The devastating fire in March on Union Street in Glasgow has raised major concerns around the safety of vape stores and has led to multiple calls for action.
By Sarah Britton
The inferno which started in a vape shop in Glasgow in March has thrown the spotlight onto the safety of vape shops and led to a flood of demands for action to prevent a similar disaster in future, something which may impact upon legitimate stores selling vaping products. The fire raged through Glasgow’s Union Street, destroying multiple outlets and causing Glasgow Central Station to close for 10 days.
At its height, 18 fire appliances and specialist resources attended the fire, which was first reported at 3.46pm on Sunday 8 March. Close to 300 firefighters were involved in tackling the incident over the course of four days and the horrific ordeal has pushed the perceived lack of regulation in vape retail much further up the priorities list for the public and for Scottish politicians.
Following the incident, it has come to light that the vape store where the fire started was not paying non-domestic rates and was not registered on the Tobacco & Vape Retail Register.
First Minister’s Questions on 12 March saw Scottish Labour Leader and MSP for Glasgow, Anas Sarwar, ask John Swinney what urgent lessons the government would learn from the incident.
The First Minister pledged to review the regulations on vape premises. He said: “There is regulation in place. There is more regulation being actively pursued by the UK government which will affect Scotland and which we are party to that regulation.
“We will also be looking to identify what further steps are required to ensure that there is proper and effective regulation of these premises that are taken forward.”
The Scottish Greens wasted no time in renewing long-standing calls for stronger regulation of vape retailers.
Scottish Greens Co-Leader, Gillian Mackay MSP, said: “The age of shops selling products containing lithium-ion batteries facing fewer checks than a corner shop selling alcohol, must end.
“The Scottish Greens have been clear when it comes to vapes – the Scottish Government must introduce a robust licensing scheme that gives local councils the power to refuse licences, enforce safety standards and take action against businesses that break the rules.”
Glasgow City Council says it will push for greater regulations on vape shops and the storage of lithium-ion batteries following the fire and will call on the Scottish Government to strengthen rules around the sale and storage of these products.
Safety first
Mo Razzaq, owner of Premier Mo’s Blantyre, and former National President of the Federation of Independent Retailers, urged for retail safety to be taken seriously.
“For years, the Federation of Independent Retailers (the Fed) has called for stronger enforcement and better resourcing for Trading Standards,” he said.
He highlighted that over 1.2 million illicit vapes were seized in the UK in 2023–2024 [National Trading Standards figures], and that in some checks one in three vapes tested were illegal or non-compliant. “At the same time, Trading Standards staffing has fallen by more than 50% since 2010,” he claimed. “Illicit vapes mean unknown battery safety, build quality and chemical contents.
“Responsible retailers follow the rules – but rogue operators put everyone at risk.
We need proper enforcement, stronger action on illicit products, and lithium-ion fire extinguishers in vape shops to protect businesses, workers and the public.”
The UK Vaping Industry Association (UKVIA) has written to fire authorities across the UK, stating that the trade body is keen to work with the fire service nationally, alongside other relevant authorities and bodies responsible for ensuring the safety of retail environments, to help prevent any recurrence.
John Dunne, UKVIA Director General, said: “While we await the outcome of the investigation into the cause of the fire, we would very much welcome the opportunity to engage with the National Fire Chiefs Council to ensure that, in the meantime, we are doing everything possible to advise our retail members on any immediate steps they should take to confirm that appropriate safety measures are in place in their premises.
“We are already aware of retail members having sent circulars to their stores immediately following the fire to reiterate fire and battery safety measures.”
Once the cause is known, he claimed UKVIA would welcome the opportunity to work closely with the National Fire Chiefs Council and the relevant authorities to identify any lessons arising from the Glasgow incident that can be learnt to ensure that such an event does not happen again.
UKVIA has also been working with the British government on the introduction of a mandatory retail licensing scheme, proposed as part of the Tobacco and Vapes Bill which is currently before Parliament. “This goes beyond the Scottish registration scheme, and we believe it could provide an effective mechanism for supporting robust compliance with fire safety requirements in vape retail stores across the UK in the future,” said Dunne.
Expert advice
In the meantime, waste experts BusinessWaste.co.uk have highlighted the dangers of vape-related fires, following the incident.
When vapes are [wrongly] disposed of in household bins, they can lead to fires in bin trucks and at waste management sites, posing a huge risk to workers and the public, warned the business waste management and collection firm.
Vapes contain lithium-ion batteries that can overheat and ignite when damaged or crushed. If vapes enter bin lorries or waste management facilities, this is common because waste is compressed, stated the company.
Any retailer who sells vapes must offer a free takeback service. This means providing a vape bin in store or at the place of sale in an accessible place for customers. Shops need to use signage and posters to make customers aware that they can recycle vape products in store.
Retailers can arrange collection of the vapes from an approved recycler or WEEE compliance scheme. Store owners are required to keep records of the number of vape units collected and passed on to the vape collection service provider.
For further information on vape compliance, download the SGF Retailers’ Guide: Regulations for Vaping & Tobacco Compliance.
The Office for Product Safety and Standards (OPSS) enforces the collection of vapes and other electrical products. You can be prosecuted and get an unlimited fine if you do not comply with the WEEE regulations.
Mark Hall, WEEE expert at BusinessWaste.co.uk, said of the Glasgow fire: “It serves as a poignant reminder of the fire hazards associated with vapes. The ban on disposable vapes was certainly a step in the right direction. While a reusable vape is still the preferred option, the lack of education on correct disposal means we’re likely to see vape-related bin and waste fires continue.”
