Safety Tips: Portable heaters and electrical cords

‘Tis the season for electrical cords, whether leading to your space heater or powering your holiday decorations. The New Mexico State University Fire Department has some tips to help you maintain a safe and happy holiday.

Portable heaters can be a great way to stay warm, and they are allowed on campus when you follow the Fire Prevention Guidelines. However, they can be extremely dangerous when not used properly. Here’s a quick look at NMSU’s guidelines:

• No portable propane heaters are allowed on campus.
• The heater must be ETL certified, UL or FM-tested and incorporate a tip-over switch, which will turn off the heating element and fan if the unit is knocked over.
• The heater must be in good repair and have a cord long enough to reach the electrical outlet. Extension cords must not be used.
• No daisy chaining. Daisy chaining is the practice of connecting multiple extension cords or power strips together, which is dangerous and should be avoided. Daisy chaining can overload circuits and increase the risk of fire.
• The heater must not be placed within 3 feet of combustible materials.
• The heater must be unplugged at the end of the workday or if the building will be unattended for an extended period.

Not every portable heater works for every situation, which makes it extremely important to consult with your vendor or review the manufacture’s recommendations about what heater you are interested in purchasing. You also should ask about any safety concerns you might have.

It’s important to keep an eye on all your electrical demands over the holidays.

• Before you put up your holiday lights and decorations, take a look for loose connections or exposed wires and repair them immediately.
• Don’t put cords in walkways where people might trip over them.
• Don’t connect more than three strings of lights together. No daisy chaining of extension cords.
• When it’s time to take down your lights and other decorations for the season, you should take another look at the wear and tear on your electrical cords and replace as needed so you can start fresh next year.

Here are some FAQ on fire safety from NMSU’s Fire Department and NMSU’s Department of Environmental Health, Safety and Risk Management.