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 on
the department website at www.deir.qld.gov.au/pdf/eso/decorative-brochure.pdf.
Last updated 21 July 2009
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