Electrical safety

Here are a few simple rules fire safety rules that will help you to prevent electrical equipment starting fires in your home.

But even if you follow all of them, you should still fit a smoke alarm. Buy a smoke alarm that complies with the British Standard or equivalent international standard.

Electrical appliances:

• At night, turn off and unplug all electrical appliances except those that are meant to be permanently switched on (like videos and fridges).
• Always make sure the electrical appliance has the correct fuse. Use a 3amp fuse for equipment up to 720 watts, a 13amp fuse for equipment over 720 watts.
• Avoid multi-way adaptors. Overloading an electric socket by using several adaptors can cause overheating and fire. One plug, one socket is best.
• Don't run extension leads or cables under carpets. You won't be able to see any damage to them.

Find out if your electrical products are on our product recall list, a comprehensive listing of items which have been recalled by the manufacturers.

Wiring:

Look out for warning signs of dangerous wiring, like:

• Hot plugs and sockets.
• Fuses that blow for no obvious reason.
• Lights that flicker.
• Brown scorch marks on sockets and plugs.

If you see any of these warning signs, ask a qualified electrician to check your wiring.

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