During a routine fixed wire test in a rental property this week we came across some downlights that turned out to be very dangerous indeed. On the surface they looked fine, but when we removed them to check their fire rating we discovered that they weren’t in fact fire rated and that there were already signs of burning. Had we not carried out the fixed wire test there was a chance that the downlights could have caught fire, thereby causing injury or even death. When you consider that the property was located in a block of flats, the fire would have spread quickly, and the consequences could have been disastrous.
As Mark Smith, owner of MS Electrical confirms, discoveries such as these simply reinforce the importance of regular electrical safety tests. ‘As a specialist electrical safety testing company, we are used to uncovering problems with wiring and appliances,’ comments Mark. ‘Nevertheless it is always a shock to discover non fire rated downlights, especially when you consider the potential danger they present. We are just grateful that we were able to find them before a fire was caused and people’s lives endangered. And situations such as this also emphasise the importance of adhering to the new government legislation around electrical testing in all rented properties.’
MS Electrical Services offer PAT testing and fixed wire testing in Cambridge, so please contact us to request a no-obligation quotation.