Electrical Fires

The United Kingdom operate at 220-240 volts. The danger of electrical shock is great and many precautions are taken for electrical safety, which also improves fire safety. Some sockets are made childproof by covering the socket or using plug blanks in unused sockets.

Most electric plugs are fitted with fuses. Virtually all appliances and metal built into a house are required to be grounded to prevent shocks. Ground-fault circuit breakers are required for outdoor outlets. In Scotland, they are required for all circuits.

Despite the above safety features, electrical fires in the house are an increasing problem in the United Kingdom. People are allowed to work on their own electrical systems. More electrical apparatus is being used in the house, and more multiple adapters are being used, which leads to overloading circuits and inadvertent switch-ons. The old fuses in the main electrical supply being replaced by nails or other inappropriate means still exists. Old electric wiring is also a problem. It is insulated with rubber and supposed to be checked every five years, but in reality it is almost never checked. As the rubber ages, it gets brittle and the insulation can fall apart. Shorts from crushed wires such as those run under carpets also continue to be a problem.

Modern stoves and ovens are used for the majority of cooking in the United Kingdom, but there is a great use of deep-fat fryers for making such food as the fish and chips. Many ethnic minorities in the United Kingdom come from the Indian subcontinent. Indians, Pakistanis, Bangladeshis, and Sri Lankness tend to eat much fried food and frequently use deep-fat fryers.

Cooking is by far the largest single cause of fires in the United Kingdom, more than any other causes.

Electric stoves are a greater problem in unattended cooking than gas stoves. They slower heat up and cool down and are thought to be easier to forget about.

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Risk Code

The British have developed a nationwide scheme for rating the risk of every building and then using these rating to assess the overall risk of different areas. Risks are coded from A through D, with A being the highest risk. The risk of each building is determined on the basis of its construction type, height above and below ground, occupancy rating, and building density. The risk assessment is the basis for planning station location and fire fighting strength.

The Home Office has developed a standard for the response time and minimum fire fighting strength for each level of risk. The standard response for A risk areas (built-up districts) is two pumpers within five minutes, another one within eight minutes and an aerial unit where appropriate. In B risk areas (suburban business and three-story residential districts), one unit must arrive in 5 minutes and one in 8-10 minutes. In C risk areas, one-to two-storey residence, one unit must arrive within 8-10 minutes. In D risk (rural areas), one unit must arrive within 20 minutes.

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