Posted By The toecap Who says? Why? This is typical nonsense. What does your fire RA say?

Posted By MT Agree with Merv - sounds like nonsense to me. I have a large supermarket in my area which has a microwave in an open plan customer restaurant for customers to use to heat baby food.

Posted By LJ I carry out FRA for my employer(Local authority), the premises i visit are varied, many have open plan kitchens with microwaves. We insist that the microwaves are PAT tested annually by our competent person. In these kitchen areas Fire blankets are provided and also a CO2 extinguisher(again this are subject to annual tests). Staff receive Fire awareness training etc. Hope this helps LJ

Posted By John Cook We allow ordinary microwave ovens in open plan areas. Fire risk assessment has identified that the type of oven with an integral radiant grill requires to be in an enclosed area with a fire door.

Posted By Jay Joshi To me it seems that once again someone is trying to use "fire safety" as a reason for "banning an activity" or discouraging it Depending upon the configuration and ventilation of the space where the microwave oven is located, it is likely that the reason may be the "aroma/odour" depending upon ones likes & dislkes. Although more dependent upon the fire risk assessment, one ideally should not place electrical appliances on "protected/compartmentalised" escape routes. Perhaps, this individual is extrapolating this concept into an open plan environment. Also, this may have the potential to activate fire alarm sensors depending on the location & sensitivity fo the sensors--depending upon what is being heated/cooked! The solution may be to find a location for the microwave oven where aroma/odours has least impact.