If you’ve been paying attention to your television or the internet in November or December in the past few years, at some point it’s likely that you’ve come across a video on fire safety like the one below. This quite rightly warns of the dangers when using electrical appliances and naked flame candles. The risk of an event like the below is less when using LED lights as opposed to filament lights, but there are still measures you should take to ensure that you and your house remain safe this Christmas.

Fire Safety Tips

Candle Safety

If you’re using real candles or tealights, be sure not to leave them unattended when they are lit. Also ensure that they are out of the reach of children and animals, are placed within proper candle or tealight holders and not too close to anything that could burn such as some Christmas decorations or wrapping paper, for instance.

Of course you could substitute real candles for battery powered candles, eliminating any risk entirely.

Shop For Battery Candles

Can you tell which are real candles?

Don’t Overload Sockets

Having too many appliances – be these lights or something else entirely- running from a single socket is not advised. Of course you can use adaptors – bar adaptors are better than blocks – but be sure not to plug an adaptor into another adaptor and check its rating to ensure suitability for the task.

When your lights are not in use be sure to switch off the plug or use a suitable timer.

Christmas Light Standards

Make sure that any lights that you purchase conform to the European (CE) or British Standard (BS EN 60598) – all of our lights certainly do. Be sure to replace any lights where the cable is old or damaged.

Use an RCD Circuit Breaker for Outdoor Displays

A residual current device (RCD) instantly cuts power to a device when an anomaly is detected. When combined (or integrated) with a circuit breaker, this can also offer protection in the event of excessive current in the circuit that can result in fire. These are most commonly recommended for use with outdoor Christmas displays.

Search for RCD Circuit Breakers

General Fire Safety Advice

• Make sure that you have a working smoke alarm on all floors in your home/property. Test this regularly to ensure that it’s functioning correctly.
• Check that any elderly friends or relatives have taken the necessary precautions and their electrical appliances (including lights) are correctly set up.
• Make sure that all members of the household, including children, know what to do in the event of a fire – get out the house and dial 999 when at a safe distance.