Electrical Safety

Electricity is everywhere in our homes, and it's a very useful part of our lives. Yet it only takes one old or poorly wired plug to prove just how powerful it is. The wires don't even need to touch for a spark to jump and a fire to start. Don't get too casual with electricity. Just because there's no flame doesn't mean there's no fire risk.

Here is some useful advice on what to be alert for, what to check, and what not to do.

Planning to Carry Electrical Work at Home?

From 1 January 2005, people carrying out electrical work in homes and gardens in will have to follow the new rules in the Building Regulations.

The new rules have been introduced to reduce the number of deaths, injuries and fires caused by faulty electrical installations and to make it harder for ‘cowboy builders’ to leave electrical installations in an unsafe condition.

The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister has produced a helpful guide "New rules for electrical safety in the home" which you can download here.

How many appliances are on?

At night how many of your appliances are using electricity? Obviously the fridge and freezer, the clock on the cooker, the TV and video on standby, the alarm clock, the mobile being recharged.

And how many are plugged into live sockets that don't need to be? The stereo, the kettle, the radio, the computer. Each one is connected to enough power to start a fire instantly.

At night check your electrics and unplug any appliances that do not need to be on.

Danger signs

Watch out for hot plugs and sockets, fuses that blow for no obvious reason, flickering lights, scorch marks on sockets or plugs. They're all signs of loose wiring or other problems.

Badly wired plugs

If the coloured wires are sticking out of the plug, not only could they be pulled loose but water and debris could get inside the plug.

Fraying power leads

The outer covering of a power lead must not be damaged.

Repaired power leads

If the power lead does get split or frayed, don't tape over it. Water could get in, or the tape could come loose. And never join cables by taping them together.

Overloaded sockets

If you plug too many appliances into an adaptor you could overload the socket, which can lead to overheating. See the plugs and cables page for details of correct use.

Cables in vulnerable positions

Don't leave power leads where they can be tripped over, near a source of water, or close to the cooker top, especially if there are loose coils that could be pushed onto a ring.

Water near electrics

Don't let cables or plugs get wet, and keep liquids away from electrical appliances. Don't put a vase on top of the TV, for example. Make sure the kettle isn't leaking, and don't fill it up when it's plugged in.

Toaster

Keep the toaster clean and away from curtains.

Maintenance

Electrical appliances - especially the ones that run at high speeds and contain motors, like the washing machine and tumble dryer - should be serviced once a year.

Electrical Safety: Plugs and Cables

Plugs and cables are only dangerous if they aren't used properly. Here are the ground rules.

Use the right fuse

The fuse is designed to stop overheating. If the wrong fuse is fitted and there's a problem, a fire could occur.

• Appliances that use up to 700 watts: 3 amp fuse
• Appliances that use 700 to 1000 watts: 5 amp fuse
• Appliance that use 1000+ watts: 13 amp fuse

If in any doubt check the appliance's handbook.

Wire plugs carefully

The outer covering of the power lead should go inside the plug and be secured there. Inside the plug the wires should be held firmly in their places.

• Make sure the right colour wires go in the right places.
• Make sure you have the right fuse for the appliance.

Don't overload sockets

If too many appliances draw power from one socket it can be overloaded and start overheating.

• It is better to use a bar adaptor on a lead, rather than a block adaptor.
• Don't plug adaptors into adaptors. Only use one adaptor per socket.
• Don't allow the total current used by the appliances plugged into the adapter to add up to more than 13 amps of current altogether - or 3,000 watts of power. So, for example, you could have two 2 amp appliances and one 5 amp in an adaptor.
• That means you should never run more than one appliance that uses a lot of current, such as a kettle or television, from one socket.

Throw away damaged cables

If a power lead has a crack or a hole, stop using it. Never mend it with insulating tape. Never join two pieces of power cable yourself.

Never run cables under mats or carpets

They can wear through and no one will know.

Turn off and unplug electrical appliances

When you're not using electrical appliances such as the television, switch them off at the wall and unplug them (unless the appliance is designed to be left on, like a video player that displays the date and time).

Electrical Safety: Fires and Heaters

Electrical heaters use a lot of electricity and generate a lot of heat - two reasons to treat them with great care.

• Keep them clear of curtains and furniture
• Sit at least three feet (one metre) away
• Buy them from reputable shops
• Don't dry washing on or near heaters, or on fire guards
• Don't cover the air grilles of storage heaters, fan heaters and convection heaters
• Use a fireguard with a radiant fire, permanently if you have children

Electrical Safety: Electric Blankets

Checking It

Electric blankets cause more than 500 fires a year. But there are simple ways to stop that happening to you. If your blanket (or its flex) shows any of these danger signs, you should have it checked or replaced:

• Fraying fabric
• Scorch marks
• Exposed elements
• Creasing or folding
• Soiling
• Damp patches
• Tie tapes damaged or missing
• Worn flex
• Loose connections
• An old BEAB safety mark - a round symbol (the new sign is white capital letters on a black background). This means it is more than 10 years old.

Buying a New One

You should replace you electric blanket at least every 10 years. Don't buy a second-hand blanket. Look for the British or European standard and make sure it has a safety certification mark. Make sure the blanket has an overheat protection.

Storing it Safely

Don't fold electric blankets - it can damage the wiring. Better to roll them. Or you can store blankets by putting them on a spare bed. Electric underblankets can be left on your bed all year if you wish.

Using it Safely

• Always follow the instructions.
• Never use an electric underblanket as an electric overblanket, and vice versa.
• Keep all blankets flat.
• Tie electric underblankets to the bed or mattress - this stops them slipping and creasing, which could damage them.
• Only leave a blanket switched on all night if it has thermostatic controls for safe all-night use. Otherwise switch it off and disconnect it before you get into bed.
• Don't get blankets wet, and if your blanket does get wet, don't use it. Never switch it on to dry it.

Testing It

Make sure your blanket is tested by an expert at least every three years.

If in doubt...Chuck it out! A new blanket costs from about £15 but it's worth it. Electric blankets cause more than 5,000 fires a year.

Electrical Safety: Dealing with Electrical Fires

The basic rule in fires is that you should put people's safety above every other consideration. But if a fire has just started and hasn't spread, you may be able to tackle it. With electrical fires, it's vital that you do things right.

• Pull the plug out or switch off the power at the fuse box. This may stop the fire immediately.
• Smother the fire with a fire blanket, or use a dry powder.
• Never use water on it.

If the room is filling with smoke get straight out of the building. The most common cause of deaths from fire is fumes or smoke. You can be affected extremely quickly.