Stakeholder views on tumble dryer safety
Invitation to OPSS stakeholders to share views, data and other relevant evidence about tumble dryers supplied for use in the UK.
Purpose of this request
The Office for Product Safety and Standards (OPSS), part of the Department for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade, is inviting stakeholders to share views, data and other relevant evidence about tumble dryers supplied for use in the UK.
We want to ensure that our understanding of what makes a safe tumble dryer reflects the latest evidence and technological developments. This is particularly important in light of the number of product fire notifications that identify tumble dryers as a potential cause of domestic fires.
We are interested in evidence about what makes a safe product and the underlying causes of the fires notified to us.
Responses will supplement OPSS’s own evidence base and help us develop a fuller, market-wide understanding of tumble dryer design, safety performance and fire risk.
About the OPSS product study
OPSS is initiating a product study to improve understanding of tumble dryers and associated fire-spread risks across the UK market. The study will examine a range of appliances across price points, manufacturers and brands, including heat-pump, condenser and vented technologies. The brand details of appliances examined will not be published in the study report.
The work is anticipated to include product testing and comparative engineering assessment of:
- components, configurations and technologies used in tumble dryers;
- fire-related hazards and credible ignition and fire-spread pathways;
- safety-critical design and construction features;
- fire detection, mitigation and containment measures;
- consideration of supply chain; and
- aspects of machine repairability
The study will help OPSS identify evidence gaps, prioritise proportionate interventions and may help to inform any future regulatory, policy, enforcement or standards-related work.
Stakeholder request
To supplement our own product study, we welcome relevant information held by, or known to, stakeholders. This may include published or unpublished evidence, provided that any limitations, assumptions and confidentiality considerations are clearly identified. Please note the information on Confidentiality and Data Protection below.
How to respond
When you respond, where possible, please identify:
- the source, scope and date of the evidence;
- the product types, models, production periods and markets covered;
- the methodology used and any material limitations;
- a contact for any follow-up questions; and
- whether you wish to flag the information as confidential. Information that is not identified as confidential may be shared with other public authorities or referred to in published outputs.
If information is commercially sensitive or confidential please clearly mark it and explain the basis on which it should be handled. Please anonymise any case studies with third party personal data in them. OPSS may contact respondents to clarify submissions or request supporting material.
Please send responses to OPSS.enquiries@businessandtrade.gov.uk by 1 December 2026 using the subject line “Tumble dryer product study – stakeholder evidence”.
Alternatively, please let us know if you would prefer to provide information via bilateral dialogue.
We are grateful for stakeholders’ assistance. Contributions will supplement OPSS’s own testing, analysis and engagement and will support our future regulatory work.
Confidentiality and data protection
BIST is committed to protecting the privacy and security of your information. This notice informs you how we collect and process your personal data in accordance with data protection legislation when you share information with us.
The way in which your data is handled varies depending on how you submit your response, but all information submitted to us will be treated in accordance with data protection principles.
You can read the OPSS privacy notice. We may modify or amend this privacy notice at our discretion at any time. When we make changes to this notice, the last modified date at the top of this page will be updated. Any modification or amendment to this privacy notice will be applied to you and your data as of that revision date. If there are substantive changes to how your personal data is processed, BIST will take reasonable steps to make sure you know.
Information you provide, including personal information, may be disclosed in accordance with UK legislation (the Freedom of Information Act 2000, the Data Protection Act 2018 and the Environmental Information Regulations 2004).
If you want the information that you provide to be treated as confidential, please tell us, but be aware that we cannot guarantee confidentiality in all circumstances. An automatic confidentiality disclaimer generated by your IT system will not be regarded by us as a confidentiality request.
We are trialling Artificial Intelligence (AI) solutions to support the delivery of our functions. In accordance with data protection law and ICO guidance, we will not use AI alone to make decisions about you, or to inform decisions about you, unless this has been made expressly clear to you in advance. Any use of AI will be subject to appropriate human oversight.