An electrical device that is old and in poor condition can ignite a fire

An old and worn-out or dirty electrical device can cause a fire or accident. Every year, more than 2,000 fires start from electrical devices or electrical installations in Finland, some of which propagate into structural fires. People are injured and even killed in fires. By taking care of the maintenance of the electrical devices in your home and using the devices in accordance with the instructions for use, you can prevent both electrical fires and electrical accidents.

A total of 2,260 fires that started from electrical device or installation were recorded in the Rescue Services’ PRONTO database last year. The largest source of electrical fires were electrical stoves or ovens (860). According to PRONTO, approximately 190 fires started from lights, about 100 from electric sauna stoves, about 80 from microwave ovens, about 60 from washing machines and about 50 from refrigerators. Batteries and chargers for electronics were marked as the source of ignition in 65 cases. 44 of the fires recorded in PRONTO had started from an air conditioner or ventilation duct. This category includes some of the fires that started from a cooker hood. The PRONTO register does not have a separate category for cooker hoods. 

The cause of electrical fires is most often human action: carelessness, not following the usage or installation instructions, or neglecting maintenance. The risk of fire increases if the electrical devices are old, in poor condition, or faulty. Functional human capability also has an effect on fire safety, including whether the person can use the electric device properly, understand the usage and safety instructions, change the battery on the fire alarm, call for help or leave the apartment in an emergency.  

Monitor the condition of electrical devices – replace a device that is old and in poor condition with a new one

To keep your home safe, you must monitor the condition of electrical devices and installations and service them regularly. Any defects or deficiencies found must be rectified. The same applies to holiday homes.

 “Consumers may be under the impression that electrical devices can be used without concern forever. In reality, electrical devices wear out when used and reach the end of their life cycle. If their condition is not monitored and servicing is neglected, the risk of fire caused by the device increases,” says Jukka Lepistö, Senior Officer at the Finnish Safety and Chemicals Agency (Tukes). 

The following warning signs often indicate that an electrical device that has been in use for a long time is faulty:

• strange noise from an electrical device, e.g. lights making a buzzing sound
• stiffening and/or darkening of the device’s switches
• indicator lights blinking or not working
• undesired heating of the device
• darkening of the device’s components.

You should replace an old electrical device that is in poor condition with a new one. In this way, you can reduce the risk of fire at home. 

The most common cause of ignition is careless use of the stove – pay also attention to the condition of the cooker hood 

Approximately 800–900 electrical fires each year are caused, in one way or another, by the stove. Stove fires are not usually caused by a fault with the stove itself. Instead, they are due to human carelessness, negligence or rush. The most common cause is forgetting to turn off the stove or turning it on by accident, causing materials on top of or close to the stove to ignite, and the fire spreading quickly to nearby structures. 

A poorly known risk is that a fire can start from old cooker hoods that have been in hard use. Insurance companies have investigated fires originating from hoods equipped with a slide switch and contacted Tukes about this concern. Tukes has tested cooker hoods with a slide switch on the market but has not detected such faults in them that would require their removal from the market. The problem concerns particularly hoods which have accumulated a lot of grease and dirt over the years and broken down while in use.

 “The cooker hood must be cleaned regularly and its condition must be monitored. In old hoods, components, such as slide switches, may accumulate dirt inside them with disastrous consequences. A fire on the stove easily spreads to the hood when the grime accumulated on the inside surfaces of the hood ignites. An old, poorly functioning cooker hood should be replaced with a new one,” Lepistö says.

Remember the basic rules

• Use electrical devices correctly and only under conditions and in places they are intended for.
• Follow the instructions for use and ensure that the operating environment of the devices remains as indicated in the instructions.
• Ensure sufficient monitoring of the condition and maintenance of the device.
• Have any defective installations you have detected fixed without delay. Have defective electrical devices serviced or replace them with a new one.
• Remember to be careful with electricity, especially in wet rooms and outdoors. 

The authorities do not check electrical devices in advance 

The majority of Finns (89% in the survey of 2022) believe that the authorities check the electrical equipment entering the market in advance. This is not the case; the compulsory ex ante checks of electrical equipment ended almost 30 years ago when Finland joined the European Union. Currently, checks are carried out on products already on the market based on risks. Tukes sends the suspicious products it has acquired to be tested in testing laboratories. Based on the testing results, Tukes decides on the necessary follow-up measures.

The importer, manufacturer and seller are responsible for the safety of electrical equipment. The CE marking on electrical equipment indicates that the manufacturer believes that the product conforms to the essential requirements set for it. Therefore, it can move freely within the entire EU.  

A functioning fire alarm saves lives 

A functioning fire alarm will help you detect fires early. In the event of a fire, you only have a few minutes to evacuate, as toxic combustion gases kill very quickly. Regularly check that the fire alarm is working by pressing on the test button, and replace the battery regularly on 112 Day (11 February), for example.

More information:
Jukka Lepistö, Senior Officer
tel. +358 29 5052 460 
email: [email protected]