home fire safety fact sheet 2 - power board safety

Follow these simple tips for using and maintaining power boards to help make your home safer from house fires. Don’t: • Overload power boards by “piggy backing” plugs into one socket or by using double adaptors – all power boards have a maximum current rate • Plug high wattage appliances (such as toasters, kettles and heaters) into power boards – plug them directly to permanent power points instead • Use damaged, dirty or wet power boards • Never use water to extinguish a fire caused by electrical equipment Do: • Use power boards with overload protection, as this will prevent it from overheating • Only use power boards with built in safety switches/circuit breakers • Place power boards on their sides to prevent dust build up in unused points • Provide adequate ventilation around the power boards • Regularly check that all plugs are firmly fixed in power boards • Regularly check the power board for any signs of damage and degradation 02 Power Board Safety Power Board Safety Poor maintenance and incorrect use of power boards are a common cause of fires in the home. These fires endanger lives and can cause considerable damage to property. Most of these fires are accidental and preventable. For more information visit www.dfes.wa.gov.au or contact DFES Community Engagement 9395 9816 The information contained in this material is provided voluntarily as a public service by the Department of Fire and Emergency Services (DFES). This material has been prepared in good faith and is derived from sources believed to be reliable and accurate at the time of publication. Nevertheless, the reliability and accuracy of the information cannot be guaranteed and DFES expressly disclaims liability for any act or omission done or not done in the reliance on the information and for any consequences whether direct or indirect, arising from such act or omission. This publication is intended to be a guide only and viewers should obtain their own independent advice and make their own necessary inquiries. 0635/September/2015 Extension cords ■ ■ Use extension cords only as a temporary measure ■ ■ Do not connect a power board or double adapter to the end of an extension lead to make it longer ■ ■ Never place extension leads under carpet or rugs as they may overheat ■ ■ Do not place extension leads near heaters and cookers ■ ■ Extension leads that are damaged or frayed should be thrown away or repaired by a licensed electrical contractor ■ ■ If using extension leads outdoors check them regularly for signs of damage ■ ■ Make sure they do not get caught or damaged by sharp objects while in use ■ ■ Crawl low under smoke ■ ■ Assist or alert any people in danger, but only if it is safe to do so ■ ■ Go to your safe meeting place, such as your letter box ■ ■ Call 000 (triple zero) ■ ■ Wait for firefighters to arrive ■ ■ Do not re-enter a burning house under any circumstances In the event of a fire Consider hiring a licensed electrical contractor to install additional power points to avoid the excessive use of power boards ✘ Never use a double adaptor as they offer no overload protection. Factsheet Home fire safety

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Page 1: Home Fire Safety Fact Sheet 2 - Power Board Safety

Follow these simple tips for using and maintaining power boards to help make your home safer from house fires.

Don’t:• Overload power boards by “piggy backing” plugs into one

socket or by using double adaptors – all power boards have a maximum current rate

• Plug high wattage appliances (such as toasters, kettles and heaters) into power boards – plug them directly to permanent power points instead

• Use damaged, dirty or wet power boards• Never use water to extinguish a fire caused by electrical

equipment

Do:• Use power boards with overload protection, as this will prevent

it from overheating• Only use power boards with built in safety switches/circuit

breakers• Place power boards on their sides to prevent dust build up in

unused points• Provide adequate ventilation around the power boards• Regularly check that all plugs are firmly fixed in power boards• Regularly check the power board for any signs of damage and

degradation

02Power Board SafetyPower Board SafetyPoor maintenance and incorrect use of power boards are a common cause of fires in the home. These fires endanger lives and can cause considerable damage to property. Most of these fires are accidental and preventable.

For more information visit www.dfes.wa.gov.au or contact DFES Community Engagement 9395 9816

The information contained in this material is provided voluntarily as a public service by the Department of Fire and Emergency Services (DFES). This material has been prepared in good faith and is derived from sources believed to be reliable and accurate at the time of publication. Nevertheless, the reliability and accuracy of the information cannot be guaranteed and DFES expressly disclaims liability for any act or omission done or not done in the reliance on the information and for any consequences whether direct or indirect, arising from such act or omission. This publication is intended to be a guide only and viewers should obtain their own independent advice and make their own necessary inquiries. 0

635/

Sep

tem

ber

/201

Extension cords■■ Use extension cords only as a temporary measure

■■ Do not connect a power board or double adapter to the end of an extension lead to make it longer

■■ Never place extension leads under carpet or rugs as they may overheat

■■ Do not place extension leads near heaters and cookers

■■ Extension leads that are damaged or frayed should be thrown away or repaired by a licensed electrical contractor

■■ If using extension leads outdoors check them regularly for signs of damage

■■ Make sure they do not get caught or damaged by sharp objects while in use