Perfect for bringing light to dark corners or offering a convenient solution that allows you to illuminate an area without having to get up off the sofa or out of bed, lamps have become a very common feature in most of our homes.
With desk lamps for the office, floor lamps for living areas, bedside lamps for the bedroom and table lamps for every other purpose, the variety of function and design is tremendous. Whether you choose to use your lamps as an aesthetic accessory or for everyday use, it is necessary to follow a few simple rules to ensure they remain safe within your home.
Lamp safety
Lamps are generally very safe to use as long as you follow the manufacturer’s instructions and take a few sensible precautions before and during use.
Safety first
- Make sure you buy your lamp from a reputable retailer, and follow the manufacturer’s instructions carefully.
- It’s important to register your new lamp with the manufacturer so that you can be contacted if a safety notice or recall is issued. It also makes it easier for you to return a faulty product or order a repair. To find out how to register any of your appliances, regardless of age, visit our Product Registration page.
- Use our free online Product Recall checker to see if your lamp or any other electrical items have been recalled.
- Check that your appliance has a UK plug; if it doesn’t, don’t try to use a UK travel adaptor. Get in touch with the retailer and ask them to fit a UK plug.
- Do regular checks of the plug and socket for burn marks, sounds of ‘arcing’ (buzzing or crackling) or if it feels too hot to touch. If you have fuses blowing or circuit-breakers tripping then contact a registered electrician to investigate.
- Any socket you plan to use to plug in a lamp should have RCD (residual current device) Protection. An RCD is a life-saving device that protects against dangerous electric shock and reduces the risk of electrical fires. If you don’t have RCD protection in your fuse box for your sockets, consider using an RCD plug to protect you and your property from serious appliance faults.
Using your lamp safely
- Make sure to use the correct bulb type for your lamp. The fit should be perfect and never forced or loose. Never use a bulb that is over the recommended power rating for your lamp.
- Do not attempt to change a bulb while the lamp is on. First, turn it off and unplug and wait a few moments for the bulb to cool.
- Ensure your lamp is situated on a flat, stable surface.
- Ensure that the supply cable is tidy and not causing a trip hazard where people are likely to walk, such as across doorways.
- Use in suitable conditions and always follow the manufacturer’s instructions. Do not use indoor lamps in wet or damp conditions.
- Never use your lamp if any of the wires or plug fixtures are damaged.