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When it comes to fire safety and electrical fires, we can become very complacent due to a feeling of familiarity. However, overlooking important security issues such as electrical safety can be fatal. Every year, around 70 people are killed and 350,000 injured due to home electrical accidents. Electricity causes almost half of all accidental house fires in the UK; they threaten both your property and your possessions, and possibly your life. The reasons behind these frightening statistics become obvious if you consider the typical, modern lifestyle. We use an array of appliances and gadgets in everyday aspects of our lives including cooking, washing and gardening, and many of these can pose an electrical fire risk. Thankfully, we here at Sparks can provide you with advice that will enable you to avoid the likelihood of an electrical fire in your home. Our tips for keeping on top of electrical safety in your home Ensure you have at least one Residual Current Device (RCD) An RCD is a potentially life-saving device, for it is designed to prevent you from receiving a fatal shock at home (if you were to touch a bare, live wire, for example). It's primary purpose is to turn the electricity off automatically if it detects a fault. This means that an RCD will provide some degree of protection against electrical fires. RCDs provide a higher level of protection than ordinary fuses and circuit breakers. Under UK safety standards almost all sockets in new electrical installations (and new sockets) must be protected by an RCD. There are three main kinds of RCD: fixed, socket-outlet and portable. Fixed RCDs are the most important kind of RCD to have installed in your home. They are placed in the consumer unit (fusebox) and provide protection to individual or groups of circuits. The socket-outlet type has an inbuilt RCD, which offers protection to the person in contact with equipment plugged into the socket, as well as from the lead. Portable RCDs will plug into any standard socket outlet, and you can then plug your appliance into the RCD. Portable RCD types are commonly used for outdoor appliances, such as mowing the lawn or trimming hedges.Buy RCDs at Sparks Have an Electrical Installation Condition Report (EICR) periodically An EICR is a periodic inspection report on a property's safety in relation to its electrical wiring . This report has also been called the ‘Landlord Safety Test’ or the ‘Homebuyers Test’. The tests are carried out by qualified electricians. We would highly recommend that you have an EICR inspection carried out every 10 years for your home. The primary purpose of an EICR is to guarantee the safety of the resident and to ensure they are not susceptible to electrical shocks and/or fires. You can have one arranged by clicking on this link. Precautions when using portable heaters Place the heater on a level surface, away from anything that may knock it over. Make sure the heater is at least a metre away from combustible materials, and do not use it to dry your clothes on. Do not leave the heater ON and unattended for an extended period of time. Never power a heater from an extension lead. These leads can become overloaded and start electrical fires. Electrical Safety First (ESF) has a free online ‘Product recall checker’ where you can find if your portable heater (or any other item) has been recalled. Other general tips for preventing the occurrence of electrical fires Ensure that you have conducted an EICR in due time, you are RCD protected and use portable heaters safely; these are some of the crucial steps to take in preventing electrical fires. Here are some other general tips: Don’t overload electrical adaptors by plugging too many appliances into one socket, especially those with a high electrical current rating such as kettles, irons and heaters. Visit this link from ESF to ensure your sockets are safe. Check flexible cables for damage, wear and tear, and see that the plug is fastened securely to the cable. Don’t use the appliance unless both it and its cable are in adequate condition. Don’t store combustible materials, such as clothes, papers or cleaning materials close to your service head (cutout fuse), electricity meter or fuse box. Hand-held electrical appliances, such as hair dryers and straighteners get heated during regular use. Make sure that when you have finished using them, you switch them off, unplug them and store them away safely. Check your sockets regularly – if you see burn marks or they feel hot, get a registered electrician to check if they need repairing or replacing. Make sure that you have a working smoke alarm on each floor of your property – if a fire does start, this will give you a chance to get out safely. If you follow these tips, you should have significantly reduced the risk of an accidental electrical fire in your home.Buy Switches and Sockets at Sparks

When we are at home, we usually feel very safe and become complacent. However, overlooking important security issues such as electrical safety can be fatal. Doing some visual safety checks around your home can save your life. Each year, around 70 people are killed and 350,000 are injured due to an electrical accident at home. Electricity causes almost half of all accidental house fires in the UK, so it may damage your property and possessions - and threaten your life. The reason for these worrying statistics becomes obvious if you consider our modern lifestyle. We use an array of appliances and gadgets in everyday aspects of our lives. If you consider home systems such as Alexa and Google Home, we rely on technology now more than ever. Thankfully, Electrical Safety First (ESF) has a wealth of information on how to use electrical devices safely at home: you can engage in a simple visual safety check and ESF even offers a free intuitive app. We here at Sparks take electrical safety at home very seriously. In this article, we will run through simple measures you can take now - to make you and your family safer. The basics of visual safety checks: RCD protection Firstly, you should check that you have RCD protection in your fuse box. An RCD is a life-saving device, designed to prevent you from receiving a fatal shock at home; if you were to touch a bare, live wire, for example. It provides a higher level of protection than ordinary fuses and circuit breakers. Under UK safety standards almost all sockets in new electrical installations (and new sockets) must be guarded by an RCD. If you have one or more RCDs, you should ensure they are working properly by pressing the ‘Test’ button, at least once every three months.Buy RCDs at Sparks The basics of a visual safety check: Don’t overload sockets Install more sockets instead of overloading them! Here's a suggestion: the 1 Gang 13A Double Pole Switched Single Socket in Brushed Steel BG Nexus Metal Raised Plate. Now that the average household has a multitude of devices used by every family member, there is a greater need for sockets. Many people have extension leads in their homes, using 4-way bar adaptors to increase the number of appliances that they can plug in. If this is the case in your home, then you should: Make sure you know the total current rating and wattage of plugged-in appliances before you plug in and use them with an extension lead or socket. Ensure you know the total current rating (amperage) and the wattage of the appliances you are using. The total current rating shouldn’t exceed the maximum current rating of the lead, and the wattage cannot exceed 3000W. Otherwise, the plug in the wall socket can overheat and potentially start a fire. Check the current rating of the extension lead prior to plugging any appliances into it. Most leads are 13A rated; however some are rated at 10A or lower, and you will need to know this. Use only one extension lead per socket to avoid the risk of overloading. Always defer from plugging one extension lead into another. Use a multiway bar extension lead – many ‘block’ adaptors do not have a fuse and are not recommended for use, as they are not very safe. Install more sockets if you need to. If you regularly need to use an extension lead in a certain area of your house, we recommend you get a registered electrician to install an extra double socket there. Electrical Safety First has developed an online “socket calculator” to help ensure you are using your sockets safely.Buy BG Nexus Metal Raised Plate The basics of a visual safety checks: other steps to take Checking that you are RCD protected and haven’t overloaded your sockets are two crucial safety checks you can conduct yourself. There are many other top tips from ESF, which we shall go through here: Check that visible cables and leads are in good condition. Regularly check for danger signs. These include the smell of hot plastic (melting sockets or appliances), and scorch marks around a socket, plug or appliance. Also be on the lookout for damaged or frayed leads, or fuses that keep blowing for no apparent reason. Examine your light fittings to see they have no visible signs of damage and that your downlighters are in good working condition. Do not store combustible materials around your fuse box, electricity meter or electrical intake. Don’t use the top of the microwave for extra storage space. Never leave cables trailing under carpets or rugs. Make sure your electrical items are switched off when you are not using them. Never take mains-powered electrical items into the bathroom. What you can achieve with a visual safety check Using these tips and the ESF visual safety app (available to download for your iPhone or Android phone), you could have a quick look over your home now to see that you are using your electrical appliances safely. However, if you are having a new installation built, or want a thorough check of your home then don’t hesitate to contact a registered electrician.