Time to do your safety checks

At Orio Electrical Services we encourage our clients to use the change of clocks in spring and autumn to associate with two safety checks you should do around your home. Make a mental note (or physically set a reminder in your calendar) to do these checks a minimum of twice yearly;

Firstly, in line with the wiring regulations BS7671, you should check the function of RCD’s that are present in any part of your electrical installation. These safety devices come in different forms and are usually found within your Consumer Unit (or fuse board) or, they could be built into a socket outlet or be a portable plug-in device. An RCD works by monitoring electric current flow and in the case of a fault will disconnect supply and significantly reduce the risk of death or serious injury. Testing an RCD device is quick a simple; on the device itself look for a button marked ‘TEST’ or ‘T’, press this and it will disconnect the electricity to the socket, light or device its protecting. Use the switch, lever or button to reset the RCD and turn the power supply back on.

Check out the video showing a functional RCD test, one device fails, one device passes. More information can be found on the Electrical Safety First website by clicking HERE

Secondly, there is a need to test the functioning of your smoke alarms. There is no set regulation on the frequency of testing, however, ideally more often is better. There are a variety of alarm types that may be installed, including smoke and heat alarms (usually found in the kitchen). Some devices now have dual functionality and can sense Carbon Monoxide too.

Testing devices is usually simple as there is a dedicated and labelled button on the alarm marked as test; press, hold and wait for the alarm to sound. If you have an interlinked system then all the alarms on the system should be activated too, listen out for them. Make sure you test each alarm individually even if they are linked and all ring out on the first test. With the increase of electrical equipment around the home (such as solar PV inverters in loft spaces or cupboards) make sure you know where all your alarms are.

For more information on smoke alarms click HERE

Now you’ve checked your RCD and smoke alarm, if it works you’re all good to go! If it doesn’t work then please address these safety issues as a matter of urgency, you can contact Orio Electrical Services Ltd (or any qualified electrician) and we will be happy to identify any faults and advise on a recommended solution.

Thanks for reading