Rank: Forum user 
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Hi everyone,
Quick fire / electrical safety question.
There is a lot of advice out there, mainly from fire brigades, stating that electrical appliances should be switched of when not in use to prevent electrical fires. Can anyone clarify ‘switched off’ is terms of :-
• Does this mean placing the appliance on standby? or
• Switching the appliance off, on the appliance on/off switch? or
• Switching the appliance off at the plug? or
• Removing the appliance plug from the socket?
Intuition would suggest removing the plug from the socket is the best option, but this is impractical in many examples (fridges, freezers etc) and also very difficult to get compliance with. The next best option, switching off at the socket is also impractical for similar reasons as many sockets cannot be accessed and in my organisation there are so many of them!, so is just turning the appliance off, on the appliance on/off switch ok or are electrical fires still a risk and if so how likely a risk? and also is this risk increased if the appliance is just left on standby?
Any answers would be very gratefully received! – Thanks.
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Rank: Super forum user 
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It would be in the method the manufacturer describes as switched off!
Your bullet points in numbers I would rate as:
1. No
2. Yes
3. Yes, maybe overboard
4. Yes well overboard!
;-)
You can’t switch off a fridge/freezer as it is in use whenever it has produce within.
If it is not to be used for a prolonged period then it may well be worth isolating and defrosting.
Accessibility of sockets is a good point. In an emergency situation should the socket be accessible?
The risk of fires with appliances with the mains switch in the off position would be limited to the supply cord and the minimal wiring to the mains switch. The plug top fuse should prevent this. (Ideal world!)
In standby you have a higher risk as more of the internals would be powered up.
However, if the equipment is maintained in a safe condition the risk of fires should be minimal.
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Rank: Guest
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Rank: Forum user
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Hi,
And as Michael McIntyre says we trust the fridge/freezer.
Cheers
Steve
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Rank: Forum user
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Just for info.... Don't trust fridge freezers too much. http://www.escweb.org.uk...r-Compressors-id-17.htmlAbove link refers to a problem with the starting device on some compressors. Some frost free fridges, and freezers have thermal fuses which operate, and apparently are sometimes bypassed!
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Rank: Super forum user
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I carried out a fir risk assessment at a local school which was during the half term holidays. during the inspection we found 300 computers had been left on that's 2 weeks burning away electricity and the risk of one catching on fire burning the whole school down.
Leaving something powered 24/7 is never going to be a good idea unless it has been designed for running that length of time.
Phil
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