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Know
The Facts
Each
year, many Americans are injured in and around their homes. Unsafe conditions
such as overloaded circuits and damaged insulation, as well as the misuse
of extension cords and electrical products, create fire hazards and may
result in electrocutions.
The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission estimates that in 1993, home
electrical systems were involved in 43,300 fires, 330 deaths, and 1,720
injuries. In 1992, the most recent year for which data is available, there
were an estimated 530 electrocution deaths.
Take a few minutes to look for and correct electrical safety hazards in
your home!
It does not take long to check the insulation on a cord, move an appliance
away from water, check for correct wattage light bulbs, or install a GFCI
(Ground Fault Circuit Interrupter).
Invest your time, it could prevent an electrical safety hazard and save
lives.
Potential Electrical Hazards and Their Symptoms~
POWER OUTAGES
fuses need replacement or circuit breakers need resetting frequently
OVERRATED PANEL
electrical panel contains fuses or circuit breakers rated at higher currents
than the ampacity (current capacity) of their branch circuits, some times
called "overamped" or "overfused"
DIM/FLICKERING LIGHTS
lights dim or the size of your television picture shrinks often ARCS /
SPARKS bright light flashes or showers of sparks anywhere in your electrical
system
SIZZLES / BUZZES
unusual sounds from the electrical system
OVERHEATING
parts of your electrical system, such as switch plates, wall outlet covers,
cords and plugs may be warm. These should never be hot - painful to touch,
or discolored from heat.
PERMANENTLY INSTALLED EXTENSION CORDS
used to extend the home wiring system for a long period, instead of being
used temporarily to connect some appliance with a cord too short to reach
the wall outlet
LOOSE PLUGS
attachment plugs that wobble or pull out of a wall outlet easily
DAMAGED INSULATION
cut, broken, or cracked insulation
Have Your Electrical System Inspected~
Consumer
Product Safety Commission studies of residential electrical fires show
that the majority of serious fires need not have occurred. Furthermore,
conditions that caused the fires probably would have been detected by
an electrical inspection.
Many problems are not detected or corrected because no inspections had
been made for several years. In a number of cases investigated by CPSC,
homes ranging from 40 to 100 years old had not been inspected since they
were built. A safety inspection should be performed by a qualified electrical
inspector.
To insure the electrical safety of your home, your electrical inspection
should be up-to-date and defects corrected.
There are no hard-and-fast rules about frequency of inspection but the
following section offers some helpful suggestions~
Do you know when your electrical system was last
inspected?
Determine your last inspection by examining the door and cover of your
electrical panel(s). The panel should contain a label or tag with a date,
a signature, or initials on it. If there is more than one date, the most
recent one should be the date of the last inspection.
DO NOT remove the service-panel cover. This is a job for a qualified electrician.
IF YOUR LAST INSPECTION WAS ...
• 40 or more years ago, inspection is overdue
• 10-40 years ago, inspection is advisable, especially if substantial
electrical loads (high- wattage appliances, lights, and wall outlets or
extension cords) have been added or if some of the warning signs discussed
on page 2 are present.
• less than 10 years ago, inspection may not be needed, unless some
of the warning signs listed on page 2 are present or if temporary wiring
has been added.
You may live in an area that is not served by state or local electrical
inspectors, so that no inspection record will be found on your electrical
panel. In that case, use the age of the house as a guide to the probable
need for an inspection.
Appliance Power Budget
Circuits can only handle a specified total wattage of all the electrical
products connected to that circuit. If too much wattage is plugged into
a circuit, serious electrical problems can result. Here is a guide to
what a circuit can handle:
• 15-ampere branch circuit can carry 1500 watts
• 20-ampere branch circuit can carry 2000 watts
Find the nameplate on each appliance indicating its power (watts) rating.
Add up the total watts for appliances that you may use at the same time
on the same branch circuit.
Most home lighting and wall outlet branch circuits may carry as much as
1500 watts (15-ampere branch); some kitchen circuits, as much as 2000
watts (20-ampere).
Cords~
Cords stretched across walkways may cause someone to trip.
Are lamp, extension, telephone and other cords placed
out of the flow of traffic?
• Whenever possible, arrange furniture so that outlets are available
for lamps and appli- ances without the use of extension cords. Extension
cords should not be used as a substitute for permanent wiring.
• If you must use an extension cord, place it on the floor against
a wall where people cannot trip over it.
• Move the phone so that telephone cords will not lie where people
walk.
Are cords out from beneath furniture and rugs or
carpeting?
Furniture resting on cords can damage them. Electric cords which run under
carpeting can overheat and cause a fire.
• Remove cords from under furniture or carpeting.
• Replace damaged or frayed cords.
Are cords attached to the walls, base boards, etc.
with nails or staples?
Nails or staples can damage cords, presenting fire and shock hazards.
• Remove nails and staples from cords after disconnecting power.
• Check wiring for damage.
• Use tape if necessary to attach cords to walls or floors.
Are electrical cords in good condition, not frayed
or cracked?
Damaged cords may cause a shock or fire.
• Replace frayed or cracked cords.
• Do not use frayed electrical cords.
Do extension cords carry no more than their proper
load, as indicated by the ratings labeled on the cord and the appliance?
Overloaded extension cords may cause fires.
• Replace No. 18 gauge cords with No. 16 gauge cords. Older extension
cords using small (No. 18 gauge) wires can overheat at 15 amps or 20 amps.
• Change the cord to a higher rated one or unplug some appliances,
if the rating on the cord is exceeded because of the power requirements
of one or more appliances being used on the cord.
• Use an extension cord having a sufficient amp or wattage rating,
if an extension cord is needed.
Light Bulbs~
A bulb of too high wattage or the wrong type may lead to fire through
overheating. Ceiling fixtures, recessed lights, and "hooded" lamps will
trap heat.
Are the light bulbs the appropriate size and type
for the lamp or fixture?
• Replace with a bulb of the correct type and wattage (if you don't
know the correct wattage, contact the manufacturer).
• Place Halogen Lamps away from curtains. These lamps become very
hot and can cause a fire hazard.
Space Heaters~
Are heaters which come with a 3-prong plug being
used in a 3-hole outlet or with a properly attached adapter?
The grounding feature provided by a 3-hole receptacle or an adapter for
a 2-hole receptacle is a safety feature designed to lessen the risk of
shock.
• Never defeat the grounding feature.
• Use an adapter to connect the heater's 3- prong plug if you do
not have a 3-hole out let. Make sure the adapter ground wire or tab is
attached to the outlet.
Are heaters placed where they can not be knocked
over, and away from furnishings and flammable materials, such as curtains
or rugs?
Heaters can cause fires or serious burns if they cause you to trip, if
they are knocked over, or if they are placed near home furnishings.
• Relocate heaters away from passageways and flammable materials
such as curtains, rugs, furniture or newspaper.
Shock
Protectors ~
A Ground Fault Circuit Interrupter (GFCI) detects any loss (leakage) of
electrical current in
When such a loss is detected, the GFCI turns electricity off before severe
injuries or electrocution can occur (you may, however, receive a painful
shock during the time that it takes for the GFCI to cut off the electricity).
GFCI wall outlets can be installed in place off standard outlets to protect
against electrocution for just that outlet, or a series of outlets in
the same branch.
A GFCI Circuit Breaker can be installed on some circuit breaker electrical
panels to protect against electrocution, excessive leakage current and
overcurrent for an entire branch circuit.
Plug-in GFCIs can be plugged into wall outlets where appliances will be
used.
Have you tested your GFCI's to be sure they still
offer protection from fatal electrical shock?
A GFCI can provide power without giving an indication that it is no longer
providing shock protection. Be sure your GFCI still provides protection
from fatal electric shock.
• Test monthly. First, plug a night light or lamp into the GFCI-protected
wall outlet, turn the light on, and depress the "TEST" button
on the GFCI. If the GFCI is working properly, the light should go out.
An indicator will show if it is working properly or not. If it is working,
it will disconnect the power from the protected circuit or plug. If not,
have the GFCI replaced. Reset the GFCI to restore power.
• If the "RESET" button pops out but the light does not
go out, the GFCI has been improp- erly wired and does not offer shock
protection at that wall outlet. Contact a qualified electrician to correct
any wiring errors.
PROBLEM:
Electric shocks can be more serious in certain locations of the home (bathrooms,
kitchens, basements and garages) where people can contact heating radiators,
water pipes, electric heaters, electric stoves and water in sinks and
bathtubs. If a person touches one of these and a faulty electrical appliance
at the same time, they can receive a shock and may be electrocuted.
• If you have a home without GFCIs, consult with a qualified electrician
about adding this protection.
• If you want to install some GFCI protection yourself, use plug-in
units to protect individ ual wall outlets. Both two-conductor and three-
conductor receptacle outlets can be protected with plug-in units.
• Some newer homes may be equipped with GFCIs in the home areas mentioned
above.
Fuses and Circuit Breakers~
Fuses and circuit
breakers are safety devices located on your electrical panel to prevent
over-loading and fires. They stop the electrical current if it exceeds
the safe level for some portion of the home electrical system.
Overloading means that the appliances and lighting in the home regularly
demand more electrical current than the home electrical system can safely
deliver.
If the demand for electrical current exceeds the safety level, a fuse
opens once and must be replaced to reconnect the circuit. A circuit breaker
"trips" its switch to open the circuit, and the circuit is reconnected
by closing the switch manually.
There are at least two different types of circuit breakers. One has a
control handle that swings all the way to "OFF" when it is tripped.
The other has an intermediate position, close to "ON" (sometimes
it is difficult to see that it has tripped).
Both types of circuit breakers must be reset with the hand control after
the problem has been eliminated. The first type should simply be moved
back to "ON," the second moved first to "OFF" and
then to "ON."
If fuses are used, are they the correct size for
the circuit?
Replacing a correct size fuse with a larger size fuse can present a serious
fire hazard. If the fuse in the box is rated higher than that intended
for the circuit, excessive current will be allowed to flow and possibly
overload the outlet and house wiring to the point that a fire can begin.
• Be certain that correct-size fuses are used (if you do not know
the correct sizes, plan to have a qualified electrician identify and label
the sizes to be used).
NOTE:
Most of the screw-based fuses used should be 15 amp. If all, or nearly
all, fuses used are 30-amp, these fuses may be rated too high for the
circuits.
PROBLEM:
Your fuse panel has Edison-base plug fuses (screw base like a light bulb)
installed. Fuses of different ratings will fit in Edison sockets.
Consumers sometimes replace a fuse that repeatedly "blows" with
a higher ampere rated use. Although the new fuse may not open, it also
may not protect the branch circuit. Overloading can lead to fire.
• To prevent future installation of fuses that allow currents too
high for your wiring, your fuse panel should be converted to S-type sockets
that accept only fuses of the correct amperage rating. If you have Edison-base
fuse sockets, have them fitted with the S- type socket inserts.
PROBLEM:
If your home has a four-fuse panel (60-ampere) service, most of the fuses
will be rated at 15 or, at most, 20-ampere.
If you do not know for certain, have your electrical panel inspected to
determine which branches should be protected at a 15-ampere level and
which, if any, are adequate for 20-ampere safety devices.
If it has one or more fuses rated above 20 amperes, someone may have tried
to avoid power outages by substituting higher amperage fuses. Your wiring
may be exposed to overloading that can lead to fire.
Reduce the fuses to 15-ampere rated ones, unless you are absolutely certain
that a special circuit is wired for 20 amperes.
If fuses continue to "blow", keep track of which branch circuits are affected
and which appliances are in use when the power outage occurs. Consult
a qualified electrician to resolve the problem.
Receptacle
Outlets & Switches~
Switches
are used to turn the power on and off. Receptacle outlets are usually
mounted on a wall or floor to supply electricity to appliances through
a cord and plug.
Are there outlets or switches which are unusually
warm or hot to the touch?
Unusually warm or hot outlets or switches may indicate that an unsafe
wiring condition exits.
• Unplug cords from these outlets and do not use the switches.
• Have a qualified electrician check the wiring as soon as possible.
Do all outlets and switches have cover plates so that no wiring is exposed?
Exposed wiring presents a shock hazard.
• Add a cover plate.
Small Appliances and Tools~
Even an appliance that is not turned on, such as a hairdryer, can be potentially
hazardous if it is left plugged in. If it falls into water in a sink or
bathtub while plugged in, it could electrocute you.
Are small electrical appliances such as hair dryers,
shavers, curling irons, unplugged when not in use?
• Install ground fault circuit interrupter (GFCI) protection near
your kitchen and bathroom sinks to protect against electric shock. For
more information, see the section on GFCIs.
• Unplug all small appliances when not in use.
• Never reach into water to get an appliance that has fallen in without
being sure the appliance is unplugged.
Do you make sure that there is nothing covering
your electric blanket when in use, and do you avoid "tucking in"
the sides or ends of your electric blanket?
"Tucking In" an electric blanket or placing additional coverings
on top of it can cause excessive heat buildup which can start a fire.
• Do not tuck in electric blankets.
• Use electric blankets according to the manufacturer's instructions.
• Don't allow anything on top of the blanket while it is in use (this
includes other blankets , comforters, and even sleeping pets).
• Do not use electric blankets on children.
Do you turn off your heating pad before you go to sleep?
Sleeping with a heating pad that is turned on can cause serious burns,
even at relatively low settings.
• Never go to sleep with a heating pad that is turned on.
• Do not use a heating pad if you are diabetic or obese.
Are power tools equipped with a 3-prong plug or marked to show they are
double insulated?
These safety features reduce the risk of an electric
shock.
• Use a properly connected 3-prong adapter for connecting a 3-prong
plug to a 2-prong receptacle.
• Consider replacing old tools that have neither a 3-prong plug nor
are double insulated.
Are power tool guards in place?
Power tools used with guards removed pose a serious risk of injury from
sharp edges or moving parts.
• Replace guards that have been removed from power tools.
Are the grounding features of any 3-prong plugs being properly used?
(i.e.: the grounding pin hasn't been removed) The third prong is there
because the appliance must be grounded to avoid electric shock.
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