27/10/2025
No-one wants to be the ‘fun-police’ at Halloween but some Halloween costumes, including wigs and masks, can be highly flammable and are not always subject to the same fire safety checks as normal clothing as they can often be classed as toys.
Halloween is a time where lots of lit candles in pumpkins are on the doorsteps that trick-or-treaters visit and congregate on.
Excited children gathering for sweets are not looking at where their costumes are trailing or candles that they might be standing too close to.
Tips:
🎃 Be careful if buying from cheaper unknown brands online
🎃 Look for the UKCA or CE mark, if you’re in England, Scotland or Wales; if you’re in North Ireland, look for the UKNI symbol along with the UKCA or CE mark.
🎃 Look for the En71-2 mark. All costumes, including wigs and masks, should also be flame-retardant in accordance with EN71-2 (the safety standard for flammability of toys).
🎃 Look for labelling that indicates the costume’s undergone additional British Retail Consortium (BRC) checks. This will mean the costume is likely to have been made to a higher standard of fire safety.
🎃 Use battery operated lights instead of candles
🎃 Be vigilant when out trick or treating or at Halloween parties 🕯️
