Consumer Press Releases

Scots urged to avoid ‘Housebling’ hazards for a safe Christmas

3rd December 2008

Christmas lights on house

With the Christmas lights now switched on across Scotland’s cities, safety charity the Electrical Safety Council is reminding anyone emulating these festive displays around their own homes, to put safety first.

Despite rising electricity prices, more and more people are embracing the ‘housebling’ phenomenon, with around one in four Scottish households set to decorate the outside of their homes this Christmas, according to research from the charity.

But whether indulging in a few twinkling white icicles around doors and windows or a full-on festive light extravaganza that covers every inch of brick, complete with flashing reindeer on the roof, if adding some festive bling to your home, says the Electrical Safety Council, make sure you do it safely. Tony Maskens, Campaign Manager for Scotland at the Electrical Safety Council, explains, “Many people enjoy cheering up the outside of their homes with festive lights but using electricity outdoors carries increased risks because of the damp conditions. Our research also revealed that more than 50 per cent of people regularly leave their lights on for long periods when they leave the house or go to bed, creating an overheating hazard.

“We want to encourage people to observe some basic safety precautions before putting up their decorations this year to make sure they have a safe and happy festive season.”

The charity advises potential ‘houseblingers’ to make sure lights are designed specifically for outdoor use. Christmas lights suitable for outdoor use should display a ‘waterdrop’ symbol or IP Code on the packaging. The higher the IP number the greater the protection and to ensure that lights are safe for use outside they should have a minimum ‘rain-proof’ or IPX3 rating.

The safest Christmas lights operate at extra low voltage (sometimes described simply as ‘low voltage’ on the packaging) significantly reducing the risk of electric shock, even if there is a fault or the bulb breaks. “Christmas lights have probably been stored away for the past 11 months so it’s important to check the wires and connections for any signs of damage or wear before putting them up. Broken bulbs should be replaced to prevent overheating,” says Tony. “Any damage to the cable is dangerous and the lights should be disposed of and replaced with a new set.”

Lights should be connected to the electricity supply indoors via an RCD protected socket so that if a fault does develop the power will automatically cut out. If the wiring in your home isn’t RCD protected, plug-in (portable) RCDs can be bought from DIY outlets for around £10.

The Electrical Safety Council also recommends the use of LED lights over traditional filament bulbs. Not only do these use around 10 per cent of the power of conventional lights – saving energy and money – but they generate less heat and so reduce the risk of fire. LEDs are also made of special plastic so there’s no worry about broken glass bulbs either.

Tony adds, “Finally, make sure lights are switched off and unplugged before going out or to bed – even Christmas lights need a break.”

The Electrical Safety Council has a free leaflet about Christmas light safety which can be obtained by phoning the consumer helpline on 0870 040 0561 or downloaded from the website www.esc.org.uk

In the meantime, the Electrical Safety Council has the following advice:

Never

Always

 

Back to top