Innohome in the AAA class
Innohome remains in the highest credit rating class, AAA. We have continued our high-quality operations, as evidenced by Dun & Bradstreet’s AAA credit rating, which includes only 3% of Finnish companies.
In Dun & Bradstreet’s credit rating system, companies are divided into seven different classes, with AAA being the highest. The AAA class requires above-average financial indicators, a positive background, good payment behavior, and a sufficient volume of operations.
Mastering the Stove Guard standard EN 50615
Different standards are common written agreements, requirements, and recommendations regarding, for example, the characteristics of a product or service. The Stove Guard standard EN 50615 provides the framework for the operation of the stove guard.
The Stove Guard standard EN 50615 is part of a family of standards. This means that stove guards are also subject to a number of other regulations. For example, safety regulations for household electrical appliances also apply to stove guards. The stove guard standard is a product standard that specifically addresses the unique features of stove guards.
The requirements of the stove guard standard can be roughly divided into two parts: regulations governing the operation and characteristics of the device.
Operation of Stove Guards: Cooking Tests
An important part of verifying the reliability of stove guards is testing the operation of the stove guard in practice. The standard specifies in detail how the tests should be conducted. For example, the amount of oil in relation to the size of the pot used is detailed in a table, and the test kitchen must resemble a typical kitchen with upper and lower cabinets.
The power of the cooker hood can affect the test results, so all tests are conducted both with the cooker hood turned off and at full power.
The stove guard standard categorises stove guards as follows:
Group A – Extinguishing. The stove guard must extinguish an already started fire. Although the fire may not spread widely, flames and the extinguishing system inevitably cause material damage.
Group B – Preventive. The stove guard must cut off the power to the stove before a fire starts. This requires advanced technology and is by far the most common due to its efficiency.
Group AB – Combination. Group AB stove guards must be able to both anticipate and extinguish fires.
The majority of stove fires could be completely prevented with a category B stove guard. They are superior in terms of price-quality ratio, and most stove guards on the market belong to this category. Therefore, we focus particularly on the requirements for type B.
Category B Cooking Tests
Category B stove guards are tested with three different cooking tests:
1. False Alarms
The purpose of this first cooking test is to ensure that the stove guard does not interfere with normal cooking. The test requires three water pots and one oil pot. Water is boiled for 20 minutes, after which the oil pot is heated at full power while the water pots are simmering nearby.The stove guard must cut off the power to the stove before the oil heats to 330 degrees, but it must not cut off the power before the oil is at least 200 degrees.
2. Testing the Plates Individually
This test ensures that the stove guard cuts off the power to the stove in a dangerous situation even in non-optimal conditions. The oil pot is heated on one plate, and empty pots are placed on the others to create blind spots. The test is repeated on all plates, and the stove guard must cut off the power in each case so that the oil does not ignite.
3. Worst-Case Scenario
In this test, the plate that performed the worst in the previous test is selected. The pot used is replaced with a cast iron pan, and the test is repeated. In this test too, the stove guard must cut off the power to the stove early enough. The oil in the pan must not ignite even after the power is cut off.
Other Requirements for Stove Guards
The cooking tests aim to ensure the operation of the stove guard as comprehensively as possible. However, since there are many types of kitchens and cooking situations, the stove guard instructions must specify, for example, the allowed installation locations, the method of attaching the device, and the maximum width of the stove. This minimises the risk of disturbances caused by incorrect installation.
The Stove Guard standard EN 50615 also creates other requirements for stove guards. It may be necessary to adjust the sensitivity of the device either during installation or afterwards. An incorrect sensitivity level can affect the reliability of the stove guard, so changing the sensitivity settings must not happen accidentally or automatically.
Additionally, the stove guard standard pays attention to, for example, the device’s ability to stay in place, testing its functionality when the stove guard is already in use, and the possibility of temporarily turning off the device.
Many requirements for kitchen electrical appliances apply to stove guards as they are. These requirements relate to, among other things, residual current protection, the durability and moisture resistance of the device, and its components.
Timely Response
To be useful in a real situation, the stove guard must react to dangerous situations with sufficient sensitivity, but on the other hand, it must not interfere with cooking or cause unnecessary alarms. The Stove Guard standard EN 50615 aims to ensure this.
The Innohome Stove Guard is the first stove guard to meet the stove guard standard, and Innohome has a long history of developing and manufacturing stove guards. In addition to the stove guard standard, stove guards must also meet other requirements. For example, Innohome Stove Guards also comply with radio equipment and electrical safety requirements.
Fire prevention just got easier: Innohome and Malmbergs to partner in Sweden
Award-winning Innohome Stove Guards are now more readily available in Sweden as Malmbergs, a leading electric product supplier in the Nordics, broadens their selection with smart fire safety.
We are glad to announce that Innohome has started cooperation with Malmbergs. The cooperation will strengthen Innohome’s position in the Swedish market and make preventive fire solutions more accessible in the Nordic countries.
Malmbergs is a Sweden-based company with the focus on distribution and wholesale of electrical items. The company has subsidiaries in Norway, Denmark, and Finland.
“Product safety and quality are of utmost importance to us. We are happy to have a like-minded company on board,” says Magnus Johansson, product manager at Malmbergs. “An innovative product that helps to keep home safer is a great addition to our selection.”
“Product safety and quality are of utmost importance to us. We are happy to have a like-minded company on board.”
Innohome is a pioneer in fire prevention and a global market leader in stove safety products. More than 50 % of home fires start from the kitchen, and most of those fires could be prevented with the Innohome Stove Guard.
Innohome Stove Guards have been installed in over 400,000 kitchens worldwide. Through the cooperation, Innohome’s patented fire prevention technology will be available in Malmbergs’ stores across Sweden.
We welcome Malmbergs as our Swedish representative with excitement and look forward to working together to serve our customers.
EV charging made easy
Separate RFID tags? Connecting to wi-fi? There’s no need for any of that hassle. Innohome Charlie charging station is your reliable partner for everyday charging.
Plug in and charge. It really is that simple. Innohome Charlie charging stations are designed to make charging your EV easy while keeping it fast and safe.
“Our vision was to make a charging station that truly benefits the user. It should be very simple and easy to use but allow room for some customisation too, all while maintaining high standards and affordable prices,” says R&D director Riku Roine from Innohome.
The simple charging station is always ready for use and although it can be managed with different applications, it isn’t dependent on any kind of network. We all know how much the tiniest connection errors affect todays world. No bank access, no streaming your favourite series, and the list goes on. Innohome Charlie charges your car regardless of the network conditions.
Safe charging with Innohome Charlie
EVs need high power to charge, which makes safety a big factor in their charging and charging products. Innohome Charlie charging stations have been designed with safety in mind, and you can charge worry-free at any time of day.
“Our background is in fire safety and specifically in preventive solutions against electrical fires, so we really know how to make it safe,” says Roine.
Innohome Charlie charging stations have a built-in 6mA DC residual-current monitor, which in addition requires a Type-A residual-current device on the supply side, as described in our installation instructions. Together, these both cover the safety requirements for DC and AC residual-current protection.
Fatal electrical fires start from the stove
Misuse of stoves and cooktops is the leading cause of deaths in electrical home fires. The improved fire analysis process in Sweden allows the authorities to dig deeper into the root causes of fires.
According to The Swedish National Electrical Safety Board, a total of 14-18 people died in electrical home fires in Sweden during 2020. 9-11 of the cases were due to improper use of stoves and cooktops, and majority of the deceased were in their 70s or older.
Swedish Civil Contingencies Agency (MSB) introduced a new analysis process and a new register of fire deaths in 2020. The new register gives us a better understanding about the reasons behind fatal fires. The recent findings by The Swedish National Electrical Safety Board show that misuse of stove is the leading cause of fire deaths in electrical home fires.
Fires by faulty equipment are something that can be reduced through supervision and market control. Misuse, on the other hand, needs different measures.
Nordic fire safety
Other Nordic countries have very similar problems. In Finland, for example, carelessness while cooking has been the leading cause of home fires for years. To protect the most vulnerable, Finland now requires stove guards to be installed to all new stoves and cooktops in senior and service housing, as well as in apartments for special groups.
Norway is a pioneer in fire safety, and stove guards have been mandatory there to all new residential buildings since 2010. Stove guards, electric smoke alarms, and better cooperation between different instances have reduced fire deaths by almost a third during the past ten years.
Innohome invests in product development: a senior mechanical engineer joins the company
High-quality and innovative products are at the core of Innohome’s business. To support the rapid growth of the past years, we are now welcoming a skilled product development professional to our team. Jari Pyrä started at Innohome as a senior mechanical engineer in February 2023.
In recent years, Innohome has invested heavily in product development and introduced new products to the market. With the company growing, there was a need to further strengthen our research and development team. We are pleased to welcome senior mechanical engineer Jari Pyrä to Innohome’s energetic team. Jari is a skilled product development professional with over 30 years of experience working with various technologies, materials, and software.
Jari moved to Innohome from Etteplan, where he also held the role of senior mechanical engineer. He has a long background in product development and project management at companies such as Etteplan and Nokia. To Innohome, Jari brings his valuable mechanical know-how and vision, and will drive our product development forward.
“People here are motivated to develop, and it has become clear already in this short time.”
Innohome is known for smart and award-winning technology solutions with which we have improved the safety of kitchens and homes since 2005. “People here are motivated to develop, and it has become clear already in this short time,” says Jari. Innohome is devoted to product development, too. “The design tool is, of course, absolutely essential in my work, but we are also considering all kinds of procurements related to it, which will increase efficiency,” states Jari.
Home safety is the future
As befits a product development expert, Jari is particularly enthusiastic about Innohome’s products. A considerable amount of technology and innovative solutions are hidden behind the simple exterior of home charging stations and fire prevention products.
“I’m quite an innovative guy myself, and I like to try out new things. We shouldn’t always do things the way we’ve been doing them before. Instead, we should be asking if there is a better or smarter way to do them”, says Jari.
Jari believes that home safety is a growing trend. The number of electric cars is increasing rapidly, which means safe EV charging solutions are needed in more and more homes. On the other hand, fire safety regulations are developing too. The most recent example is from Finland, where stove guards became obligatory to new stoves in senior and service housing starting from January 2023. “Stove guards are already mandatory in all new buildings in Norway, and it may well be that in few years the rest of the Europe will follow suit,” estimates Jari.
Newly appointed Innohome’s Sales Director Jan Henriksson: ”It’s motivating and meaningful to work with products that can save lives”
Innohome is strengthening its position as a provider of fire prevention and safe home charging for EV’s. The company has grown and invested in new product development also during the globally challenging couple of years. We are boosting our sales with a new sales leader. M.Sc. (BA) Jan Henriksson started as a Sales Director in January at Innohome.
”We are delighted that Innohome’s and Jan’s paths crossed. Jan has a versatile background of leading sales in international companies especially in the medical technology industry. We are convinced that Jan’s experience is of benefit also in growing the sales of our products and services. Our mission is to prevent as many domestic fires as possible and thus decrease the human suffering related to fires. Jan plays a big role in fulfilling that promise” says Juha Mört, CEO of Innohome.
Jan has a proven track record of increasing sales in both established companies, such as iCare Finland Oy, as well as start-ups.
“I had a good impression of the company and people in it already beforehand. I am thrilled to become part of this team in a growing Finnish company, which operates with life saving products already internationally. The growth potential is huge, and every device sold is helping to keep people safer in their homes” comments Jan.
”It’s motivating and meaningful to work with products that can save lives” – Jan Henriksson
Jan’s strengths are in building and maintaining a partner network which supports Innohome’s strategy of close partnership with its key customers. His expertise benefits also Innohome’s Management team to which he is appointed of. Jan reports to CEO Juha Mört and leads the Innohome sales team.
We wish Jan warmly welcome to Innohome!