Here’s some advice from experts on how to keep your home and loved ones safe from fire.

Paul Macklin, proprietor of ElectriciansOnCall, shared these tips.

Every year, more than half of accidental domestic fires in the UK are caused by electricity. A new appliance may produce a bit of a burning smell the first few times it is used but if you detect an odd “fishy” odour coming from an outlet, your home could be in danger of electrical fire. Most electrical wiring has plastic insulation. Usually the fishy smell means overheating electrical components and melting of plastic wiring insulation.

• Go to the consumer unit (fuse box) and turn off the main switch. This turns off the electricity supply to your home.  The effect is the same as unplugging all devices. Turn off the power before attempting to locate the source of the acrid plastic burning smell.
• Call a registered electrician right away and let them know you have an electrical emergency. Your call should take priority and an electrician be diverted to your home. “We attend within two hours in the areas that we cover,” said Mr Macklin of ElectriciansOnCall.
• A fully qualified electrician will quickly identify and repair the overheating component.  The problem could be a faulty socket or wiring inside a wall and hard to locate. Alternatively, it could involve a UK Power Networks electricity cable coming into the house.
• Occasionally power cables or electricity lines will need replacing because they are old, frayed or loose. Ultimately, the network is responsible for maintenance and safety of these main cables. However, your electrician can locate the fault and contact the body responsible.
• Call the fire brigade for any type of fire or smoke seen or smelled within the home. It could be a life-threatening situation. Even if you’re not sure if you have a real emergency, still dial 999.
• Other warning signs that electrical devices are overheating include discoloured outlets, broken or cracked plugs, equipment that is buzzing, sparking or warm to the touch and frayed cords.

So, why would your home’s electrical installation start overheating?

Some key causes of electrical fires include:

• Faulty domestic electrical white goods, such as dishwashers, tumble dryers and fridge freezers, are the leading cause of electrical fires, according to Electrical Safety First. Registering your product makes it easy to the manufacturer to get in touch if there is a problem. Check if your appliance is safe to use https://productrecall.campaign.gov.uk/
• Poor wiring and installation can increase the chance of fire, power surges and electrical shocks. For this reason, avoid DIY or amateur electrical work and use an electrician registered with one of the government-approved schemes to carry out any electrical installation work that you need, even minor repairs.
• The bathroom is possibly the most dangerous room when it comes to electrical safety. If water and electricity mix, the results can be deadly. There are special requirements for electrical installations in bathrooms, such as enclosed light fittings and the use of extra low voltage accessories.
• Loose electrical connections and faulty outlets: This problem can generate high temperatures over a small area for a long period of time which can trigger an electrical fire. Make regular checks of plugs and sockets for burn marks.
• Insulation breakdown: If insulation breaks down, sparks can fly - increasing the risk of electrical fires. Never use an appliance with a worn or frayed cord which can send heat to a combustible surface, such as a rug or curtains, and start a fire.
• Excessive current rarely sparks fires today as modern fuse boxes (consumer units) are fitted with residual current devices (RSDs). This life-saving device constantly monitors the electric current flowing through one or more circuits and switches off the electricity automatically if there is a fault, preventing electric shocks. Consider changing your fuse box for one with an RCD if it doesn’t have one. You can also buy plug-in RCDs for use in individual sockets. The addition of arc fault and surge protection devices for modern consumer units, which are specifically built to identify faults before they become a major issue, will also lower the risk to you and your property.

Use a qualified electrician for home improvement projects

Electrical work is among the most dangerous work to undertake in the home. Whether you are building a new extension or fitting a new kitchen or bathroom - changing or adding to the fixed wiring should only ever be tackled by a registered and qualified electrician.

Look for an electrician registered under Part P of the building regulations who is fully qualified to carry out electrical installation in residential properties.

Registered electricians will issue safety certificates for their work to show it meets the UK national standards BS 7671.

Electrical safety checks to prevent fires

Regular inspecting and testing of the wiring and fixed electrical equipment in your home is the best way to ensure it is safe for continued use. Homeowners should have electrical safety checks every ten years or when they move home.

These pages will help you to find a registered electrician able to issue an Electrical Installation Condition Report (EICR) and/or Portable Appliance Testing

Under the recent ‘Electrical Safety Standards in the Private Rented Sector (England) Regulations 2020’, five-yearly electrical safety tests are now compulsory for all privately rented housing in England – bringing requirements in line with Scotland. Landlords should only use a UK Government approved electrical contractor to carry out the inspection and testing.

Electrical Safety First, the consumer safety charity, is calling for the Government to extend mandatory electrical safety checks to owner-occupied properties too.

Working smoke alarms on each floor

Make sure you have a working smoke alarm on each floor of your property as this gives the best chance of escape if a fire breaks out and call 999 for help. Inspecting and testing of mains-wired smoke alarms is not included in the new ‘Electrical Safety Standards in the Private Sector (England) Regulations 2020’, said Mr Macklin, an omission he finds alarming. The ElectriciansOnCall boss said smoke alarms ought to be inspected and tested to ensure they meet British Standards, are correctly installed and still in date. Smoke alarms need to be changed every 10 years. A small sticker on the alarm should give the expiry date.

If you are looking for help with any electrical issues, you may find some of these services useful: