Electrical Fire Prevention Workshop
Electrical faults are behind roughly half of all accidental UK house fires. This 90-minute workshop walks through how they start, what you can check without an electrician, how RCD protection works, and the growing risks from home EV charging and lithium batteries.
Session topics
What the workshop covers
Electrical fire causes
UK electrical fires account for around 16,000 call-outs per year. This segment covers the three most common triggers: overloaded sockets, faulty appliances, and wiring defects in older properties.
Socket loads and extension leads
A practical guide to calculating socket loading and understanding why daisy-chaining extension leads is the single most preventable electrical fire cause in UK homes.
RCD / GFCI protection
How residual current devices work, how to test yours in 30 seconds, what to do if your consumer unit has no RCD, and when the IET Wiring Regulations require one.
Lithium batteries and EVs
Dedicated segment on EV home charging requirements, e-bike and e-scooter battery hazards, and the thermal runaway risk from damaged or unbranded lithium cells.
Running order
Agenda
Why electrical fire prevention matters more now
Electrical fire risk in UK homes is rising for two reasons: an ageing housing stock (roughly 40% of owner-occupied homes predate 1965 and have never had a full rewire), and the rapid introduction of new high-current loads — EV chargers, heat pumps, e-bike chargers — into wiring systems never designed for them. Most of the precautions a homeowner can take do not require an electrician: knowing how to test an RCD, understanding socket loading, and recognising the warning signs of wiring problems are all practical, low-cost actions that significantly reduce risk. For a full written guide, see our electrical fire prevention guide.
EV charging and e-bike batteries: the new risks
Dedicated EV charge points on a properly rated circuit are generally safe. The risk comes from workarounds: using a standard 13 A socket with a three-pin charging cable for an EV draws sustained high current that domestic wiring is not rated to handle continuously. The same applies to e-bike batteries charged from extension leads or multi-way adaptors. The workshop's dedicated segment on e-bike and lithium battery safety covers how to charge safely, which products to avoid, and how to spot the warning signs of a deteriorating cell before it fails.
Pre-workshop preparation
For the socket loading exercise, take note of the number of sockets in your main living room and the appliances you typically plug in simultaneously. You do not need to calculate wattages in advance — the session covers this step-by-step — but having a rough list will make the exercise more useful. Also locate your consumer unit (fuse box) before the session so you can identify whether it includes RCD protection during the demonstration.
What you will leave with
All attendees receive a resource pack including: a socket load calculation worksheet; an RCD test checklist; a warning signs of unsafe wiring reference card (with photographs); the full slide deck; and links to official guidance from the IET, NFCC, and Energy Networks Association. A 90-minute CPD certificate is available for attendees who complete the post-session reflection form. For context on smoke alarm siting near electrical panels and utility rooms, see our smoke alarm placement guide.
Session references: IET BS 7671 · NFCC · Home Office Fire Statistics
Workshop FAQ
Questions about the electrical fire prevention workshop
No — this workshop is designed for non-specialists: homeowners, facilities managers, tenants, and anyone who wants to understand electrical fire risks without needing to be an electrician. The session avoids jargon and focuses on what you can observe and act on, rather than the technical details of wiring. You do not need to bring any tools or materials.
Yes. A dedicated 20-minute segment covers EV charging at home (dedicated charge points vs. extension leads, dedicated circuit requirements), e-bike and e-scooter battery charging safety, and the signs of a failing lithium battery. For more detail before the session, see our e-bike battery fire risks guide.
A circuit breaker (MCB) protects against overcurrent — it trips when too much current flows through a circuit, protecting wiring from overheating. A residual current device (RCD or GFCI in North America) detects earth leakage — current flowing via an unintended path such as through a person. RCDs trip in milliseconds and are the key protection against electric shock and the electrical arcing that causes fires in damaged cables. Modern consumer units in the UK include RCDs (typically as RCBOs — combined protection). See our electrical fire prevention guide for details on testing your RCD.
Yes — the workshop includes a demonstration segment where participants view (via live video feed) common fault indicators: signs of overloaded sockets, discoloured plug faces, scorch marks at outlets, and examples of appliances that have failed pat testing. There is also a guided exercise in which participants apply the socket load calculation method to a typical home room setup. No hands-on electrical work is involved.