Cross-stitchers love the new halogen floor lamps. The bright
glow sharpens the view of
all those tiny X’s, tinier holes and complicated directions. You
can admire the view.
Just don’t touch the light.
One tired needleworker yawned and stretched after a long session
of stitching, brushing
the top of her hand across the 300-degree halogen bulb. Severe
burns slowed her
stitching for weeks.
“She was lucky,” said Dale Dorman, a housing expert with the
University of Georgia
Extension Service. “The greatest danger of halogen floor lamps
is fire.”
Dorman said the bright new lights are especially popular for the
elderly. Tired,
cataract-fogged eyes find comfort in the intensity of halogen
lights.
“Fire safety concerns have forced changes in the design of
halogen floor lamps,”
Dorman said. “New lamps were designed to meet toughened
Underwriters Laboratories
requirements that took effect in February. They’re supposed to
prevent materials from
igniting from the bulb’s heat.”
Consumer Reports tested the lamps, drawing several conclusions.
Treat halogen floor
lamps with respect, the March report said. The revised UL 153
standard is an
improvement, but the lamps that meet the new standard still
operate at extremely high
temperatures. Keep them away from furnishings or draperies that
can burn.
If you want a new halogen lamp, look for a model that says it
meets the revised UL
153 standard. It should have a metal-grate guard and a thermal
protector. The U.S.
Consumer Product Safety Commission is investigating the latest
designs’ effectiveness,
as well as options for retrofitting old lamps.
“The results of its evaluation may lead to even better designs,”
Dorman said.
Consumer Reports also advises you not to use halogen floor lamps
you already own
that don’t meet the revised standard.
As an alternative, consider buying a lower-wattage incandescent
or florescent lamp.
“The light won’t be as intense,” Dorman said. “But these lamps
use a fraction of the
electricity and operate considerably cooler. This eliminates the
fire hazard halogen
lamps can pose.”
If you love your handwork, love your hands — and your home —
as much. Treat your
halogen floor lamp with respect.
