Firelighters

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Sometimes, it's the little things in life that make a big difference. When enjoying a relaxed barbecue evening, this can often be seen in choosing the right firelighter. Sudden sparking, sulfur dioxide emissions, or carcinogenic gases can all pose risks that dampen the joy of summer grilling. But who really considers such dangers when purchasing firelighters? This is where the DINgeprüft certification for firelighters comes into play.

Learn how our certification ensures that health and safety risks associated with firelighters are minimized—helping you avoid reaching your boiling point while ensuring your charcoal heats up perfectly.

We are DIN CERTCO, a DAkkS-accredited certification body and part of TÜV Rheinland AG. We are also the only certification body authorized to issue DIN marks for firelighters. Our conformity assessment is based on the DIN EN 1860-3 standard, which sets safety limit values for the use of firelighters. At DIN CERTCO, integrity is our top priority—our motto, "We build trust," reflects our commitment to working fairly, impartially, transparently, and reliably. We aim to provide consumers with a trusted basis for their purchasing decisions through our globally recognized DIN quality marks.

For over 20 years, we have been certifying barbecue accessories such as firelighters (firelighter cubes, sticks, kindling wool, etc.), barbecue charcoal , and barbecue charcoal briquettes. Our work underscores the growing importance of certifications for barbecue products in an increasingly globalized world. With over 280 valid certifications spanning nearly 20 countries—and significant growth in recent years—we are Europe's leading standards-based certification body for barbecue accessories.

Quality Assurance and Trust: The majority of consumers pay attention to quality seals when purchasing products and perceive products with seals as being of higher quality. Products with quality seals can also achieve up to 15% higher price willingness from customers¹. However, in times of an overabundance of quality seals, the credibility of the seal is key. The DIN mark for barbecue accessories is based on the DIN EN 1860 standard series, developed by a standardization committee, providing a more solid and reliable foundation compared to conventional seals. Thanks to their international recognition and high standards, DIN marks enjoy great trust and appreciation both nationally and worldwide. Additionally, products with the DIN mark are often ranked as top performers in online product comparisons, such as those conducted by Stiftung Warentest.

Market Access and Competitive Advantage: The DIN mark acts as a gateway to the market, as many wholesalers exclusively purchase firelighters that carry a standards-based quality mark like DINgeprüft (translates to: DINtested). The certificates serve as proof of trust for adherence to high-quality standards, helping manufacturers stand out in the competitive market.

Strengthening the Corporate Image: Having DIN-certified products in your portfolio enhances the overall reputation of your company and product range. The positive perception of an independently tested, high-quality product can extend to the entire brand portfolio, significantly boosting your company’s standing in the market.

We test your products for conformity with the requirements of DIN EN 1860-3 . Here, you can find out which limit values apply to which test criteria and what these mean for the quality of firelighters:

• Persistent, bioaccumulative, or toxic substances (PBT substances), as well as very persistent and very bioaccumulative substances (vPvB substances): These are potentially non-degradable substances that remain in living organisms and pose both health and ecological risks.
• Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs): These are produced during incomplete combustion and are potentially carcinogenic.
• Sulfur content: Sulfur dioxide is released during combustion, which is both harmful to health and the environment.
• Flash point (for liquid and gel firelighters): Indicates the temperature at which flammable vapors are produced, ensuring safety by preventing uncontrolled ignition.
• Kinematic viscosity (only for gel firelighters): Ensures the desired handling properties of the firelighter.

Consumer packaging is also tested for its sealing properties to ensure dryness and freedom from stains. For liquid and gel firelighters, a child-resistant closure is additionally tested, and a drop test is conducted.

Furthermore, the firelighter's ignition and burning behavior are examined. For example, there should be no unusual flare-ups, flashbacks, explosions, or formation of sparks, as these could pose a risk to consumers.

1. Initial testing conducted in one of our recognized testing laboratories.

2. Submission of all required documents (test report, application, packaging layout(s)).

3. Conduct of the conformity assessment.

4. Issuance of the certificate after successful evaluation, including the right to use the DINgeprüft mark.

A certificate is valid for 2 years. Each year, following a short-term request by DIN CERTCO, a sample must be sent to a laboratory recognized by us within a specified timeframe and documented with proof of shipment.

Your certificate will be stored in our database . Your customers can easily find the respective product by entering the registration number found on the packaging.

Detailed information about our certification process and the regular monitoring measures is transparently outlined in our certification scheme.

The certification scheme and all necessary documents for the application process are available for download further down on this page.

(1) = Deutsche Gesellschaft für Online-Forschung (DGOF). SPLENDID Research Studie: Gütesiegel beeinflussen Kauf- und Preisbereitschaft erheblich. Retrieved on 11.04.2025, from https://www.dgof.de/splendid-research-studie-guetesiegel-beeinflussen-kauf-und-preisbereitschaft-erheblich/