Caution Using Heat Lamps in Livestock Barns

By Nic Baumer

It’s that time of year when we hear in the news of barn fires as a result of heat lamps being used for lambing, kidding, and even calving.  As temperatures get colder, livestock producers raising young animals need to make conditions favorable for rearing newborns in adverse conditions. Adding heat lamps to livestock pens should be done with caution.  With any electrical appliance or heating source, precautions need to be taken.

If you must use a heat lamp, best management practices recommend the following tips:

1. Purchase a high-quality heat lamp. Use lamps that are enclosed with a heat lamp guard (wire or otherwise). If using a lamp outdoors, make sure the lamp is labeled for outdoor use.
2. Use high- quality bulbs. Low quality bulbs such as thin glass can shatter.
3. Regularly inspect to make sure that the bulb is tightly secured, and wiring is not exposed, is sealed, and is secured.
4. Avoid using bulbs over 250W.
5. Many lamps are used over numerous years. Remove any dust, cobwebs, or dead insects before use.
6. Secure the lamp to a panel using a non-flammable chain or a heat lamp clamp.  Do not use twine or rope.
7. Make sure the lamp is secured high enough that adult livestock cannot tamper or abuse the fixture (with head butts, kicks, or bashing).
8. Keep the lamp away from the ground, combustible bedding (like straw and blankets), and the newborn livestock at a minimum distance of 20”.  Never lay a heat lamp on a flammable surface.
9. Plug your heat lamp into an Arc Fault Interrupter breaker which will trip if the fixture sparks.  Best practice is to plug directly into an outlet and not an extension cord.
10. Keep a 10-pound, ABC multipurpose fire extinguisher in the barn for incipient fires.
11. Install a loud smoke detector that can be heard at the house that will help to alert you of a fire.
12. A barn temperature monitoring system or fire monitoring system is ideal, but barn cameras will help monitor conditions when use of alternate heat methods are necessary.  This will help keep an eye on barn conditions and potential problems.
13. Never leave a heat lamp unattended, especially overnight.

Heat lamps pose a significant fire risk, as they are designed to warm the area they are heating. There will be cases where you cannot avoid using a heat lamp, and in those situations, it is important to continuously check on the livestock and monitor the pen area for signs of overheating or dryness of the bedding material. Once the animal is warmed, turn off the light.

This column is provided by the OSU Extension Agricultural Safety and Health Team, https://agsafety.osu.edu/.

Sabrina Schirtzinger, ANR Educator Knox County, can be reached at 740-397-0401 or Schirtzinger.55@osu.edu.

Wayne Dellinger, ANR Educator Union County, can be reached at 937-644-8117 or Dellinger.6@osu.edu.

Dee Jepsen, Ag Safety and Health Specialist, can be reached at 614-292-6008 or Jepsen.4@osu.edu.