We know Christmas is still weeks away but it’s that time of year when we like to remind you about the potential dangers of outdoor Christmas lighting. Outdoor lighting is becoming incredibly popular in the UK – last year more than one in four household succumbed to the trend – and with this in mind we thought we’d give you some advice on how to use electricity outside safely.
Whether you’re thinking of decorating the front door with an illuminated wreath or are planning on going full-on and covering every spare inch of brick, using Christmas lighting outdoors should be treated with caution.
Using electricity outdoors comes with added risk because of the damp conditions and it’s important to remember that December can be one of the wettest months of the year in the UK. In addition, most people leave their Christmas lights switched on for long periods of time which presents the additional hazard of overheating.
First things first and you need to make sure that the Christmas lights you buy are suitable for use outdoors. At a minimum the lights should be ‘rain-proof’ or have an IPX3 rating. The safest type of Christmas lights available operate at a lower voltage and lights such as these can significantly reduce the risk of shock – even if a bulb breaks or there’s a fault.
Any lights you use outdoors should be connect to your indoor electricity supply via an RCD protected socket as this way even if a fault occurs, the power will automatically cut out.
If you would like further information or advice on using Christmas lights outdoors, please don’t hesitate to get in touch – we’ll be happy to help.
