Christmas lighting safety hints

Christmas is fast approaching and your customers may be in the process of preparing to decorate their home or garden with festive lights.

Some handy hints to advise your customers when they are decorating their homes and gardens:

• When buying new decorative lighting kits, look for an approval number (e.g. Qxxxxx; Vxxxxx; Nxxxxx; NSWxxxxx; Sxxxxx) or the regulatory compliance mark logo, which indicates compliance with Australian standards. These are normally found on the decorative lighting and may also be printed on the packaging.
• Use extra-low-voltage (12V or 24V) decorative lights, especially outdoors, on fences, metal work, roofs or downpipes. These should be supplied with an approved power supply unit (transformer).
• Do not alter or modify any lighting equipment.
• Lights used outdoors should be specifically designed for this purpose.
• Ensure all lights, extension leads and power boards are suitable for the intended use.

Some safe methods for using old or new decorative lighting are:

• If power points are not protected by a built-in safety switch, either have a licensed electrical contractor install one, or connect decorative lighting through a portable safety switch.
• Be aware that using multiple high-powered lamps may overload your electric circuits.
• When using multiple sets of decorative lighting or high-powered lights (such as para-floods, flood lights or spotlights), plug them into a power board fitted with overload protection.
• The use of double adaptors or piggy back plugs is not recommended.
• Use only factory-made extension leads or those made by a licensed electrician.
• Before use, check decorative lighting and all leads for damage, and only use if undamaged.
• Always fully unwind extension leads to avoid overheating.
• All outdoor electrical connections must be weatherproof. You can buy weatherproofing accessories that do the job.

For more information on safety hints download the Decorative lighting safety hints brochure.