Be on the lookout for faulty appliances!
Electricity is one of the major causes of accidental fires in UK homes. According to safety charity Electrical Safety First1, there are over 20,000 fires caused by electrical faults each year. This means that more than 15% of domestic fires in England and Wales and around 10% in Scotland are caused by electrical issues such as appliance breakdowns and broken cables. In this article, we'll take a closer look at the main culprits and provide a few do's and don'ts to help keep you safe.
If you're interested in some statistics on electrical fires, here are a few: 89% of electrical fires (or nine out of ten) are caused by electrical products, while 11% are caused by installation faults or people not using their installations properly. Faulty appliances alone cause £41.6 million of damage per year, with electric cookers (£24m) and lighting (£13m) among the largest contributors.
The five products that cause the most electrical fires in UK homes2 are electrical cooking appliances such as cookers and microwaves (but not deep fat fryers), laundry appliances such as washing machines and tumble dryers, electrical lighting, portable heaters, and TVs. In total, these products cause nearly 12,000 fires and 2,000 injuries every year.
According to research carried out by Electrical Direct2, household appliances caused 15,000 accidental fires in homes across England in 2019/20. That's around 43 fires a week, with cookers, toasters, and hobs being the most likely to catch fire. Cookers were responsible for 8,000 fires, which is 53% of appliance fires. Hot plates caused 11% of appliance fires, while toasters caused 9%.
Safety devices
Electrical Safety First, a safety charity, recommends two devices that can save lives in case of electrical hazards or fire. The first device is a Residual Current Device (RCD) that should be installed in your fuse box. It automatically turns off the electricity in case of a fault, preventing you from getting an electric shock that could be fatal if you touch a live wire. The second device is a smoke alarm that provides an early warning signal if there is smoke or fire, giving you sufficient time to escape.
How to prevent a fire in the home
According to government statistics, most home fires caused by electricity are due to misuse of cooking appliances, highlighting the need for special care in the kitchen.Top tips include:
- Never let leads from other appliances, such as kettles and toasters, trail across the cooker
- Never use the area on top of your microwave for storage
- Never dry towels on or near the cooker
- Don’t allow fat and grease to build up on or in the cooker, or in the grill pan, where it could easily catch fire
- Always turn off the cooker when you’ve finished using it.
Do’s and don’ts
- Have the electrical installations in your home checked by a registered electrician, either when you move house or every ten years
- Check your sockets regularly – if you see burn marks or they feel hot, get them checked out
- Having a working smoke alarm on every floor of your property
- Before plugging in appliances, check cables for damage, wear and tear, and that the plug is fastened securely to the cable
- Don’t store combustible materials, such as clothes, papers, cleaning materials etc, close to your electricity meter or fuse box
- After use, always switch off, unplug and put away hand-held electrical appliances such as hair dryers and straighteners that get very hot during use
- Don’t overload electrical adaptors by plugging too many appliances into one socket, especially those with a high electrical current rating, such as kettles, irons and heaters.
- If using a portable heater to keep warm, keep it away from flammable materials such as curtains and furniture and never dry clothes on it.
- Turn off any electrical appliances you are not using, particularly at night, when a fire can spread quickly and unnoticed.
Other safety guidelines
It is recommended that you always buy electrical appliances from a trustworthy retailer. Be sure to follow the manufacturer's instructions and register your appliance so that the manufacturer can contact you in case of a problem. Avoid leaving washing machines or tumble dryers running overnight. If your appliance is making unusual sounds or not working correctly, unplug it and contact the manufacturer or a qualified repairer.
Make sure to clean behind your fridge and freezer regularly to prevent dust buildup and ensure proper air circulation. Do not place your fridge or freezer close to a cooker, radiator, or in direct sunlight, as it will cause it to work harder to maintain the required internal temperature.
What to do in the event of fire
- Keep calm, act quickly and get everyone out as soon as possible
- Don’t waste time investigating what’s happened or rescuing valuables
- If there’s smoke, keep low where the air is clearer
- Before you open a door check if it’s warm: if it is, don’t open it, fire is on the other side
- Call 999 as soon as you’re clear of the building (999 calls are free).
We’re here to help
To discuss or arrange buildings and contents insurance, or any other type of cover you require, please contact NLIG. Our friendly and professional team is here to help you. Call us on 01992 703 300 or email us at insurance@nlig.co.uk
1 Electrical Safety First: Fire Fact Sheet
2 electricalcontractingnews.com: Faulty appliances cause 43 fires a week in England, research finds