Fire Fact Sheet

 

Electrical Safety Advice

Electricity is a major cause of accidental fires in UK homes - over 20,000 each year.

Causes of electrical fires

Nine out of 10 (89%) electrical fires are caused by electrical products. A relatively small percentage (11%) are caused by faults in installations* or by people not using installations properly.

Top five products that cause the most electrical fires in UK homes are:

• Electric cooking appliances (such as cookers and microwaves but not deep fat fryers)
• Laundry appliances (washing machines and tumble dryers)
• Electrical lighting
• Portable heaters
• TVs

In total, these five types of product cause almost 12,000 fires each year and almost 3,000 injuries.

Keeping you safe

The Electrical Safety Council recommends that you get the following devices installed for your safety.

Residual Current Device

A Residual Current Device (RCD) is a life-saving device which is designed to prevent you from getting a fatal electric shock if you touch something live, such as a bare wire. It provides a level of protection that ordinary fuses or circuit-breakers cannot provide.

Like a smoke detected, an RCD installed in your fusebox could one day save your life.

Smoke Alarms

If a fire starts in your home, a smoke alarm will provide an early warning signal giving you valuable time to escape. Modern alarms are neat and tidy, and cost under £10.

How to prevent a fire in your home

Cooking appliances

Government statistics show that the largest number of accidental reported fires caused by electricity in the home is due to people misusing electrical cooking appliances, including microwaves. So you need to take special care when using your electrical appliances in your kitchen.

You must:

• not let leads from other appliances like kettles or toasters trail across the cooker;
• never dry towels on, or near, the cooker;
• not let fat and grease build up on or in the cooker, especially in the grill pan where it can easily catch fire; and
• make sure that you turn the cooker off when you have finished using it.

Combustible materials

Don't store combustible materials (clothes, papers, cleaning materials etc) close to your service head (cut-out fuse), electricity meter or fusebox, particularly where these are under the stairs (a means of escape in an emergency). There have been a number of serious fires in homes where a fault in such electrical equipment, the effects of which would otherwise have been contained, has set light to adjacent stored materials. By having the electrics in your home checked regularly and by taking some simple precautions with your electrical appliances, you can reduce the risk of fire.

DO:

• Ensure your electrical installation is checked by a registered electrician**, specifically:

Homeowners: should have this done at least every 10 years and when you move home. The easiest way to find out when the last check (known as a periodic inspection or condition report) was carried out and the next one is due is by locating the label fixed on or near your fusebox (also known as a consumer unit).

Tenants: should ask your landlord for a copy of their certificate or report confirming that the electrical installation meets the UK national standard BS 7671 (Requirements for Electrical Installations) and is safe to use. The electrical installation and any appliances provided by the landlord are the landlord's responsibility.

• check your sockets regularly - if you see burn marks or they feel hot, get a registered electrician to check if they need repairing or replacing.

• have additional sockets installed if existing sockets and/or adaptors are overloaded.

• turn off any electrical appliances that you are not using, particularly at night, when a fire can quickly spread unnoticed and cause more danger and damage.

• check flexible cables to appliances before plugging them in to use. Check for damage, and wear and tear, and that the plug is fastened securely to the cable. Don't use the appliance unless it and its cable are in good condition.

• be careful when using hand-held electrical appliances and make sure that you switch them off and unplug them when you have finished. This is particularly important with items that get very hot in normal use, such as hair dryers and curling tongs which, if you leave them on, can easily cause any combustible material that they are in contact with to catch fire

• call the Fire and Rescue Service immediately if you smell burning that cannot be explained. They will have equipment such as thermal imaging cameras which will accurately detect objects that are overheating.

DON’T:

• overload electrical adaptors by plugging too many appliances in to one socket especially appliances with a high electrical current rating such as kettles, irons and heaters.

• put electric heaters near curtains or furniture, or dry clothes on them.
• cover the air vents on storage heaters or fan heaters.
• trail flexible cables under carpets or rugs.
• use a bulb with a higher wattage than the wattage printed on the light fitting or lampshade you are using.

What to do if there is a fire

The Department of Communities and Local Government recommends the following:

• Keep calm and act quickly, get everyone out as soon as possible.
• Don't waster time investigating what's happened or rescuing valuables.
• If there's smoke, keep low where the air is clearer.
• Before you open a door check if it's warm. If it is, don't open it - fire is on the other side.
• Call 999 as soon as you're clear of the building. 999 calls are free.

Many local Fire and Rescue Services will come to your home and carry out a Home Fire Risk Check to help keep you and your family safe. For more information contact your local Fire and Rescue Service on their non-emergency contact number (not 999).

*an electrical installation is the wiring in a home including the electrical intake, fusebox and the lighting and power circuits.

**a registered electrician is an electrician who is registered with a government-authorised scheme.

Fire Fact Sheet...what you will learn...for philippine electrical inquiries and orders: email us: SAFEELECTRICAL2013@GMAIL.COM

Fire Fact Sheet



Electrical Safety Advice

Electricity is a major cause of accidental fires in UK homes - over 20,000 each year.

Causes of electrical fires

Nine out of 10 (89%) electrical fires are caused by electrical products. A relatively small percentage (11%) are caused by faults in installations* or by people not using installations properly.

Top five products that cause the most electrical fires in UK homes are:

Electric cooking appliances (such as cookers and microwaves but not deep fat fryers)
Laundry appliances (washing machines and tumble dryers)
Electrical lighting
Portable heaters
TVs
In total, these five types of product cause almost 12,000 fires each year and almost 3,000 injuries.

Keeping you safe

The Electrical Safety Council recommends that you get the following devices installed for your safety.

Residual Current Device

A Residual Current Device (RCD) is a life-saving device which is designed to prevent you from getting a fatal electric shock if you touch something live, such as a bare wire. It provides a level of protection that ordinary fuses or circuit-breakers cannot provide.


Like a smoke detected, an RCD installed in your fusebox could one day save your life.

Smoke Alarms

If a fire starts in your home, a smoke alarm will provide an early warning signal giving you valuable time to escape. Modern alarms are neat and tidy, and cost under £10.



How to prevent a fire in your home

Cooking appliances

Government statistics show that the largest number of accidental reported fires caused by electricity in the home is due to people misusing electrical cooking appliances, including microwaves. So you need to take special care when using your electrical appliances in your kitchen.

You must:

not let leads from other appliances like kettles or toasters trail across the cooker;
never dry towels on, or near, the cooker;
not let fat and grease build up on or in the cooker, especially in the grill pan where it can easily catch fire; and
make sure that you turn the cooker off when you have finished using it.
Combustible materials

Don't store combustible materials (clothes, papers, cleaning materials etc) close to your service head (cut-out fuse), electricity meter or fusebox, particularly where these are under the stairs (a means of escape in an emergency). There have been a number of serious fires in homes where a fault in such electrical equipment, the effects of which would otherwise have been contained, has set light to adjacent stored materials. By having the electrics in your home checked regularly and by taking some simple precautions with your electrical appliances, you can reduce the risk of fire.

DO:

Ensure your electrical installation is checked by a registered electrician**, specifically:
Homeowners: should have this done at least every 10 years and when you move home. The easiest way to find out when the last check (known as a periodic inspection or condition report) was carried out and the next one is due is by locating the label fixed on or near your fusebox (also known as a consumer unit).

Tenants: should ask your landlord for a copy of their certificate or report confirming that the electrical installation meets the UK national standard BS 7671 (Requirements for Electrical Installations) and is safe to use. The electrical installation and any appliances provided by the landlord are the landlord's responsibility.

check your sockets regularly - if you see burn marks or they feel hot, get a registered electrician to check if they need repairing or replacing.
have additional sockets installed if existing sockets and/or adaptors are overloaded.
turn off any electrical appliances that you are not using, particularly at night, when a fire can quickly spread unnoticed and cause more danger and damage.
check flexible cables to appliances before plugging them in to use. Check for damage, and wear and tear, and that the plug is fastened securely to the cable. Don't use the appliance unless it and its cable are in good condition.
be careful when using hand-held electrical appliances and make sure that you switch them off and unplug them when you have finished. This is particularly important with items that get very hot in normal use, such as hair dryers and curling tongs which, if you leave them on, can easily cause any combustible material that they are in contact with to catch fire
call the Fire and Rescue Service immediately if you smell burning that cannot be explained. They will have equipment such as thermal imaging cameras which will accurately detect objects that are overheating.
DON’T:

overload electrical adaptors by plugging too many appliances in to one socket especially appliances with a high electrical current rating such as kettles, irons and heaters.


put electric heaters near curtains or furniture, or dry clothes on them.
cover the air vents on storage heaters or fan heaters.
trail flexible cables under carpets or rugs.
use a bulb with a higher wattage than the wattage printed on the light fitting or lampshade you are using.


What to do if there is a fire

The Department of Communities and Local Government recommends the following:

Keep calm and act quickly, get everyone out as soon as possible.
Don't waster time investigating what's happened or rescuing valuables.
If there's smoke, keep low where the air is clearer.
Before you open a door check if it's warm. If it is, don't open it - fire is on the other side.
Call 999 as soon as you're clear of the building. 999 calls are free.
Many local Fire and Rescue Services will come to your home and carry out a Home Fire Risk Check to help keep you and your family safe. For more information contact your local Fire and Rescue Service on their non-emergency contact number (not 999).

*an electrical installation is the wiring in a home including the electrical intake, fusebox and the lighting and power circuits.

**a registered electrician is an electrician who is registered with a government-authorised scheme.

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Home Safe Home

Our mission:
To reduce electrical accidents and injuries

The Electrical Safety Council (ESC) is a charity committed to reducing deaths and injuries caused by electricity. We are supported by all sectors of the electrical industry as well as local and central government and work to promote safety and good practice

Top tips

Do…

• have your electrics checked regularly (at least every 10 years).
• use an RCD when using electrical equipment outdoors.
• use a registered electrician to carry out electrical work in your home.
• regularly check the condition of plugs, cables and extension leads.
• be careful when using hand-held electrical appliances and ensure that they are switched off and unplugged when you have finished using them.
• remove plugs from sockets carefully. Pulling out a plug by the cable puts a strain on the terminations which can be dangerous.
• check that any adaptor used complies with British Standards and is adequately rated for the connected load.

Don’t…

• bring mains powered portable appliances into the bathroom. 
• overload adaptors, particularly with high current appliances such as kettles, irons and heaters. 
• use adaptors plugged into other adaptors. 
• use any electrical equipment or switches with wet hands. 
• wrap flexible cables around any equipment when it is still warm. 
• clean an appliance such as a kettle whilst it is still plugged in.
• retrieve toast stuck in a toaster whilst it is plugged in, and especially not with a metal knife – there are often live parts inside!
• fill a kettle or steam iron whilst it is plugged in.

---

Electricity can kill. Government statistics show that electricity causes more than 20,000 fires a year – almost half of all accidental UK house fires. Each year, about 70 people are killed and 350,000 are seriously injureddue to an electrical accident in the home

But it’s not all doom and gloom. By taking the simple steps highlighted here you can vastly reduce any risk to you and your family.

---

Wired up
Brown to live (L) Blue to neutral (N) Green and yellow to earth (E)

Choose the right fuse 
It’s important to match the right appliance to the right rated fuse. Here is a quick guide, but you should refer to the manufacturers instructions if possible. 3A fuse: Most lamps, televisions, videos, computers, mixers, power drills etc will use 700W or less. 13A fuse: Larger appliances such as washing machines, toasters, irons and heaters will use over 700W.

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Home Safe Home with Green Tips

Never retrieve toast stuck in a toaster whilst it is plugged in, and especially not with a metal knife – there are often live parts inside!

Lawnmowers have sharp blades and rapidly rotating parts, capable of cutting through electrical cables as easily as grass. 
Never cut grass in wet conditions, always wear sensible footwear and check the cable and plug before use. 
Always use an RCD (see below).

What is a Residual Current Device (RCD)? 
It’s a life saver! 
An RCD is a life-saving device which is designed to prevent you from getting a fatal electric shock if you touch something live, such as a bare wire.

Keep trailing cables out of the way. 
Flexible cables trailed under carpets, rugs or across walkways are not only a major trip hazard, but also a potential fire risk. Repeated stretching and treading on the cable may damage the cable insulation.

GREEN TIP: Try turning your washing machine down from a 60º to 40º wash. It’ll save you 30% of your electricity bill with every wash.

Think you’ve found the perfect spot for your new picture? Can’t wait to fix it to your wall? 
Think again. Never drill holes or fix nails in walls or partitions without knowing what is hidden behind them. Walls and partitions conceal electrical cables and gas and water pipes. A cable and metal detector will help identify the presence of concealed cables and metal pipes.

GREEN TIP: Try turning your thermostat down by 1º and the only thing that will notice will be your purse. You could save up to 10% of your annual bill.

Water and electricity are a lethal combination. 
That is why the bathroom, of all the rooms in the home, needs to be treated with extra care. Sockets are not permitted in the bathroom (with the exception of carefully positioned shaving points) and lightswitches should be of the pull cord type. Never bring mains powered appliances into a bathroom.

Changing the belt on a vacuum cleaner is just another one of those annoying jobs that happen when you least need it. 
But unless you remember to unplug the appliance and allow it to cool before you attempt even simple maintenance you risk injury from electric shock, burns and mechanical movement.

GREEN TIP: Consider using an energy efficient bulb in its place. They last up to 12 times longer and save on electricity.

‘It’s ok dear, I’ll just change this 60 Watt bulb for a 100 Watt version!’ 
Using a bulb with a higher wattage than allowed by the fitting can cause overheating. In exceptional circumstances the lampshade or lampholder may overheat and start a fire.

Beware the iron flex! 
Not only is it a classic trip hazard, it also shouldn’t be wrapped around a still warm iron. Like a kettle, the steam iron should never be filled whilst it is still plugged in.

GREEN TIP: Britons waste the equivalent of around two power stations’ worth of electricity each year by leaving TV sets and other gadgets on standby. You could save up to 10% off your yearly electricity bill.

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Living together safely..what you will know about electrical safety...for philippine electrical inquiries and orders: email us: SAFEELECTRICAL2013@GMAIL.COM

Living together safely

Electricity can kill

Government statistics show that electricity cause more than 20,000 fires a year – almost half of all accidental UK house fires. Each year, about 70 people are killed and 350,000 seriously injured due to an electrical accident in the home.

But it’s not all doom and gloom. By taking the simple steps highlighted here you can vastly reduce any risk to you and the people you live with.

Never leave drinks or other liquids on or near electrical appliances such as a TV.  If spilt, the liquid could drip into the appliance, which could case a fire, as well as giving you an electric shock.

Never retrieve toast stuck in a toaster whilst it is plugged in, and especially not with a metal knife – there are often live parts inside.

Don’t leave mobile phones on charge for prolonged periods of time as chargers can overheat and could cause a fire.

Don’t leave TVs, video and DVD players and music systems on standby. By switching off all appliances when not in use you will not only save money on your electricity bill and conserve energy, but you will reduce the risk of an electrical fire.

Don’t overload any sockets by plugging in more than one piece of electrical equipment at a time as this could d need to use an adapter, use a bar adapter which does not put pressure on the contacts in the socket.

Never drill holes or fix nails into walls or partitions without knowing what is hidden behind them. Walls and partitions conceal electrical cables and gas and water pipes. A cable and metal detector will help identify the presence of concealed cables and metal pipes.

Don’t take electrical appliances such as a hairdryer or radio into the bathroom. Water carried electricity efficiently and when the two mix results can kill.

Don’t use a bulb with a higher wattage than specified on the lamp. Using a bulb with a higher wattage than required for a light fitting will increase the risk of fire.

Don’t trail flexible cables under carpets, rugs or across walkways. Not only are they a major trip hazard, but also a potential fire risk. Repeated stretching and treading on the cable may damage the cable insulation.

Always make sure that straighteners are switched off and unplugged when not in use, left in a safe place and that the cable is not would around the straighteners. This will reduce the risk of electrical fire. Take care when using straighteners as they can get hot very quickly and increase the risk of the user suffering burns.

Don’t try to force a foreign 2-pin plug into a 3-pin plug socket as this can cause danger of electric shock or fire. Always use a converter plug when using an appliance, which has a foreign plug. Where possible this should be a short-term solution and you should look into an appliance which has a British 3-pin plug.

All electrical appliances and equipment, which are used outdoors, should be plugged into a socket protected with an RCD.

What is an RCD?

An RCD is a life-saving device, which is designed to prevent you from getting a fatal electric shock if you touch something live, such as a bare wire. For more information on RCD's visit our RCD's Explained page.

Make sure you know where your Consumer Unit (fuse box) is located so you can reach it quickly in emergencies.

What is a consumer unit?

A consumer unit is used to control a distribute electricity around the home. It usually contains a main switch (to turn electricity on/off), fuses or circuit breakers and one or more residual current devices (see RCD).

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Do…

✓  Report any problems with the electrical installation or appliances to your landlord straight away.

✓  Use appliances according to the manufacturer’s instructions.

✓  Use an RCD when using electrical equipment outdoors.

✓  Regularly check the condition of plugs, cables and extension leads.

✓  Check that any adaptor used complies with the British Standards and is adequately rated for the connected load.

✓  Remove plugs from sockets carefully. Pulling out any plug by the cable puts a strain on the terminations with can be dangerous.

Don’t…

✗  Carry out and DIY repairs or electrical installations or appliances.

✗  Bring mains powers portable appliances into the bathroom.

✗  Ignore worn flexes on appliances.

✗  Use and electrical appliance with wet hands.

✗  Overload adapters, particularly with high current appliances such as kettles, irons and heaters.

Look out for these danger signs when using appliances

•  Frayed, cut or damaged leads.
• Cracked or damaged cases on plugs or appliances.
• Burn marks on plugs, leads or appliances.
• Blowing fuses.
• Loose cord grips in plugs or appliances.

If you notice any of the above danger signs, stop using the appliance and report the problem to your landlord straight away.

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Tenant responsibilities:

• Do not attempt to extend, repair or replace damaged or worn-out parts of the electrical installation yourself.
• Ensure all electrical appliances are used responsibly and in accordance with the manufacturer’s instructions.
• Report any problems with the electrical installation or appliances to your landlord straight away.
• Allow access to the property should an electrician need to visit to carry out an inspection of the electrical installation/fix and reported problem.

If you have reported a problem to your landlord and they have refused to put the situation right or ignored your request, you should contact your local authority who will be able to assist you. Local authorities will ensure a landlord is meeting their legal obligations and can take enforcement action against them if they are found not to be.

Landlord responsibilities:

Your landlord is required by law to ensure:

• That electrical installation in a rented property is safe when a tenancy begins;
• That the electrical installation is maintained in a safe condition throughout the tenancy; and
• That any appliance provided is safe and has at least the CE marking (which is the manufacturer’s claim that it meets all the requirements of European law).

In order to meet the above requirements your landlord will need to carry out regular basic safety checks to ensure that the electrical installation and appliances remain in good working order. For more information about landlords and tenants safety visit the Safety in Rented Homes page.

What to look for in a new accommodation:

• An electrical report confirming that the electrical installation is safe for use (known as an Electrical Installation Condition Report).
• Certification confirming that any recent electrical work meets the UK national standard BS 7671 (Requirements for Electrical Installations).
• That sockets, switches and light fittings are in good condition with no signs of damage.
• That any appliances are provided with manufacturer’s instructions, have up to date PAT test stickers on them (not required if appliance is new and has not been used before) and are in good working order.

Portable appliance testing (PAT)

• The safety of appliances you bring into your accommodation is your responsibility. If you are in any doubt as to the safety of an appliance get it tested or replaced.

Your landlord or college should have a system for inspecting and testing the portable equipment they provide.

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Electrical chargers - buyer's guide...for philippine electrical inquiries and orders: email us: SAFEELECTRICAL2013@GMAIL.COM

Electrical chargers - buyer's guide

Sub-standard and counterfeit electrical chargers can be deadly!

The Electrical Safety Council has developed this guide to inform you about the essential safety checks you need to make when buying a plug-in charger.

To obtain further copies of this guide please email us at enquiries@esc.org.uk.

Notes to safety points below:

1. If the distance between the edge of the pins and the edge of the charger is less than 9.5 mm, there is a risk of electric shock when plugging in and unplugging the charger from a socket.
2. If the charger does not easily plug into a socket, the pins may be the wrong size or length, or the distance between the pins may be wrong. If pins do not fit properly into the socket, overheating, arcing and mechanical damage can occur to both the socket and the charger, which can be dangerous.
3. Do not rely on a CE mark alone as a guarantee of safety. A CE mark on a product is simply a declaration by the manufacturer that the product meets all the safety requirements of European law. Like all markings, they can be easily forged!
   
   
4. Also, look for a model or type reference, and a batch marking (if present), which will ease traceability of unsafe or defective products.
5. Sufficient information must be provided to ensure the charger can be used safely. As a minimum, user instructions should provide information on conditions and limitations of use, how to operate the charger safely, basic electrical safety guidance and details of how to safely dispose of the charger when it is no longer required.

Many imported chargers do not satisfy UK safety regulations and can cause serious electric shock, injury or fire.

Suppliers and retailers have a legal duty to ensure that ALL ELECTRICAL EQUIPMENT THEY SELL IS SAFE.

The 3-point safety check

1. Plug pins
   Check that there is at least 9.5 mm between the edge of the pins and the edge of the charger (9.5 mm is about the width of a ballpoint pen)
   
   
   
   Plug the charger into a socket but don’t switch it on or connect it to your appliance. 
   
   
   
   Does it plug in easily?
   
2. Markings
   • Look for a manufacturer’s brand name or logo, model and batch number.
   
   
   
   • Check for a CE mark
   • Check that the output voltage and current ratings marked on the charger and your electrical device are the same.
   
3. Warnings and instructions
   Adequate warnings and instructions must be provided.
   
   

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Fire safety

It’s not only electrical faults that start fires, human error is often to blame. Whether it’s a badly wired plug or an iron left on – we all need to take more care. In 2007, the number of reported fires in UK homes started by accident was over 43,000. Of these, 19% were caused by electrical faults while a further 25% were caused by people not using electrical equipment and appliances properly.

And only a quarter of all fires in homes are reported to the Fire and Rescue Service, according to a recent Government survey.

We use electricity every day. Don’t take it for granted. It can be dangerous. Treat it with respect and follow these simple do’s and don’ts:

 

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Do

• Check the condition of your wiring – This should be done when you move into a new home and then once every 10 years. It’s the landlord’s responsibility if you rent your home. Ask to see a copy of the certificate or report confirming that the electrics meet the UK national standard BS 7671 (Requirements for Electrical Installations).
• Check your sockets regularly – if you see burn marks or they feel hot, get a registered electrician to check them.
• Turn off any electrical equipment you are not using – especially at night, when a fire can spread quickly while you sleep.
• Regularly check flexible cables on kettles and other similar appliances – look for signs of fraying, general wear and tear, or a loose plug. Do this before you plug anything in.
• Be careful when using hand-held electrical equipment –­ make sure you switch off and unplug when you have finished. This is important with items that get hot, for instance hairdryers or curling tongs, as they may come into contact with materials that can catch fire (like curtains).
• Check the current rating of an electrical adaptor before you plug appliances in ­­– make sure that the total current used does not exceed the adaptor’s rating.

 

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Don't

• Overload any adaptor or socket – especially with appliances that have a high electrical current such as kettles, irons or heaters. It’s safer to have extra sockets installed if needed.
• Put electric heaters near curtains or furniture – or dry clothes on them.
• Cover the air vents on storage heaters or fan heaters.
• Trail flexible cables under carpets or rugs.
• Exceed the wattage of the light fitting or lampshade with the bulb you use.

 

 

Top tips from the Communities & Local Government

• Install a smoke alarm on every level of your home and test it weekly.
• Don’t overload plug sockets.
• Keep electrical appliances clean and in good working order.
• Most fires start in the kitchen, so never leave cooking unattended.
• Stub cigarettes out and dispose of them carefully. 'Put them out – right out.'
• Make candles safe and secure in proper holders and away from materials that might catch fire – like curtains.
• In the event of a fire you should 'Get Out, Stay Out, Call 999'.

 

• 

  In the kitchen

  Nearly 13,000 fires start each year in the kitchen¹.  These accidents, caused mainly by people misusing electrical cooking equipment like microwaves, could easily be avoided.
  Here are some simple suggestions to reduce the risks of fire

  • Don’t let leads from kettles, toasters or similar, trail across your cooker.
  • Never dry towels on, or near, the cooker.
  • Don’t let fat and grease build up, especially in the cooker’s grill pan, as it can catch fire easily.
  • Make sure you turn the cooker off when you have finished.

  ¹ Data supplied to ESC by the Department of Communities and Local Government, 11/02/10
• 
  You are half as likely to die in a house fire if you have a working smoke alarm. If a fire starts in your home, a smoke alarm gives you the time to get out.

  Modern alarms are neat and tidy, cost around £10 and are easy to fit. You may find your local Fire and Rescue service may install one for you, for free, as part of a free home fire risk check.