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Electricity makes life easier for everyone.
Switch on a light. Turn on the TV. Turn up
the heating. Charge your phone. Cook the
dinner.
Houses have more and more electrical appliances. But any electrical appliance connected to a power supply can cause a fire. That means there’s more chance of a fire in your home.
Think fire can’t happen to you? Think again...
Get switched on to Safety
Switch off and unplug appliances like TVs, washing machines and tumble driers that aren’t
designed to be left switched on. It’s especially
important when you’re sleeping, or out of
the house. Appliances like fridge-freezers,
videos with timers and cordless phones are
designed to be left on.
- Always use the right fuse
- Never overload sockets
- Never run electrical cables under carpets
- Never repair or rejoin cables with insulating tape – always replace the whole cable
Why does using the right Fuse matter?
The fuse in a plug is a safety device that will ‘blow’ if an electrical appliance develops a fault. That cuts off the electricity to stop the appliance from overheating and causing
a fire. If you fit the wrong fuse, it won‘t ‘blow’.
Check the manufacturer’s instructions to make sure all your appliances are fitted with the correct fuse.
As a general guide to fuses:
3 and 13 Amp Fuse Guide
| 3 Amp Fuse |
13 Amp Fuse |
lamps/bed lights
|
refrigerators |
television/radios
|
heaters |
electric blankets
|
kettles/toasters |
music system/videos
|
washing machines/driers |
| clocks/computers |
irons/hair driers |
What's wrong with Using Adaptors?
When you use them safely, adaptors let you plug more than one appliance into an electrical socket.
But if you overload the adaptor, it can overload the socket. That can overload the main electrical wiring circuit in the house. That can make the circuit overheat.
That can cause a fire. Always make sure your adaptor is fitted with a fuse and has a kite mark from the British Electrotechnical Approvals Board, BEAB. Never use more than one adaptor in each socket.
Never overload an adaptor. Appliances connected to the adaptor should never use more than 13 amps of electricity in total (equivalent to 3 kilowatts). Check appliance handbooks for details.
Keeping your Electric Blanket Safe
Blankets don’t last for ever. After the guarantee
runs out – usually after
3 years – you should
have the blanket tested
and serviced regularly by
the manufacturer. But
check the cost. You may
find it cheaper to buy a
new blanket.
Your new blanket should be approved by BEAB or
marked BS EN 60907. It’s best if it’s fitted with
an overheat protection safety system.
Use your blanket safely:
- Never leave an electric blanket switched on when you’re in bed unless it’s marked ‘suitable for all night use'
- Always follow the manufacturer’s instructions
- Tie under-blankets securely to the bed
- Check the blanket, plug and flex regularly
for damage (eg fraying fabric, scorch marks,
exposed wires). If you’re in any doubt,
don’t use the blanket
- Store electric blankets safely – roll them,
don’t fold them
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