Even if candles in the office promote the Christmas spirit: Due to the high risk of fire, the fire safety regulations of the University of Siegen prohibit the lighting of candles.

There are good reasons for this:

• Left unattended for a short time (e.g. because documents are being taken to the neighboring office), a small candle flame can quickly turn into a major fire.
• Many of the frequently used candle "bases" burn faster than you think.
• Dry fir branches ("Advent wreath"), paper napkins etc. go up in flames within seconds!
• The paperless office is still a vision of the future. Therefore, there is always easily flammable material near the candle flame.

• Even supposedly safe glasses with candles inside can cause fires: Experience has shown that the glasses become very hot during prolonged use, so that their surface temperature alone can cause paper, for example, to catch fire.
  
  

  

Violations of the fire safety regulations can have consequences under employment law. In the event of a fire, the employer may be obliged to pay compensation to the person responsible!

Of course, there are no objections to an Advent wreath with unlit candles (or battery-operated electric candles).

For further information, please contact our fire safety officer Ralf Schmelzer on tel. 740-3311.