Fire Safety
Electricity & Fire Safety
Our lives are full of electrical appliances, from fridges to mobile phone chargers, but electricity is the cause of many fires. Find answers here to common questions and tips on how to use electricity safely.
- Plugging-in Safely
- Is the Mains Wiring in my House Safe?
- How Much is Safe to Plug into one 13A Wall Socket?
- Electricity and DIY
- How Can I Find Out Exactly What Each Appliance Uses?
- Warning Signs
- Using the Correct Fuse
- Won’t the Fuse Blow if There’s an Overload?
- Won’t the Mains ‘Trip-Off’ if There’s a Troblem?
- Why Switch-off and Unplug at the Socket?
- Plugs
- Cables, Flexes and Extension Cords
- Adaptors and Power Strips
- Electric Lighting
- Electric Blankets
- Electricity in the Garden and Outdoors
- Going Out and Going to Bed
- Further Information
Plugging-in Safely
Any electrical appliance that's left plugged in to the mains has the potential to cause a fire. Some, like video recorders, fridges and freezers are designed to be left on all the time but even these can cause fires if not used properly. These basic rules always apply:
- Don't overload sockets
- Always use the correct fuse
- Never use damaged flexes, plugs or faulty items
- Never run electrical cables under carpets
- Keep access to sockets and the mains switch clear
Is the Mains Wiring in My House Safe?
Mains wiring inside domestic houses should be checked over by a qualified electrician at least every ten years.
If it's your home, keep a record by the meter of when this was last done.
If your home is rented and you're in any doubt, consult your landlord.
Risk Scanner Graphic
Protect the irreplaceable - scan your home for fire hazards with our interactive Fire Risk Scanner.
Electricity and DIY
Electricity can kill instantly, as well as causing fires.
Unless you are completely sure you know what you're doing, do not attempt any electrical work yourself. If your DIY wiring is to blame for any damage to yours or anyone else's property, the costs may not be covered by your insurance policy.
Get a qualified electrician to do the job for you - it could make the difference between life and death.
How Much is Safe to Plug-in to One 13A Wall Socket?
Each single 13A wall socket should be connected to appliances totalling no more than 13 Amps, 3000W (3KW).
Worried your sockets could be overloaded? Find out with our electrical load calculator.
How Can I Find Out Exactly What Each Appliance Uses?
Working out what each appliance uses isn't difficult.
To find out more, please read our section on power and current calculations.
Alternatively, for most items you can use our interactive electrical load calculator.
Warning Signs
Look out for the following danger signs:
- a smell of hot plastic or burning near an appliance or socket
- sparks or smoke
- blackness or scorch marks around a socket, plug or on an appliance
- cracked, bare or frayed cables
- coloured wire inside cables showing at the plug or anywhere else
- melted plastic on casings or cables
- fuses that blow or circuit-breakers that 'trip', for no obvious reason
If you spot any of the warning signs above:
- switch off using the mains switch in the consumer unit (fuse box) or beside the meter
- wait twenty minutes for everything to cool down
- unplug the appliance and any extensions or adaptors used with it at the wall socket before switching the mains back on
- don't use the appliance until you've had it checked out by an electrician
- replace any melted or damaged cables or flexes
If in any doubt, consult a qualified electrician.
Using the Correct Fuses
The fuse in a plug is a safety device. It will 'blow' if an electrical appliance develops a fault that causes it to draw too much current. The blown fuse cuts off the electricity to stop the appliance from overheating and causing a fire.
If you fit the wrong fuse, it might not 'blow' quickly enough to prevent a fire!
Check the manufacturer's instructions to make sure all your appliances are fitted with the correct fuse.
As a general guide to fuses:
3 amp fuse:
lamps / bed lights
television / radios
electric blankets
music system / videos
clocks / computers
13 amp fuse:
refrigerators
heaters
kettles / toasters
washing machines / dryers
irons / hair driers
Won't the fuse 'blow' if there's an overload?
In theory, yes, but it's a bad idea to rely on safety features like fuses to stop fires happening.
By adding items one by one to an adaptor or power strip, it's possible to overload a socket slowly enough that the fuse in the plug won't blow straight away. Wires can become very hot as a result and may cause a fire.
Even if the fuse does blow, having to replace one will be more than a tad inconvenient if all you were trying to do was to iron a shirt or watch a bit of telly!
Find out if you could be overloading your sockets with our electrical load calculator.
Won't the Mains 'Trip-off' or 'Blow' if There's a Problem?
It's possible to overload a socket without the mains 'tripping' or 'blowing'.
Mains fuses and circuit-breakers (MCBs) must be of a higher rating than any single 13 Amp socket. Otherwise, the mains would 'blow' or 'trip' every time the total current of everything switched on in the whole house went over 13 Amps.
In practice, that would equal having a washing machine, a vacuum cleaner and a kettle all switched on at once - not very much!
And of course, sometimes fuses and MCBs don't work as expected.
Always plug-in safely - don't rely on safety features.
Why Switch Off and Unplug at the Socket?
Switching off at the socket AND pulling the plug out (the socket switch could be faulty) is the only way to be sure no electricity is flowing through an appliance.
If left plugged-in, many appliances still have power flowing through them even though they appear to be switched off. The same is true of appliances in 'sleep mode' or on 'standby'.
Lots of electrical appliances have transformers inside or as part of a separate power supply unit. Even when the appliance itself is switched off, electricity still flows through the transformer. If a fault develops, the transformer could overheat and cause fires.
As well as keeping you safe, switching off and unplugging at the wall will save electricity and save you money!
Always switch everything possible off and unplug at the wall before going out or going to bed.
Cables, Flexes and Extension Cords
- replace damaged or worn cables or flexes straight away
- if you're unsure, consult a qualified electrician to replace cables and flexes
- never join cables using tape (use an extension cord or replace with a longer, unbroken flex)
- always use the plug and flex that came with the appliance (unless worn or damaged)
- do not use coiled cables or flexes (coils heat up and can cause fires)
- unwind reel-type extension cords fully before use
- make sure all cables are free from kinks, twists and bends
- don't run cables under carpets (damage goes unseen and they can heat up more)
- don't run cables where they can be squashed or pinched (e.g. under furniture or through a door)
- keep all cables well away from heat sources (e.g. naked bulbs, electric heaters)
- don't run cables where people can trip over them - especially from lamps or heaters
Plugs
Some safety tips for using plugs:
- always use the right fuse
- don't used cracked, scorched or otherwise damaged plugs
- don't use plugs with loose or exposed wires
- remove plugs carefully and do not pull the flex
- the outer cover of the cable should go all the way inside the plug and be gripped firmly (i.e. you shouldn't be able to see the smaller, coloured wires inside)
Many appliances come with specially moulded plugs on the end of their flexes. If a moulded plug becomes damaged:
- first make sure it's not a transformer (transformers have information on them about INPUT and OUTPUT) - if it is, you need to order a replacement
- if it's not a transformer, cut it off from the flex and replace with a new, 13Amp plug
- make sure you use the right fuse in the new plug (consult the appliance documentation or a qualified electrician)
- dispose of the old plug immediately in the bin (someone could re-use it or a child plug it in and electrocute themselves on the bare ends)
- if in any doubt, get a qualified electrician to make the repair
- never join another moulded plug onto the same cable using tape
Adaptors and Power Strips
Used safely, adaptors and power strips let us plug numerous appliances into the same wall socket. If we overload them, they can heat up and cause fires, or cause the wiring in the socket or in the mains beyond the socket to catch fire.
- always make sure your adaptor or power strip is fitted with a fuse and has a kite mark from the British Electrotechnical Approvals Board, BEAB
- never use more than one adaptor or power strip in each socket
- never connect appliances that will use more than 13 amps of electricity in total (equivalent to 3 kilowatts). Check appliance handbooks or rating plates for details.
Find out if you could be overloading your sockets with our electrical load calculator.
Electric Lighting
Safe distances
Lamps can generate a lot of heat. They must be kept a safe distance from flammable materials like curtains, furniture, paper etc. Read the user documentation carefully before use. If in doubt, keep all bulbs at least half a metre away from any other objects.
Bulbs and fittings
Lamp fittings are rated by what wattage of light bulb they can take (e.g. 40W for small table lamps). This is usually shown on a sticker or on the plastic moulding. Using a bulb larger than the stated rating can cause the fitting or wires to melt and catch fire.
Lamps with shades
Light bulbs generate a lot of heat. If you use the wrong type or shape of bulb, this can cause light shades to melt or catch fire. Read the sticker or moulding on the lamp carefully and make sure the bulb you're fitting is the same wattage or less. Meanwhile, removing shades from table lamps etc. can be dangerous too. If a lamp with a naked bulb in it tips over, it could come into contact with something flammable.
'DIY dimming'
It can be tempting to put something on top of a lampshade to make the room darker but this could cause a fire. Use a smaller bulb instead.
Dimming lamps and lamps with transformers
Lamps and fittings that can dim, lamps that have bulbs with built-in reflectors or small push-in 'capsule' bulbs, often have a transformer as part of their power supply.
Using the wrong bulb can damage the transformer or the wiring and may cause a fire.
Read the instruction manual carefully and look out for any information on the lamp or fitting itself when replacing bulbs.
If in doubt, consult a qualified electrician.
Electric Blankets
Electric blankets don't last forever. After the guarantee runs out - usually after 3 years - you should have the blanket tested and serviced regularly by the manufacturer. Check the cost first, however - it might be cheaper to buy a new blanket.
Your new blanket should be approved by BEAB or marked BS EN 60335-2-17: 2002. It's best if it's fitted with an overheat protection safety system.
Use your blanket safely:
- always follow the manufacturer's instructions
- never leave an electric blanket switched on when you're in bed unless it's marked 'suitable for all night use'
- tie under-blankets securely to the bed
- check the blanket, plug and flex regularly for damage (e.g. fraying fabric, scorch marks, exposed wires). If in any doubt, do not use.
- store electric blankets safely - roll them, don't fold them.
Electricity in the Garden and Outdoors
Many of the same rules apply to using electrical appliances outdoors as anywhere else - see advice above on fuses, plugs, cables, adaptors and power strips.
- make sure any extension cords used are unwound fully before switching on
- plug garden power tools directly into a wall-socket (i.e. not into a power strip) as items like lawnmowers and hedge cutters need a lot of power
- use a special plug with a Residual Current Device (RCD) fitted. This will switch off the power if automatically if you accidentally cut the flex or a fault develops
- make sure appliances don't get wet
- ideally, use only appliances that are clearly marked 'suitable for outdoor use'
Going Out and Going to Bed
If you're going to bed or going out, switch everything possible off at the socket and pull the plugs out.
Many house fires are caused by washing machines that go wrong when left unattended or left running overnight. Unless your house has been specially wired for it, only water heaters and storage heaters usually benefit from cheaper electricity overnight and even then, only if you subscribe to a low-rate tariff.
Further Information
For further information and advice on home fire safety, contact your local community fire and rescue service.
You can also download the following information leaflet: