Electrical Safety

When storing your e-bike or e-scooter, make sure that you:

• don’t store or charge e-bikes and e-scooters on escape routes. If there’s a fire, it can affect people’s ability to get to safety
• store e-bikes and e-scooters and their batteries in a cool place. Avoid storing them in excessively hot or cold areas
• follow manufacturer’s instructions for the storage and maintenance of lithium-ion batteries

When buying an e-bike or an e-scooter, it’s important to consider:

• buying your e-bike, your e-scooter, the charger and the batteries from reputable retailers
• that many fires involve counterfeit electrical goods. Items which don’t meet British or European standards pose a huge fire risk. Buying a fake charger could potentially destroy your home
• buying an e-bike conversion kit from a reputable seller. Check that it complies with British or European standards and take care if buying from an online auction or fulfilment platforms. Also be aware that if you need to buy separate components, you should check that they are compatible
• registering your product with the manufacturer to validate any warranties. Registering makes it easier for manufacturers to contact you in the event of safety or recall information
• checking any products you’ve bought aren’t subject to a product recall. This can be checked on Electrical Safety First

Batteries can be damaged by dropping them or crashing e-bikes or e-scooters. Where the battery is damaged, it can overheat and catch fire without warning. Check your battery regularly for any signs of damage. If you suspect that it’s damaged then it should be replaced.

If you need to dispose of a damaged or end of life battery, don’t dispose of it in your normal household waste. These batteries can cause fires in bin lorries, recycling and waste centres.

Risks include:

• getting frayed and damaged – make sure the outer covering of all power leads is in good condition and replace if necessary
• being badly positioned – they shouldn’t be anywhere that they could be tripped over, or near water, cookers or other sources of heat
• running them under rugs or carpets where they can wear through without anyone noticing – position them elsewhere

Plugs, sockets and cables also need to be used correctly, you should:

• make sure you can’t see any coloured wires between the plug and the power lead – change the plug properly
• make sure the wires are held firmly in place inside the plug
• use sockets safely – it's better to use a bar adaptor (multi-board) on a lead than a block adaptor
• only use one adaptor per socket – don’t plug one adaptor into another and try to keep to one plug per socket

Extension leads and adaptors ​have a limit on how many amps they can take, so be careful not to overload them to reduce the risk of a fire. 

Fully unwind extension leads, if you are using them for high-powered items.

• never get them wet – this includes plugs and sockets, so don’t put a vase of flowers close to the TV, for example
• never leave them on at night, unless they are designed to be left on, like freezers
• never put anything in the microwave that is made of metal, or has a metallic finish or parts

Electrical appliances, especially ones that run at high speeds and contain motors, like washing machines, should be serviced once a year by a qualified electrician.

We recommend registering your appliances with Register My Appliance. This will ensure you are kept in the loop if there are any safety alerts or recalls. 

If there is an electrical fire, pull the plug out, or switch off the power at the fuse box – if it is safe to do so. Sometimes this can stop the fire immediately.

Never use water on an electrical fire.

Don’t take any risks with your safety – get out, stay out and call 999.

When you’re fitting or replacing a fuse, it's important to use the right fuse for the appliance to make sure the fuse doesn’t overheat. Check the manual or look for a sticker on the appliance to find out its wattage and then use the correct fuse:

• for appliances up to 700 watts, use a 3 amp fuse
• for appliances between 700 and 1,000 watts, use a 5 amp fuse
• for appliances more than 1,000 watts, use a 13 amp fuse

Follow this advice to stay as safe as possible when using an electric blanket.

• always buy new – never buy second-hand blankets, as they may not be safe or meet current safety requirements
• always read and follow the manufacturer’s instructions before use
• examine your blanket regularly for signs of wear or damage
• never use an electric underblanket as an overblanket (or vice versa)
• don’t use the blanket while it's still folded or creased
• don’t use a hot water bottle at the same time as using your electric blanket
• don’t touch the blanket if you have wet hands or feet, and never use the blanket if it's wet or damp

If you're in any doubt contact the manufacturer before you use it.

Even when your blanket is not in use, you can leave it on the bed or place it flat on a spare bed. If you have to put the blanket away, it should be stored as the manufacturer recommends or as follows:

• let the blanket cool down before folding
• loosely fold or roll it in a towel or plastic bag and store the blanket in a cool dry place
• don’t use any moth-proofing chemicals
• don't place heavy items on top of the blanket while it is being stored