Improper or careless use of electrical equipment and installations can result in a risk of electric shock or fire. Electrical equipment and installations may be used if they meet the requirements, are in good technical condition, and are safe to use. A specialist must be used to carry out electrical work. People can do simpler work themselves if they have the relevant knowledge (e.g. change switches, sockets, lamp sockets, fuses). Switch off the power first!
The areas with the biggest risk:
- Bathroom and sauna – the most important safety rule is that you should never simultaneously use water or be near running water when using an electrical appliance (except for washing machine, hot water heater). Electrical appliances (hair dryer, electric razor) must never be used in the bathtub or in the shower. Lights must be covered by a dome.
- Kitchen – here, too, there is a risk that electrical appliances will come into contact with water, as a result of which one should carefully follow safety requirements. If you use more than one home appliance at the same time, the load on the electrical system may be too great and the cables may catch on fire.
- Garage and workshop – high-power tools are primarily used here, which imposes stricter requirements on the condition of wiring. If these rooms are underheated, the electrical system could be damp and thus be hazardous. As flammable substances are often used in these rooms, an electrical system that is not in order may result in a fire.
Fire safety
To prevent fire, it is paramount to know and follow fire safety requirements. The majority of all fires are caused by carelessness.
Electricity typically results in fire when cables or wires are defective or overloaded. If an electrical appliance catches on fire, it must be immediately removed from the wall socket. If this is not possible, the fuses (or the equivalent in the case of older buildings) should be switched off at the junction box.
The most hazardous heating appliances are ones that use open flame – hearths, fireplaces, stoves. Heating appliances require constant maintenance. If the building has a chimney, it must be cleaned regularly. A layer of soot may collect on the inside walls of an uncleaned chimney; this is flammable. In a private house, people can sweep the chimney themselves, but once in five years, the systems must be inspected by a professional chimney sweep.
The three key home protection devices are the smoke detector, which emits a signal when there is a fire, fire extinguishing blanket, which puts out a burning grease, TV or other small fire, and the fire extinguisher, which helps put out larger fires. A smoke detector is a device that reacts to the residue from combustion and is designed to detect fire and emit a signal when a fire first beaks out when it is still within the means of an individual to put out the fire by him or herself. It is compulsory to use a smoke detector. Carbon monoxide is odourless, colourless, and tasteless and cannot be detected by a smoke detector. If the building has solid heating equipment that can generate dangerous carbon monoxide (oven, fireplace, stove, boiler, etc.), it is mandatory to install a carbon monoxide detector.
Every person who uses a kitchen should have a fibreglass fire extinguishing blanket to smother small blazes. This is the ideal way to put out grease fires (water often spreads the fire) and smaller electrical appliances (coffee machine, radio, television. Do not under any circumstances use water to put out a grease fire! It is easy to use a fire extinguisher, it is within the ability of every family member, even older children. The three most common types of extinguishers in Estonia are: powder, foam and CO2. The most effective and universal type for home use is the powder extinguisher, but for putting out grease fires in the kitchen, you should use a special grease fire extinguisher, which is basically a foam extinguisher. The extinguisher must be kept in a secure place, in the foyer or corridor, so that it would always be handy.