Extension leads are useful, but they are often misused. Overloading, daisy chaining, damaged cables and using high-power appliances through cheap leads can create real fire risk.
This TESC guidance page is designed to help households, landlords, agents and property managers recognise avoidable electrical risks before they become incidents.
Product safety is separate from an Electrical Installation Condition Report. An EICR assesses the fixed electrical installation, while plug-in equipment, chargers, extension leads and portable products can introduce additional risks after the installation itself has been inspected.
Key issues, warning signs and safer practice.
Stop using an electrical product if it shows signs of overheating, melting, burning smells, loose connections, damaged cables, exposed parts, buzzing, cracking, smoke or repeated tripping. Do not keep testing a suspect product to see whether it happens again.
Where the concern relates to fixed wiring, sockets, consumer units, earthing, RCD protection or repeated circuit faults, the matter should be checked by a competent electrical contractor rather than treated as only a product issue.
Use this page as part of the wider TESC safety and compliance resource centre.
Unsafe, fake or misleading electrical goods.
Small plug-in devices with serious risks.
What to do when a product is recalled.
Marketplace checks before buying electrical goods.
E-bikes, scooters, power banks and chargers.
It can be. Daisy chaining increases the chance of overload, poor connections and overheating.
It is better to plug high-load heaters directly into a suitable wall socket. Cheap or overloaded extension leads can overheat.
An EICR covers the fixed electrical installation. Extension leads are portable equipment, but their misuse can still create serious electrical safety risks.
Product safety, fixed wiring safety and compliance records all work together. Use TESC resources to understand electrical risks, check EICR records and find registered providers where inspection or remedial work is needed.