“These sorts of fires are not as rare as you would think. They can happen all year around, but as we head into summer and the sun gets stronger, it's really important that reflective items such as mirrors, crystals and glass ornaments are kept out of direct sunlight.”
Where you have a mirror or any other glass object, such as an ornament, that is curved, this allows the glass to act as a lens. When the sunlight hits it, it becomes concentrated and, if the rays are bounced onto something flammable (such as curtains or soft furnishings) then a fire can start.
This is due to the reflection of light (sunlight) by the mirror. The reflection of light can be defined as the bouncing of light after striking a surface.
If the concave side is placed into direct sunlight, the mirror can focus the sun's rays and start a fire on anything combustible. Many outdoor enthusiasts know this well and carry magnifying glasses or concave mirrors to start campfires using the sun's rays.
Don't place outdoor mirrors where they could impact bird flight and never place them in parts of your garden that get direct sunlight for long periods. Whilst they're unlikely to start a fire, they will create glare or you could crack them.
Avoid direct sunlight
Just as indoors you have to be wary vases and windows don't set your sofa on fire, outdoors you need to make sure the mirror won't focus the sun directly onto anything that would burn easily. Simply put the mirror in an area that's more shady or at an angle to the most intense spots of sunlight.
A question we're often asked is: Can you put mirrors outside? The answer - of course you can! But what's important is obviously how the chosen mirrors will fair in the conditions outdoors. If you take regular mirrors out, they will generally weather and stain over time.
Garden mirrors can cause fires when they are concave and direct the sun's rays onto a combustible material with a low flashpoint. Paraboloid mirrors are better fire-starters than spherical concave mirrors. Plane and convex mirrors won't cause fire as they don't concentrate the sun's thermal energy.
The likelihood is very, very slim, however; you have the right kind of mirror, it actually can occur," says Chief Solomon of the West Columbia Fire Department. He says concave mirrors can cause the fires.
Among the first known tools made to harness the power of the Sun are Yangsui burning mirrors, made in Ancient China, around 3,000 years ago. Like a magnifying lens these concave bronze mirrors reflected and focused the Sun's rays to a specific point. On a bright sunny day this produced enough heat to start a fire.
Eye Safety - do not look at the sun directly
The mirror needs to be about 30 metres (30 yards) away from the wall to get a sharp image. You should use a smaller square (pinhole) if you want a shorter distance.
Because light and heat travel together, since light can be reflected off of a mirror, heat also can be reflected to some extent.
Untoughened glass and untoughened (normal) mirrors are heat resistant to around 80C, toughened glass and mirrors are four or five times more heat resistant so 320C to 400C- well above the maximum temperature you can expect behind a hob.
Magnifying beauty mirrors can concentrate the sun's rays causing near-by objects, such as curtains, clothing, paper or furniture to set fire. Anything that can concentrate the sun's rays – like fish bowls or glasses of water – should be kept away from windows to reduce the risk of a fire breaking out.
If you are looking for Feng Shui mirror placement for good luck in the dining room of your house, ensure it is not facing a window. If the mirror in the dining room is facing the window, there's a chance that external energy might get captured in the dining room.
Generally, hanging a mirror opposite a window will allow it to reflect the most light but placing a mirror next to a window will also capture and reflect a considerable amount of light too. By using a mirror in this way, you can make the space feel lighter and brighter throughout the day.
It Can Disturb Sleep
Even if the room is dark, any light reflected off the mirror can cause discomfort and prevent you from falling asleep or staying asleep. It could also give you the impression that you are being watched.
Create the Illusion of Having More Space
Mirrors can be deceiving – it's not a bad thing, but we can decorate with mirrors in such a way that they show a different effect than what's real. You can instantly show the effect of having more outdoor space by adding a mirror to your backyard.
Mirrors should always be placed on the eastern and northern walls of the house and never on southern or western walls.
If you have a small outdoor space you're struggling to style, hanging an outdoor mirror on a wall in that space is a great place to start your styling journey. Mirrors draw your attention to their reflective surfaces making small spaces feel intimate and full of intrigue.
When people over-clean their mirrors, the product can get behind the mirror and destroy the backing over time. "Bathroom mirrors are constantly exposed to moisture which causes damage over time to the silver backing," Dani told Real Homes. That's the reason black spots and darkened edges appear over time.
- Avoid exposing your mirror to excessive heat, as this can cause cracking.