Fire Proofing arrangements

[Mocha Rose]

I'm just wondering if anyone has ever used a fire retardant spray on a centerpiece with candles? I'm making large branch centerpieces with handmade bird's nests with votives. I have made a few prototypes and I'm 99% confident they are safe. I even had one with candles burning for over 10 hours. However when it comes to safety, 1% is too large of a margin of error for me.

There will be no florals on the part that I will be spraying so I'm not worried about the chemicals hurting the flowers.

I just purchased this which was recommended by the rep I talked to on the phone after I described the arrangements: http://flamebustersofkansas.com/ind...Path=7&zenid=ba53883015d5959170152b6f9f4081ca

I'm just wondering if anyone has any advice or other product recommendations.

Have you ever used fire proofing chemicals?

 

[BOSS]

I doubt you can "fire proof" a birds nest, but maybe someone else will have better info...

What I would do is use Syndicate glass votive cups, they are about 1.5" tall and wide...then I would not worry about it.

 

[Mocha Rose]

I doubt you can "fire proof" a birds nest, but maybe someone else will have better info...

What I would do is use Syndicate glass votive cups, they are about 1.5" tall and wide...then I would not worry about it.

Actually, I'm already using the glass votive cups nestled inside the nests. My only worry is the heat from the flame contacting the birch branches. I'm probably overthinking this but a fire at a wedding would be my worst nightmare.

 

[lfederman]

Maybe you can use LED lights instead, especially if they are inside the bird's nests. No one will ever be the wiser, and you'll be able to sleep soundly!

Linda Federman

 

[Gilliland]

I would recommend you DO NOT place a candle in any silk arrangement, you are just asking for a law suit to happen. Also, by voicing these concerns on this board, if that suit ever happens, you can kiss your business good bye.

Don't ever put out a product in this day and times where any concern for saftey exists. If you don't beleive what I say, just ask the companies that are not longer existing because of an unsafe product suits.

I am not tring to be mean, just a word to the wise.

 

[Michelle McMichael]

We also have a wedding using tealights and votives, with a request for something that made me nervous. My customer wants glass with candles hanging overhead, suspended from rafters with ribbon.

For safety's sake, the candles will be battery powered flickering amber acolytes and the jars will be attached with wire with ribbon over the top.

We have used the battery lights in the shop displays before, also as a safety concern. I wasn't a fan at first, but I can't tell you how many times I walked by a display and had a moment of surprise when I saw a LIT CANDLE!! before I remembered that it was an acolyte ... and I even knew they were out there!

 

[Mocha Rose]

We also have a wedding using tealights and votives, with a request for something that made me nervous. My customer wants glass with candles hanging overhead, suspended from rafters with ribbon.

For safety's sake, the candles will be battery powered flickering amber acolytes and the jars will be attached with wire with ribbon over the top.

We have used the battery lights in the shop displays before, also as a safety concern. I wasn't a fan at first, but I can't tell you how many times I walked by a display and had a moment of surprise when I saw a LIT CANDLE!! before I remembered that it was an acolyte ... and I even knew they were out there!

My alternative idea is to use frosted glass votives with the flickering acolytes.

After reading these responses, I may go that route. I'll do a mock up tomorrow and see how it looks. Thanks for the responses!

Oh, and there are no silk flowers involved- just birch branches and willow. I see branch centerpieces with hanging votives often. I would never take that risk as the branch would be directly above the flame! In this case, the branches are placed so there is nothing directly over the flame and the votives are in glass holders that are .75" taller than the flame. After 8 hours of burning, the surrounding branches weren't even warm. The flame retardant spray is just an extra precaution. I'll see if I can find a picture of my mock up. It's my biggest event of the year so of course I'm thinking all the "what ifs". In this case, I have a feeling I will go with the frosted votives in the end.

Again, your feedback is greatly appreciated!

 

[bloomz]

I would recommend you DO NOT place a candle in any silk arrangement, you are just asking for a law suit to happen. Also, by voicing these concerns on this board, if that suit ever happens, you can kiss your business good bye.

Don't ever put out a product in this day and times where any concern for saftey exists. If you don't beleive what I say, just ask the companies that are not longer existing because of an unsafe product suits.

I am not tring to be mean, just a word to the wise.

Thanks for reaffirming that - I just repeated it too all our staff and it needs driving home as I think we have done that in the past with Christmas centerpieces - long time ago but rest assured it will never happen again.

Green dot

 

[Queen of Weddings]

lord must be the moon.

My alternative idea is to use frosted glass votives with the flickering acolytes.

After reading these responses, I may go that route. I'll do a mock up tomorrow and see how it looks. Thanks for the responses!

Oh, and there are no silk flowers involved- just birch branches and willow. I see branch centerpieces with hanging votives often. I would never take that risk as the branch would be directly above the flame! In this case, the branches are placed so there is nothing directly over the flame and the votives are in glass holders that are .75" taller than the flame. After 8 hours of burning, the surrounding branches weren't even warm. The flame retardant spray is just an extra precaution. I'll see if I can find a picture of my mock up. It's my biggest event of the year so of course I'm thinking all the "what ifs". In this case, I have a feeling I will go with the frosted votives in the end.

Where I am there is an open flame law..

I don't mean to bust chops on this , on the response of yours that it is my biggest eventof the year, it doesn't matter, Well in your case it does, .

Ok so the darn thing didn't get warm or even hot, well I think there are a few fact missing are these table arrangments? Well did you think of someone banging into them? OPPS or even a waiter hitting the area? OPPS. or even possible a child in AWE ? OPPS, or my favorite when the guest say oh honey wonder how that works? Opps, Sorry but when I had read this post it caused, and major problem in my gut. You can even get ice cubes that will work in the votive holders and produce more light, also there are light up branches that you can use, so many options to do this arrangment. Be ever so safe, also another thing, that spray is in some cases, not the best thing to breath in, So use with caution on this as well, Even if fabric is fire retardant it can still catch and melt.

Always be safe in all aspects of fire, or any thing over the head...

I am sorry if . I offended, But safety should be first, also check with the local fire Marshall before doing anything, so place have size requirements even on votives on a table,

 

[Mocha Rose]

My alternative idea is to use frosted glass votives with the flickering acolytes.

After reading these responses, I may go that route. I'll do a mock up tomorrow and see how it looks. Thanks for the responses!



Where I am there is an open flame law..

Forgive me if I'm not doing the quotes properly.

Yes, it is tabletop and my concerns were exactly the same as you mentioned above. There are no open flame laws here. Also I physically set up a working version of the centerpiece on site at the venue. They have approved the design for use for this event.

The closest pic I can find to what I am doing is below. My design is taller and more vertical. The votives are in glass holders nestled in the nests. The way the candles are placed in the arrangement is similar to the one below- on top with nothing over top.

Ok so the darn thing didn't get warm or even hot, well I think there are a few fact missing are these table arrangments? Well did you think of someone banging into them? OPPS or even a waiter hitting the area? OPPS. or even possible a child in AWE ? OPPS, or my favorite when the guest say oh honey wonder how that works? Opps, Sorry but when I had read this post it caused, and major problem in my gut. You can even get ice cubes that will work in the votive holders and produce more light, also there are light up branches that you can use, so many options to do this arrangment. Be ever so safe, also another thing, that spray is in some cases, not the best thing to breath in, So use with caution on this as well, Even if fabric is fire retardant it can still catch and melt.

Always be safe in all aspects of fire, or any thing over the head...

I am sorry if . I offended, But safety should be first, also check with the local fire Marshall before doing anything, so place have size requirements even on votives on a table,

I'm not offended at all! I posted this to get opinions and I got them and I'm taking them very seriously. This arrangement is beyond my comfort level. I am not about to risk my business over one event.

I'm suprised no one has taken the route to research fire proofing though. How often do you see table arrangements with candles in them like candleabras? Do people who put these out not care about the risks? The photos below are not my arrangement. They are ones I look at and they make me ill because they do not seem safe- but they are everywhere. And if you are talking about what if someone bumps the table, what if someone places a linen on top of a standard votive candle on the table?