More than 15% of all domestic fires in England and Wales are caused by electrical faults, illustrating that electrical fires are a very real risk. On average, there are around 8,000 electrical fires in the UK per year.
It is possible, however, to mitigate this risk as much as possible by being aware of the most common causes of electrical fires and ensuring certain safeguards and checks are carried out.
Below, we outline the 6 most common causes of electric fires:
1. Faulty Sockets & Outlets
Most electrical fires are caused by faulty electrical outlets or worn out sockets that aren’t properly grounded. With age, the wiring behind sockets and outlets wears, the wires loosen over time and can eventually break and cause a fire.
2. Light Fixtures & Fittings
Another common cause of electrical fires are lamps, lightbulbs and light fittings. It’s important to follow the wattage guidelines for all light fixtures and lamps in your home and to never exceed the recommended amount. If a light bulb with too high a wattage is used a fire can start.
Placing materials such as cloth or paper over lamp shades can also cause a fire to start as the material can heat up and ignite. As a result, lamps and lampshades should never be covered.
3. Extension Leads
When large numbers of appliances are plugged into extension leads this can create an excessive power load on a single socket which it may not be able to handle.
Where possible, appliances should always be plugged directly into an outlet or if it’s necessary to use an extension lead, they should be used as a temporary measure.
If there aren’t enough outlets in your home to accommodate your needs, then an electrician can install additional outlets.
4. Portable Heaters
Portable heaters should never be used for an extended period of time or overnight and shouldn’t be placed too close to combustible surfaces like curtains, beds, clothing, chairs, sofas and rugs as this is one of the most common ways for them to start a fire.
It is advised to opt for a radiator type heater rather than a coil space heater as the coils get extremely hot, meaning they can easily ignite any nearby flammable surface.
Conversely, radiator type heaters diffuse heat over the entire surface of the appliance and are less of a risk, but should still be used with care.
5. Outdated Wiring
Wiring in older homes often isn’t up to handling the increased demands and numbers of electrical appliances the average UK home now has. Usually, breakers are triggered when a circuit is overloaded with too much electricity, but old breaker boxes may have worn connectors that don’t work which can cause the system to overload and catch fire.
6. Old or Faulty Appliances
Similar to outdated wiring, using old or dated appliances can be a fire hazard as they may not be up to standard when it comes to wattage usage, material quality and safety regulations.
Old and well used appliances may have a worn cord which can send heat onto combustible surfaces like floors, curtains and rugs which can start a fire.
The grounding plug should also never be removed from a cord so that it can be used in a two-prong electrical outlet.
Conclusion
Electrical fires are an all too common occurrence in UK homes, however being aware of the causes of electrical fires can help to safeguard against them.
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