Who should carry out electrical work in my caravan?

 

Although many incidents are caused by faulty appliances rather than the electrical installation itself, a well maintained installation could significantly reduce the possibility of accident or injury.

 

So, it is important that any electrical installation work is carried out only by people who are competent. This means people who have the knowledge, skills and experience needed to avoid dangers to themselves and others that electricity can create. Appoint Hirst Electrical UK to carry out an inspection on your electrics.

 

Unless you sub-let your caravan you are not legally required to undertake electrical inspections, however we recommend having your electrics inspected once every three years. This will ensure both you and your family’s safety during your holidays.

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If you sub-let your caravan, it is a legal requirement to have a yearly Portable Appliance Test (PAT) completed. It is sensible to ask us to undertake an inspection of your electrics at the same time.

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Static Caravan Safety – Electric: Obvious Dangers
Maintenance – always unplug an appliance before you attempt any maintenance. You risk injury from electric shock, burns and mechanical movement if you tackle maintenance before appliances are unplugged and have cooled down.

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Drying clothes – never dry clothes on an electric heater. Many electric heaters have ventilation slots to prevent overheating. If these slots are covered up, the appliance could overheat and catch fire or if water drips in there is the risk of electric shock.

 

Downlighters – for your safety you should check downlighters and their surroundings for signs of overheating such as discolouration and scorching. You should always ensure that there is adequate ventilation space below and around downlighters and that the correct bulbs are used.

 

Combustible materials – never store combustible materials close to your electricity meter or consumer unit.

Adapters & Extension leads – don’t overload adaptors or use adaptors plugged into adaptors. Never buy cheap, sub-standard adaptors.

 

RCDs – when using electrical equipment outdoors ensure that you use a Residual Current Device (RCD). An RCD provides a level of protection against electric shock that normal fuses and circuit breakers don’t.

 

Fixing electrical failures and faults should never be attempted yourself. Should your electrics fail when you arrive at your static caravan after a break away, it is a good idea to contact your holiday park’s maintenance team.

Checking your appliances periodically for wear and tear can be a good way of helping to ensure safety.  This can include:

• Checking the cable covering for cuts and abrasions

• Checking that the cable covering is gripped into the plug top, so that no coloured cable cores are visible

• Checking that the plug casing is not cracked and that the pins are not bent

• Checking for signs of burning or overheating, especially the plug and socket

• Checking that there are no loose, damaged or missing part.