Over the Christmas period homeowners are often distracted from the dangers posing a fire risk around the house. NICEIC offers guidelines on electrical safety of extra lighting, candles and electric beauty products.
The UK’s leading regulatory body for registered electricians NICEIC, says many homeowners are often unaware of the extra dangers lurking around the house over Christmas – from plugging in extra lighting to using electrical beauty products. And with party planning taking a priority, there is a tendency for homeowners to take electrical safety for granted – posing potential fire risks.
Darren Staniforth, NICEIC technical expert, comments:
“December is the month for partying, especially as New Year’s Eve is the one night a year where the nation is in high spirits. And with an array of tasks to organise, from deciding the menu to planning the playlist, the host can often become overwhelmed or easily distracted. However, it is important to not get too carried away and to always keep safety front of mind. Otherwise homeowners could risk putting themselves and their guests in danger.
“Of course, we all want to have a good time and to add that extra bit of excitement to a party, but it’s important that electrical safety is paramount and should come before anything else.”
NICEIC offers the following top tips when dealing with electricity to help homeowners to stay safe during the party season:
- Hand-held beauty appliances can reach extremely hot temperatures and can take up to forty minutes to fully cool down. Ensure that any beauty appliances, such as hair straighteners, curling tongs or hair dryers are properly turned off and unplugged when they are no longer in use.
- With the sockets in the house being taken up by additional appliances such as powerful speakers or sound systems, this extra strain can put pressure on the electrics. Be sure to check that sockets aren’t being overloaded as this can lead to overheating and could possibly cause a fire
- With this in mind, it is also advisable to avoid using too many extension leads or adapters to avoid overloading and to check the wiring of the plug and ensure no bare wires are visible.
- If you require additional heaters to keep your guests warm, pay extra attention to using them in a safe manner. Keep them on a flat surface and away from walls or curtains which could block ventilation.
- If you’re cooking for your guests, take care to switch off all appliances when you’re finished with them. It’s easy to become distracted and forget!
- Take extra measures by installing a residual current device (RCD) which can help to reduce electrical risks further. An RCD is a safety device that automatically switches off electricity if it detects a fault, providing extra protection against electric shock.
It is never too late to ensure the electrical safety of your home before the party starts. If you are in any doubt about the state of the electrics, then it is always best to seek professional advice from those registered with NICEIC.
For further information or to search for a registered electrician in your area visit www.niceic.com.
Article by Whistlepr.co.uk
