Every year, fire breaks out in more than 30,000 homes in England, killing about 250 people. Some blazes are caused by faulty or old wiring and appliances while others are started by overloaded sockets and cheap chargers. Here are some tips to help improve safety in your home.

Fire safety

Electrical report (or electrical condition report)

It’s vital that the electrical installation in your home (internal wiring, consumer unit or fuse box, switches and sockets) is safe to use. The Electricity Safety Council recommends getting a registered electrician to inspect and test it. Once completed, you will be given an electrical installation condition report (EICR). These safety checks were previously known as ‘periodic inspection report’. The condition report should record any damage or wear and tear or electrical work that doesn’t comply with regulations that could affect safety. It will flag up any potential fire hazards, such as overloaded electrical circuits. Homeowners are advised to have this inspection every 10 years. It’s also recommended if you are buying a property and suspect the electrics are old or faulty or it had poor quality additions.  Meanwhile, landlords are advised to have the electrics in their rental property checked every five years or on change of tenancy.  You can find a local registered electrician to carry out your EICR here

Smoke alarms

Make sure you have a working smoke alarm on every floor of your property to alert you to danger, giving you precious time to escape. You are more than twice as likely to die in a fire at home if you haven’t got a fire alarm, according to Devon and Somerset Fire and Rescue Service. Test the smoke alarm once a month by pressing the test button until the alarm sounds. You should replace the battery each year (unless it’s a 10-year alarm) and clean it every three months using the soft brush of your vacuum cleaner to remove any excess dust or insects. 

Residual current device (RCD)

• Check your home is fully protected by a RCD (residual current device) which is usually found in your consumer unit (or fuse box). This life-saving device switches off the electricity if there’s a fault. It reduces the risk of electrical fires and protects against electric shocks.
• Consider buying a plug-in RCD for individual sockets if you don’t have one to protect you and your property from serious appliance fault.

Lighting and lamps

• When installing lights, such as down-lighters, only use a qualified electrician.
• Don’t position electric lights near curtains and other fabrics. The heat could set the fabric alight within hours. Never drape material, such as a scarf or shawl, over a lamp.
• Check you have the correct bulb for the light fixture. Installing a bulb with a wattage too high for the lamp or light fitting can cause electrical fires.
• Don’t leave lit candles unattended – another common cause of domestic blazes, London Fire Brigade statistics show.

Electric heaters

• If you have a portable heater buy one with a tip-over safety switch which automatically shuts it off if it’s accidentally knocked over.
• Keep electric heaters away from flammable materials like curtains, furniture and newspapers and switch off when not using, especially at night.
• Never use a portable heater to dry clothes. It’s a potential fire hazard.

Plugs and sockets

• Inspect your sockets. If you spot signs of dangerous or loose wiring such as scorch marks, hot plugs or circuit breakers that trip for no obvious reason, contact a qualified electrician to investigate.
• Don’t overload sockets – plugging too many electrical appliances into one socket can lead to overheating. Kettles, irons and heaters all have high electrical current rating.
• Remember one plug per socket. If you need more plugs than there are sockets, use a bar-type fuse adaptor.
• An extension lead, or adaptor will have a limit to how many amps it can take, so be careful not to overload it. If do not have sufficient sockets for your appliances, get an electrician to install new ones, it’s a safer long-term solution.
• Check the cables of electrical appliances, such as a vacuum cleaner or iron, for signs of wear and tear. The cable should be fastened securely to the plug. Don’t use if either the appliance or cable appears to be damaged.
• Look out for signs of badly wired or damaged plugs – any visible coloured wires could come loose and debris could get into the plug making it a fire hazard.

Kitchen

• More than half of accidental fires in the home are started in the kitchen. Never leave pots on the hob unattended, especially deep fat fryers.
• Keep the grill, hob and oven clean- a build-up of fat or grease is a major cause of fire.
• Water and electricity can be a dangerous mixture. Make sure your sockets and switches are fitted at a safe distance from the sink- at least 30cm. Never use any electrical equipment while your hands are wet.
• Don’t put anything in the microwave that is metal or has a metallic finish. Don’t store anything on top of the microwave which can block ventilation.
• Unplug appliances when you are not using them to reduce risk of fire unless they are designed to be on all the time such as a fridge or freezer.
• Remember, high-fused appliances such as washing machines and dish washers, always need their own socket.
• Make sure plugs have the correct fuse for the appliance being used. Check the manufacturer’s instructions if in doubt.

Electrical Appliances

• Always make sure electrical appliances, such as kettles and toasters, have a British or European safety mark when you buy them.
• Keep electrical appliances clean and in good working order.

Chargers

A new cause of fires is small devices, such as phones, laptops and cameras, with lithium-ion or li-on batteries. They are safely used by millions of people every day, but the batteries can pose a fire risk when they are over-charged, short-circuited or damaged. Always use the charger that comes with your device. If you lose it, don’t buy a cheap, counterfeit replacement. It’s worth paying more to get a genuine charger from the manufacturer. Never leave phones or laptops plugged in to charge overnight, warns London Fire Brigade.

These simple steps can save lives.

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