Fire & Safety
Preventing Electrical Fires
Non-adherence to electrical fire safety requirements results in the loss of lives.
Electrical fires account for quite a sizable percentage of fires. In most cases, improper wiring, overloaded circuits and unqualified quick fixes lead to these devastating accidents.
Below are some important electrical fire safety recommendations that will help in the prevention of electrical fires in your home and at work.
Never overload your electrical circuits.
If you have an older home, have the internal wiring checked to make sure it meets current building codes.
Clean and service your heating systems and furnaces once a year.
Don't leave portable space heaters unattended
Don't place portable space heaters in doorways or stairways
Keep portable space heaters well away from upholstery, drapes, and other combustible materials
Be safe when changing light bulbs
Have the light fixture repaired and maintained or replaced if light bulbs get caught in the socket
Appliances
Do not leave any appliances unattended with the POWER on. Washers and Dryers have been known to cause floods and fires if left running unattended.
Use only appliances that are UL listed by Underwriter Laboratories. These appliance have been thoroughly tested by engineers for your safety.
If an appliance generates heat (like a hair dryer, toaster, space heater, etc.) unplug it when not in use and stow cords safely away from water, out of reach of pets, young children or other hazardous situations.
Keep all electrical appliances, especially those that emanate heat, away from combustible materials such as paper, cardboard, drapery, clothes, plastic toys, carpets, etc.
Allow enough clearance on all sides for ventilation and to prevent overheating. Protect appliance power cords from water, grease and heat so that the insulation does not degrade.
Read and follow appliance instructions carefully, and don't attempt amateur repairs or upgrades.
Do not operate any electrical appliance with wet hands or while standing in water.
Keep appliances and tools away from sinks, tubs, pools, etc.
Extension and Power Cords
Every electrical appliance has a cord, and many homes use extension cords to increase the range of electrical outlets.
These safety tips can help keep cords in good condition for safe operation. Check cords regularly for frays, cracks or kinks.
Cords are not be jump ropes, clothes lines or leashes, and should never be used for anything other than their intended purpose.
Cords should be firmly plugged into outlets - if the cord is loose and can pull out easily, replace the loose outlet.
Do not staple or nail cords in position at any time; if the cord does not remain where desired, use tape or plastic zip ties to secure it.
Cords should not be placed beneath rugs where they can become a trip hazard or where frays will not be noticeable.
Don't make any modifications to a cord's plug.
Don't clip off the third prong as this is the safety ground connection and it is there to prevent shocks.
Don't attempt to file down a wider prong to fit in a different outlet.
Extension cords are a temporary solution only and their use should be minimized whenever possible.
Use the proper weight and length of extension cord for the appropriate task, and be sure the cord is rated for indoor or outdoor use, whichever is required.
When unplugging a cord, pull on the plug end at the outlet rather than on the wire itself.
Monitor Young Children
Never let children play with wires, cords or electric appliances. Monitor them when they are playing and make sure they stay away from space heaters, ovens, stoves, televisions and other appliances. Cover all exposed electric sockets with plastic covers.
Use GFCI Protected Receptacles in water or shock areas of the kitchen, bath, garage and outside the house or building GFCI (Ground Fault Circuit Interrupters) prevent electrocution by blocking the current in case of an accident. All receptacles in the bathroom, kitchen and outdoors must be GFCI protected, since these are the most hazardous areas for fires and shocks.
Smoke Alarms
Smoke detectors should be installed in each level of the home. Check the smoke detectors weekly and make sure they function properly. Install new batteries every six months.
Fire Extinguishers
ONLY Use a "C" class fire extinguisher -- these are safe for use on electrical fires.
NEVER throw water on an electrical fire. You could be electrocuted.
Electric fires are most dangerous because they accelerate with the use of water.
If no appropriate fire extinguisher is available, you can use baking soda to extinguish an electrical fire.
Educate yourself and your family on fire safety.
Keep fire extinguishers accessible in your home and business
Practice an emergency fire escape plan with your family.
Imminent Danger Signs
Before an electrical fire occurs, several danger signs usually appear. Some of these are blown fuses, tripped circuit breakers, burning smells, discolored sockets, minor shocks when you touch an appliance, flickering lights, etc.
Address these problems immediately -- Do not wait !
Early Warnings
| Symptom: | Lights that flicker or that trip the circuit breaker |
| Cause: | Rodent damaged wiring, Loose wiring splice or a light fixture that's worn out and needs to be replaced. |
| Symptom: | Outlets or switches with a faceplate that's warm to the touch |
| Cause: | A large electrical load operating on that outlet, undersized wiring , aluminum wiring or a loose electrical splice. (Note: it's not unusual for dimmer switches, especially large ones, to be warm. Unless the switch face is actually too hot to touch, a warm dimmer is not a hazard in most cases) |
| Symptom: | Extension cords wrapped in electrical tape or with loose ends |
| Cause: | Wear and tear has taken its toll on the cord. |
| Symptom: | Loose /Wobbly switches or outlet receptacles |
| Cause: | Device is improperly mounted to the electrical box, or the box itself has come loose from the stud ,or the switch or outlet is worn out. |
| Symptom: | Ceiling fan wobbles |
| Cause: | Fan is out of balance or may be incorrectly installed on a box that's not listed for supporting a fan. |
| Symptom: | GFCI outlets that trip repeatedly |
| Cause: | A ground fault or a worn-out GFCI outlet receptacle. Overloaded circuit or water penetration into electrical wiring |
| Symptom: | The garage refrigerator occasionally gives you a small shock |
| Cause: | Some older refrigerators will have a tiny leakage current because of worn-out insulation on its internal wiring, especially if it has a defrost circuit. This phenomenon is well-known and can even be quite dangerous when the refrigerator is placed on an electrically conductive concrete floor, especially a floor that's damp with condensation. |
In the event of an Electrical Fire
If you see smoke or fire, or smell a strange odor coming from wires, appliances or electric motors,
- CALL 911 immediately
- Turn off the appliance
- Pull out the plug (if possible)
- Turn off the main switch at the circuit breaker or fuse box.
- Use "C" rated fire extinguisher (always keep accessible in kitchen location)
- Throw Baking Soda on fire: if no Fire extinguisher is available
- DO NOT THROW WATER ON FIRE: YOU WILL BE ELECTROCUTED
