Christmas is the time of festive decorations and lights – houses, fences, reindeer, angels, Santas, stars and of course Christmas trees are all aglow during the festive period. Fairy lights or strings of lights are an essential part of Christmas decorations. As a practical alternative to candles, they provide romantic lighting without the need for constant supervision. However, string lights are not all sweetness and light. The damage caused when Christmas trees and decorations catch fire adds up to roughly 10 million pounds every year. Major causes of these fires are not only candles, but also – and increasingly frequently – defective string lights, which may make trees or decoration go up in smoke if not handled correctly.
TÜV SÜD Product Service gives tips on how to avoid incorrect installation of string and rope lights:
Smouldering and short circuits
Purchasers of string lights should look out for products bearing the TÜV SÜD Octagon or TÜV SÜD GS mark, showing that these products have been thoroughly tested and meet the relevant safety requirements. String lights must satisfy the requirements of class II or III equipment (recognisable by their international symbols, i.e. a square inside a square or a Roman numeral III within a diamond). String lights without these symbols should not be sold on the market. Home owners planning to brighten up their façade or garden should only use string lights that are designed for outdoor use and are sufficiently weatherproof. The product pros advise do-it-yourselfers to fasten their light decorations with cable ties, which, unlike staplers, cannot damage electric wires. Christmas decoration fans should be particularly careful when using extension cords, which are not generally weatherproof. Power strips are also unsuitable for permanent outdoor use. “Slowly but surely, moisture inevitably penetrates and will cause a short circuit”, explains Richard Poate, Compliance Service Manager at TÜV SÜD Product Service. Given this, power strips should only be used in dry places. In addition, string lights may only be extended if expressly permitted by the manufacturer. These sets of lights come with water-resistant connectors, and the maximum number of extension sets is given on the package and must be strictly observed, otherwise the wattage specified by the manufacturer may soon be exceeded. Given this, decoration-lovers should take measurements, decide on the length of string lights they require before they buy and, if necessary, go to a specialist shop.
Rapid overheating
String lights with transformers offer higher safety both indoors and out. The transformer steps down the voltage to a maximum of 50 volts, reducing the danger of electric shock in the case of contact with a defective live part. This may be a critical feature, particularly in households with children. Special splashproof transformers identifiable by protection class IP 44, IP 54 or IP 64 are available on the market. The experts also recommend the installation of ‘residual current devices’ or RCDs, which immediately interrupt the electricity supply if a defect occurs. A common mistake made by consumers is to underestimate the heat generated by the individual bulbs of a string of lights, and cover the lights with hand-made decorations made of paper or similar materials. Covering the bulbs causes the developing heat to build up, and may set the decoration alight. Another potentially dangerous situation arises if several bulbs blow at the same time. “In this case, the voltage is spread over the remaining bulbs and causes heat radiation to rise to a critical level. With this in mind, users should check bulbs frequently and replace defective ones immediately to keep fire hazards to a minimum”, advises Richard Poate. If bulbs cannot be replaced, the best move is to pull the plug.
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