socket safety guards

[telectrix]

hi, all.

have heard that those plastic safety thingies you plug in have been banned as the "earth pin" can break off in the socket, leaving the shutters permanently open. , so i am advising my customers to bin them. anyone confirm whether or not they are actually banned?

 

[FatallyFlawed]

Thanks to all for helping to spread the word about FatallyFlawed!

You may be interested in our new page: Size Matters!! which deals with the fact that there are (as far as we know) no covers which conform to BS 1363 dimensions!

Regarding Ofsted, their official position changed over two years ago after we alerted them to the dangers. Their policy is now: "We neither recommend nor criticise the use of socket covers by childcare providers, only that the environment in which they provide childcare is safe and meets legal requirements." Ofsted has asked us to let them know of any infringements of this by their staff, so please let us know if you come across local Ofsted inspectors who are not complying.

Best wishes,
David, Co-founder, FatallyFlawed

 

[IQ Electrical]

Thanks to all for helping to spread the word about FatallyFlawed!

You may be interested in our new page: Size Matters!! which deals with the fact that there are (as far as we know) no covers which conform to BS 1363 dimensions!

Regarding Ofsted, their official position changed over two years ago after we alerted them to the dangers. Their policy is now: "We neither recommend nor criticise the use of socket covers by childcare providers, only that the environment in which they provide childcare is safe and meets legal requirements." Ofsted has asked us to let them know of any infringements of this by their staff, so please let us know if you come across local Ofsted inspectors who are not complying.

Best wishes,
David, Co-founder, FatallyFlawed

Hi David,

Welcome to the forum and thanks for putting in so much effort to raise awareness of these ridiculous devices.

 

[Des 56]

My neice owns and runs a large crech
I explained the issues with them last year,provided the link and they were convinced of the flaws
The council and health service permit writers have no such opinions and are set in their ways

No covers no licence is their dismissive reply,your electrician doesn't know what he is talking about

 

[FatallyFlawed]

My neice owns and runs a large crech
I explained the issues with them last year,provided the link and they were convinced of the flaws
The council and health service permit writers have no such opinions and are set in their ways

No covers no licence is their dismissive reply,your electrician doesn't know what he is talking about

Mmm, wonder what the council would do if the creche failed a PIR because of the use of non-complient objects in a socket? (Assuming they have chosen ones with oversize pins).

 

[Marvo]

It does pose an interesting issue, if these devices reduce the safety of an electrical installation so it no longer conforms with BS1363 would that require the installation to be failed on a PIR?

 

[IQ Electrical]

Very difficult, if a portable appliance had a damaged plug, you would not 'fail' the fixed wiring installation.

 

[Des 56]

Its a good point
We are testing the fixed installation not whats plugged in to that installation
The covers however are altering the construction of the socket and putting the user at risk

Tough call to make whether it is relevant to the Pir or not

 

[needasparks]

Thats a good point IQ .

I have got through two mobile phone chargers as the earth pin snapped off in the socket, i suppose it can happen to any class2 tranny also

 

[pennywise]

Don't MK plates have a patented 3 point realise mechanism to eliminate the need for socket protectors, apologise if it's been mentioned haven't read the whole thread

 

[IQ Electrical]

The way things stand at the moment with H & S sitting on the fence, I would not allow the use of these covers to result in an 'unsatisfactory' PIR assessment, if the client requested hard proof, there is none to point to at the moment.

I would however point out the potential dangers and the link to the fatallyflawed website.

 

[Marvo]

Very difficult, if a portable appliance had a damaged plug, you would not 'fail' the fixed wiring installation.

Its a good point
We are testing the fixed installation not whats plugged in to that installation
The covers however are altering the construction of the socket and putting the user at risk
Tough call to make whether it is relevant to the Pir or not

If the wall socket is part of the fixed installation therefore part of the PIR then surely that would make it a fail even though the item causing the 1363 standards infringement (the child safety device) isn't.

 

[Graeme Harrold]

Just posted the links on my FB page and will watch with interest. If there is a concern on a PIR, it can be added as a comment, or mentioned in a covering letter.

 

[FatallyFlawed]

Its a good point
We are testing the fixed installation not whats plugged in to that installation
The covers however are altering the construction of the socket and putting the user at risk

Tough call to make whether it is relevant to the Pir or not

I agree that it is not straightforward. Here is what MK said when I asked them to advise on the maximum size of pin which could safely be inserted into an MK socket:

"Thank you for your recent enquiry, please consult BS 1363 Parts 1 & 2 1995 for dimensional and tolerance data on both sockets and plugs. Obviously,a socket cover must also conform to the dimensions stated in the relevant British Standard."

So, if a socket has had oversized pins inserted into it, how can you tell if the socket is still safe?

 

[FatallyFlawed]

My neice owns and runs a large crech
I explained the issues with them last year,provided the link and they were convinced of the flaws
The council and health service permit writers have no such opinions and are set in their ways

No covers no licence is their dismissive reply,your electrician doesn't know what he is talking about

Des, I've been thinking more about this. The Welsh Assembly’s "Health Challenge Wales" website used to recommend the use of socket covers, but we did complain to them and that recommendation has now been withdrawn.

I wonder if your niece would be prepared to enquire again of her regulators and ask them what specific socket covers are approved by them, on the grounds that she/you have been unable to find any which comply with the dimensional requirements of BS 1363?

 

[Des 56]

I will do,but she is more concerned with pleasing the form fillers and thereby having no issues that they can bring forth

I on the other hand,accept that these covers are indeed flawed and that they reduce the safety of our children,but an electrician may not have the influence required for any council regulatory inspector to actually take notice of him

After all we only deal with electrical safety on a daily basis, and they on the other hand have procedures ( good or bad) to faithfully obey