Heat treatment risk & heat-sensitive items

Why this matters

Bed bug heat treatment works by raising temperatures within treated areas. Some possessions, materials, finishes, products and pre-existing defects may be vulnerable to elevated temperatures. We cannot reasonably identify, inspect or know the heat tolerance, construction, condition or manufacturer specification of every item within your property, so preparation is a shared responsibility.

What you are responsible for

• Reading the preparation guidance issued for your treatment in full
• Following all preparation instructions
• Removing specifically identified prohibited or heat-sensitive items
• Telling us about unusual, valuable or potentially heat-sensitive belongings
• Telling us about known property defects or vulnerable materials
• Following any item-specific instructions issued before treatment
• Asking us where you are uncertain about an item

Please do not assume an item is safe simply because it does not appear on an example list.

Categories that may need attention

These are examples only. Being in a category does not automatically mean an item must be removed — the removal guidance issued with your treatment, available in your customer portal, is the authoritative source.

• Aerosols
• Pressurised containers
• Flammable materials
• Combustible products
• Medicines
• Temperature-sensitive medication
• Certain batteries
• Power banks
• Heat-sensitive electronics
• Wax products
• Candles
• Cosmetics
• Certain toiletries
• Artwork
• Musical instruments
• Collectables
• Vinyl records and other media
• Plants
• Food products
• Heat-sensitive plastics
• Adhesives
• Glued or laminated items
• Specialist fabrics and materials
• Items with manufacturer temperature restrictions
• Other items specifically identified by BHE UK

Manufacturer instructions

Where an item's manufacturer specifies storage or operating temperature limits, please tell us where those limits may be relevant to your treatment. We will not claim an item is heat-safe contrary to known manufacturer guidance.

Electrical and electronic equipment

We do not tell customers that all electronics are safe. What is required depends on equipment type, manufacturer instructions, condition, battery type, power state, placement, and the approved guidance issued for your treatment. Where we do not have approved guidance for a specific item, we escalate the question to the team rather than guess.

Pre-existing condition

Heat treatment may reveal or worsen vulnerabilities that are already present in items or property components, for example:

• Loose veneers
• Weak adhesives
• Existing cracks
• Delamination
• Deteriorated finishes
• Previously damaged furniture
• Aged plastics
• Previously compromised electrical equipment
• Existing decorating defects

We do not automatically attribute every subsequent defect to a pre-existing condition. Any dispute is assessed on its evidence.

Concealed or undisclosed items

We cannot reasonably inspect the contents of every drawer, cupboard, box, bag, container, storage area or personal possession. You remain responsible for completing the preparation requirements and disclosing relevant heat-sensitive items. Nothing here attempts to exclude liability that cannot lawfully be excluded.

The technician's arrival check

The technician's arrival inspection is an additional safety check. It does not transfer your preparation responsibility to the technician. Where a potentially unsafe item is identified we may request its removal, isolate it where appropriate, alter the treatment plan, exclude an area or item from treatment, delay treatment, or decline to commence treatment where that is necessary for safety. Significant decisions are recorded in your treatment record.

Your preparation declaration

Before treatment begins you confirm the following in your customer portal. The version you accept is recorded with its content hash and cannot be altered afterwards.

• I have read the Bed Bug Heat Experts UK Preparation Centre guidance.
• I have completed the required preparation for the areas being treated.
• I have removed items specifically identified as requiring removal.
• I have disclosed items or property features I believe may be unusually heat-sensitive.
• I have contacted BHE UK about any item I am uncertain about, or accept that I should do so before treatment begins.
• I understand that heat treatment deliberately exposes treated areas and permitted contents to elevated temperatures.
• I understand that BHE UK cannot know the heat tolerance or condition of every possession or material within my property.
• I understand that treatment may be delayed, modified or refused where preparation or safety requirements have not been met.

Liability

Nothing in this document excludes or restricts liability for death or personal injury caused by negligence, for fraud or fraudulent misrepresentation, for your statutory consumer rights, or for any other liability that cannot legally be excluded or restricted. The purpose of this document is a fair allocation of responsibilities, not a blanket waiver.

If you believe something has been damaged

Tell us as soon as possible. We record the item, its location, your description, photographs or video, any pre-treatment evidence, your preparation declaration, technician arrival evidence, relevant manufacturer information and the treatment timeline, and a person reviews the report. Liability is never decided automatically or by software.

Contact us or raise it through your portal.