Portable heaters can be an effective way to heat a room without heating the whole house or when the property doesn’t have the benefit of a central heating system, however they can also pose a serious fire hazard when not used carefully.   This is especially true when being used by people unfamiliar with a premises. Some general rules for Portable heaters Always use on a flat surface Leave at least 1 meter clearance to furniture and curtains. Buy one with a trip switch in case it gets knocked over (ie. By the dog). Never cover your heater or use to dry clothes. Never use a faulty heater. Types of Portable Heaters Oil filled radiators – Relatively low risk These are often on wheels and are quite heavy so less likely to be knocked over. They don’t have any exposed heating elements so are less likely to ignite anything.   They take a while to heat up, but retain the heat for longer.   They can have timers and thermostats to help control the heat. Electric Co...

       1 .    Cooking appliances      It’s always a good idea to have a small fire extinguisher and fire blanket in the kitchen.   Cooking appliances cause over 40% of accidental house fires.      Cookers, ovens, rings and hot plates, grills and toasters are the common sources of ignition.      2.    Electrical      Electrical failure of a component of the main electrical installation or fixed equipment is the second highest cause of fires.   This is why an EICR is so important, it may not prevent all fires but can highlight any problems.           Wiring, cabling and plugs (especially if overloaded), heating equipment                such as thermostats or fixed heaters are the common sources of ignition.        3.    Electrical appliances      This runs ...

EICRs are graded as satisfactory or unsatisfactory rather than pass or fail.   However, to be clear an unsatisfactory test is a fail when it comes to letting out a property for tenants or paying guests and any unsatisfactory issues need to be fixed before doing so. Every EICR should have a summary near the front of the report highlighting any issues and the report should clearly state the satisfactory or unsatisfactory grading – usually on the front sheet. There is then a more detailed report which will show exactly where any issues have been found and need action. The gradings are C1, C2, C3 and F1. Any CI, C2 and F1 issues found will classify the inspection as unsatisfactory and will need the issues fixed. C3 issues do not need immediate action and a property can continue to be let but it could lead to a bigger issue later. The good news is you don’t need a full new EICR after any remedial work as each piece of work will be certified in its own right and have its own ...