work may not be worth it. Plus, you might attract pests to your home.

Your artificial Christmas tree provides a classic look that you can enjoy yearly without fail. The needles won’t fall, and the base is sturdier than a natural one. On top of all this, artificial trees are safer than real trees because they are made from flame-retardant materials and do not decompose.

Dangers of an artificial Christmas tree

While all of Christmas Tree World’s artificial Christmas trees are safe and fire retardancy certified, if you have an old artificial Christmas tree, this may not meet modern fire safety standards. Some old artificial trees have been recalled due to their fire-prone materials. If you own an older artificial Christmas tree, you may not know the exact composition of your tree, and it may not have a fireproof coating. If in doubt, it pays to purchase a new realistic Christmas tree.

Artificial Christmas tree safety tips

Choosing an artificial Christmas tree for your home is a great investment and something you can enjoy decorating every year with your family! Here are some safety tips to help you make the most of your tree.

1 - General guidelines

The very first step when buying an artificial Christmas tree is to see if it is fire retardant. All of Christmas Tree World’s artificial Christmas trees are fire retardancy certified, showing that a fireproof coating and materials have been used.
A brand new artificial Christmas tree will come in the box safe and ready to use. However, after storage each year when you take your tree out of its box, use a cloth to wipe down any dust that might have gathered. Dry it off with a clean cloth to remove any remaining debris. Accumulated dust may increase the flammability of the tree.
After continued storage, check your tree for any broken or loose wires, LED lights, or connections if it’s a pre lit Christmas tree. Make sure you inspect the bulbs as well. We offer a 10-year guarantee on all of our artificial Christmas trees so you can enjoy your brand new tree for many years to come!
For those with older trees, research your model to see if it has been recalled. If so, do not plug in your tree and get a new one.
Position your tree away from any open flames or exits. You want to minimise the chance of it catching fire or falling over. It’s best to keep your tree away from table lamps, radiators, candles and fireplaces.

2 - Decorations and lighting

We always recommend looking for LED lighting for your Christmas tree. LED lights stay cooler than incandescent ones, and they use less energy.
You also need to check to see if your Christmas tree lights are for indoor or outdoor use. If you want to decorate your garden with sparkling lights, you need to use outdoor Christmas lights. Only use lights that have a British standard safety marking.
When inspecting old lights, check them to see if they are in working condition. Look for signs of torn or frayed wiring, bulbs that light, and secure connections. If you have older Christmas tree lights, consider getting newer ones with updated safety standards.
Avoid overdecorating your tree. Having too many lights or ornaments may cause the tree to collapse. Any hanging Christmas tree decorations need to be clear of heat sources as well.
Furthermore, avoid overloading one electrical plug with too many strings of lights. You can keep your home safe and reduce your energy bill by decorating in moderation.
When arranging your lights, do not connect lots of light strings in a row. Lights in series create a combined voltage equivalent to the individual voltages of each string, which will strain your plug sockets.
At night, make sure you turn off all of the Christmas lights. Periodically check the socket to see that everything is plugged in completely. Half-plugged in wiring can lead to fire and electrical hazards.
Keep the manufacturer’s instructions for all of your Christmas tree decorations. You want to install them correctly each year.

3 - Fire safety

Whatever you do, do not put an open flame on your tree. It’s far safer to use strings of LED lighting to achieve a magical glowing effect.
Keep any flammable materials like paper away from the tree, and keep your presents out from under the tree until Christmas Eve. A Christmas tree skirt is a great way of ensuring your presents stay away from the tree as it creates a pretty partition.
If you have a burning candle in the room with the tree, extinguish it before you leave. Wait until the wick embers stop glowing before you leave. Even the tiniest lit ember can lead to a fire.
If you have lit candles, always use a candle holder. Choose one with a steady base and wax collector to keep your furnishings clean and fire-free.
Make sure any fire alarms and smoke detectors you have are fully working on a regular basis.

4 - Child and pet safety

If you have kids at home, set some ground rules for conducting themselves around the Christmas decorations. You will want them to keep their hands off any ornaments or lights to prevent any breaks or accidents.
Set rules to keep your children from playing with wires. If you have pets, baby gates may help prevent them from chewing or removing Christmas baubles from your tree.
If you have candles, only light them in rooms with adult supervision. Store any unlit candles away from your child’s rooms as well. It goes without saying to keep any lighters or matches out of their reach.

How to safely choose an artificial Christmas tree

When you first look for an artificial Christmas tree, consider the size of your room. You want your tree to fit your space, so measure the width and height. Generally, trees have proportionally wide bases to height.

Start by measuring the diameter where you want to put the tree. Look for a tree that is six or more inches shorter than your ceiling to allow for some clearance and leave room for a tree topper.

Choose a room where you can see the tree from multiple angles. As previously mentioned, you want to keep it away from heating sources and doors. Most people put them in corners where they won’t obstruct movement. You might need to move your furniture around the room to make room for the tree.

If you have little floor space, look for a tree with a narrow shape like a pencil or a slim Christmas tree. You’ll still be able to decorate it as you want and these trees look incredible in smaller spaces.

Buy an artificial Christmas tree for your home this winter

Artificial Christmas trees are a great option and most importantly they are safe to use. Make sure you choose one that meets safety standards and follow the above guidelines.

Always remember: