Check These Points Before Buying a Camping Gas Heater or Burner
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Key Takeaway
Start with the KC mark and certificate number. None of the 22 camping gas products bought through overseas purchasing agents that the Korea Consumer Agency surveyed had a KC mark.
Why look at the KC certification mark first?
Camping gas appliances are classified as "portable butane and propane burners." They carry a fire risk, so they must pass a domestic safety inspection, and only when safety is proven at every stage of inspection can they be marked with the KC certification mark and distributed, sold, and used.
What did the survey find?
When explosion and fire accidents involving camping gas products bought through overseas purchasing agents were reported to the Consumer Injury Surveillance System (CISS), the Korea Consumer Agency and the Korea Gas Safety Corporation investigated together. Below are the results published in the January 2023 issue.
| Item | Result |
|---|---|
| Products surveyed | 22 gas products bought through overseas purchasing agents (6 heaters, 8 burners, 8 lanterns) |
| KC certification mark | None on all 22 |
| Safety standard tests | 11 of 14 products with accident concerns (6 heaters, 4 burners, 4 lanterns), or 78.6%, failed |
| Problems found in heaters and burners | Gas leaks, carbon monoxide emissions over the limit, inadequate overpressure protection, tendency to tip over |
| Lanterns | 1 of 4 had its glass break during testing |
| Sales information | None of the 22 sellers listed KC certification status, model name, country of manufacture, or manufacturer on the sales page |
| Manuals | 21 of 22 had product information and manuals in a foreign language or provided none |
Four of the heaters were built for both heating and cooking. The Korea Consumer Agency said that using heaters and burners with confirmed problems such as gas leaks or emissions over the limit in an enclosed space raises the risk of carbon monoxide poisoning, suffocation, and fire, so caution is needed.
What should you check before buying?
- Look for the KC certification mark and certificate number on the outside of the product.
- Look up the certificate number and confirm the product information matches.
- Check that the sales page lists KC certification status, model name, country of manufacture, and manufacturer.
- Check that the manual is provided in Korean.
- Check the stated purpose, heating or cooking, and do not use one product for both.
- If you have already bought a product that was not inspected, you are advised to report it to the Korea Gas Safety Corporation or the Korea Consumer Agency.
What should you follow when using one?
The Korea Consumer Agency urged people to check the product labeling and manual and use the product for its stated purpose, keep a suitable distance from it, and ventilate often to prevent suffocation accidents. The 2020 consumer safety alert for campsites advised not to use a pot or grill plate larger than the trivet on a portable gas stove, because it overheats the butane can.
If you already have a heater or burner bought through an overseas purchasing agent, start by looking for the KC certification mark and certificate number on the outside of the product.
Product information
Candidates compared
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Kovea Burusta Gas Range
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Kovea Plate Burner
Check price and stock at the link. Product information is as of the date checked.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where do I check the KC certification mark?
The Korea Consumer Agency advises checking the KC certification mark and certificate number on the outside of the product, and looking up the certificate number to see whether the product information matches.
Can I cook on a heater?
Gas appliances are required to be made and used for a single purpose for safety. The survey found 4 heaters built for both heating and cooking, and 2 of them were labeled or advertised as usable for both.
Can I put a large pot on a portable gas stove?
The Korea Consumer Agency warns that using a pot or grill plate larger than the trivet overheats the butane can, which is dangerous.
Sources & Verification Date
- Uncertified camping gas products carry a high risk of explosions and fires (Korea Consumer Agency, Consumer Era, January 2023 issue) · Verified
- [Consumer safety alert] 30.8% of campsite safety accidents are burns and poisoning (Korea Consumer Agency, 2020-02-24) · Verified
All materials have been verified from official announcements and may have changed since verification.