Electricity helps make our lives easier but there are times when we can take its power and its potential for fire-related hazards for granted.
NFPA actively supports National Electrical Safety Month, an annual campaign in May sponsored by the Electrical Safety Foundation International (ESFI), which works to raise awareness of potential home electrical hazards, the importance of electrical fire safety, and the safety of electrical workers.
To help reduce your risk, NFPA and ESFI recommend that you have all electrical work done by a qualified electrician, including electrical inspections, when buying or remodeling a home. In the video below, Brett Brenner, President of ESFI, offers tips residents can follow to help keep homes safer from electrical fires, in this age of smart home technology.
Hear ESFI President Brett Brenner talk about what the data says on who most often experiences electrical injuries and how, as well as electrical safety considerations in the age of electric vehicles and smart home technology. Listen now.
Volts, amps, watts—what does it all mean? Electricity can be confusing! Learn the differences between these three electricity units, and how they relate to keeping electrical outlets in your home safe, in this episode of Learn Something New™ by NFPA Journal®. Learn about hazards such as overloading electrical outlets, or receptacles, and when to replace outlets.
Sample social media posts
Use these sample electrical safety posts on Facebook or Twitter.
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Our favorite cartoon, Dan Doofus learns the hard way all about electrical safety, so you don’t have to: https://youtu.be/l-wXyw0tvSA
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The leading areas of origin for electrical distribution and lighting fires are the bedroom (17%), attic (12%), and wall assembly (9%) http://ow.ly/ZOdOf
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See all posts.
Electrical fire facts
- In 2015-2019 electrical distribution or lighting equipment, such as wiring, lighting, cords, and plugs, was involved in an estimated average of roughly 32,620 reported home structure fires per year. These incidents caused an average of 430 civilian deaths, 1,070 civilian injuries, and $1.3 billion in direct property damage annually.
- Electrical distribution or lighting equipment ranked first in direct property damage, and third among the major fire causes in the number of home fires, home fire deaths and home fire injuries.
- Wiring and related equipment accounted for 6 percent of all home fires and 11 percent of all home fire deaths.
- Cords or plugs were involved in only one percent of home fires but seven percent of the deaths. Extension cords dominated the cord or plug category.
Source: NFPA's Applied Research Department
NFPA helps Dan Doofus get grounded in the basics of electrical safety.
Many existing homes can’t handle the demands of today’s electrical appliances and devices. The warning signs are everywhere including flickering lights, circuit breakers that constantly trip, and cracked electrical cords. ESFI’s recent video helps you understand where AFCI protection is required in your home to help reduce the risk of electrical fires.
In this presentation, an overview is given on the care that needs to be taken when using electricity, the proper way to plug in appliances, and what to do if fuses blows or circuit breakers trip.