RoSPA NI : Electricity and You
Safety in Your Home
Follow these simple rules for safety
All 13 amp flat pin plugs now sold are required by law to conform to British Standard BS 1363 and have sleeved pins. Those marked BS 1363/A are stronger.
 Make sure plugs are wired correctly. Full details are given in the Electricity and You - Plugs and Fuses section but note especially the following. If your flexes have three different coloured leads, always connect them as shown here. If there are only two leads, connect them to the 'L' and 'N' Terminals - never to 'E' (earth). Avoid stray 'whiskers' of wire. Tighten all screws firmly, with a suitable screwdriver. Makesure the clamp in the plug grips the outer sheath of the flex and not just the leads. With children around, use plugs with part-insulated pins - they are safer for prying fingers. |
 Some appliances have a ready fitted plug of the non-rewireable type. Should this plug become damaged or faulty you should cut it off and make sure that it is disposed of properly. Do not leave it where children may find it and plug it into a supply socket with the obvious consequent danger. |
 Always fit the correct fuse for the job. See Electricity and You - Plugs and Fuses for plug fuses and Fuse Boxes for the various sizes of fuses and their purposes in consumer units. If a fuse blows, never fit a higher rated one to get out of trouble or replace a cartridge fuse with fuse wire, even as a temporary measure. |
 Use short, undamaged flexes. The shorter the safer - there's less to trip over. If the protective covering of a flex becomes frayed, split or worn, have it replaced at once. Never staple a flex to the wall or skirting, or run it under carpet or lino. And always use a single continuous length from plug to appliance, without joins. |
 Check flexes and fittings regularly. Get into the habit of a quick check every time you use an appliance. Look out for wear, damage, loose connections; also for cracked or chipped plugs and sockets. Have any faults remedied at once. |
 Use adaptors as little as possible. Ideally there should be a separate socket outlet for every appliance. If you regularly use two appliances from one point, have it replaced by a double socket. It's worth it for the convenience, let alone the safety, |
 Use light fittings only for lighting. Never run an electric appliance from a lamp fitting. Make sure that all metal light fittings including standard and table lamps have a proper earth connection, using 3-core flex. |
 Have your house wiring circuit tested every five years. If your wiring is more than 30 years old, or if your socket outlets are of the round pin type (2-pin or 3-pin), it almost certainly needs to be renewed. Even if it's not so old it is still a wise precaution to have it tested at five-year intervals - particularly to check the earthing system. You may also find you need alterations or extensions, both to follow the safety recommendations above and also to cope safely with the increasing number of appliances and lights you may want to use in your home. |
 Get expert help for all repairs and wiring. If you discover or suspect a fault, or need any wiring work done, always call in an expert. Contact your Electricity Company, a member of the Electrical Contractors' Association or any other qualified electrical contractor. Professional skill and experience are essential and a list of the contractors who are on the roll of the National Inspection Council for Electrical Installation Contracting (NICEIC) is available.NICEIC www.niceic.org.uk |
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RoSPA is a registered charity: Registered Charity No: 207823 Patron: Her Majesty the Queen RoSPA Head Office: Edgbaston Park, 353 Bristol Road, Edgbaston, Birmingham B5 7ST, UK |
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