ABOUT SPARE THEORY

Editorial Standards

Last updated: 14 October 2026

Spare Theory publishes evidence-led guides, calculators and field tests for building a more resilient home. Because “preparedness” content is often built on hype and invented numbers, we hold ourselves to a simple rule: we only claim what we can show our working for.

Research and sourcing

We prioritise primary sources — manufacturer specifications, standards bodies (for example IEC, IEEE, NSF), and government and public-health guidance (for example energy, food-safety and emergency-management agencies) — over second-hand blogs.
Every guide and tool lists the sources we reviewed and the date the facts were last checked, so you can see what a claim rests on and how old it is.

Testing and measured results

In our field tests every figure is labelled measured, spec or estimate. We only mark a number “measured” when our own test desk recorded it, and we publish the method, conditions and limitations in full so results can be questioned or reproduced. Manufacturer claims and modelled figures are always tagged as such and never presented as our own findings.

What we will not do

Invent or fabricate prices, star ratings, review counts or hands-on testing.
Claim to have tested a product we have not physically evaluated.
Let affiliate commissions decide what we recommend or how we rate it.
Copy unverifiable “survival” folklore into practical guidance.

Independence

Editorial recommendations are made independently of commercial relationships. Brands and retailers do not see reviews before publication, cannot buy placement, and have no approval rights. Our affiliate disclosure explains how the site is funded.

Keeping content current

Preparedness products and standards change, so every piece carries a fact-check date and a scheduled review date. When a page goes out of date — a product is discontinued, a specification is corrected, guidance changes — we update it and revise the date. We periodically re-audit published content against our checks rather than letting it drift.

Corrections

If you spot an error, especially one that could affect safety or a purchasing decision, tell us via our contact page. We review every report and follow our corrections policy.

Global scope

Spare Theory is written for households worldwide. Where a recommendation depends on regional factors — mains voltage, water quality, local building or electrical code, or climate — we say so and point out what to check locally rather than assuming one country’s rules.