Cooker Cut off Devices

Heat alarms

We recommend fitting a heat alarm in your kitchen. A heat alarm is a warning device that detects an increase in temperature from a fire but is insensitive to smoke.

Heat alarms are more suitable than smoke alarms for detecting fires in kitchens or other rooms where steam, fumes or moisture could cause nuisance alarms in smoke alarms.

Find out more about smoke and heat alarms

In addition to installing alarms, if you or a family member are more at risk when cooking, we advise looking into further safety technology, such as stove guards (sometimes known as cooker cut off devices) for electric cookers or locking cooker valves for gas cookers.

Stove guards/cooker cut off devices

Stove guards can be particularly useful in homes where using the hob becomes high risk due to conditions such as Alzheimer’s and dementia, disabilities or learning difficulties.

Stove guards use a heat sensor to cut the power to the cooker to prevent a fire. They can be installed to any electric hob or cooker:

• A sensor is mounted on the wall behind the hob or the cooker, or to the cooker hood, or the ceiling.

• The sensor monitors the hob, sensing heat, the rise in heat, smoke, steam and human presence.

• If it detects a dangerous situation it instructs the power control unit, which is fitted between the power output and the hob, to cut the power preventing a fire.

They can connect to telecare, enabling staff to be alerted when the power has been cut to protect the resident. 

If you are considering purchasing a stove guard, investigate the different options and ensure it is fitted by a qualified specialist.

The stove guard will cut the power if the:

• food has started to burn or if a pan has boiled dry.

• temperature is becoming dangerously high.

• hob/cooker has been left unattended.

• temperature is rising too quickly.

• cooker/hob is inadvertently left on after cooking has finished.

The sensor warns the user if a dangerous situation is likely to occur with a visual and audio alarm. If the user is not in attendance and does not take action and does not press the reset button on the sensor the power to the hob/cooker will be cut.

Locking cooker valves

A locking cooker valve is a safety device that can be fitted to existing gas cooker pipework. When the valve is locked, the gas supply to the cooker is stopped. A care giver can easily control (with a key) when gas can and cannot be used safely once a locking cooker valve is fitted.

Locking cooker valves are useful in homes where cooking becomes high risk due to conditions such as Alzheimer’s and dementia, disabilities or learning difficulties. They can help individuals retain their independence and provide reassurance to family, friends and carers.

In the North West, Cadent (gas distribution network) supply and install locking cooker valves for free.

Visit the Cadent website to find out more about locking cooker valves (external website)