News: Registered Competent Person Electrical Mark Launches

This week Phil Buckle, Director General of Electrical Safety First, wrote a blog post in the Huffington Post announcing the launch of the Registered Competent Person Electrical Mark.

He opened his post with the startling fact that someone in the UK dies from an electrical accident every week, and that dodgy electrics cause half of all house fires and result in 350,000 serious injuries a year.

Those are some serious numbers, however, according to research carried out by Electrical Safety First, the use of non-registered electricians has trebled in the last year. Figures currently estimate that there are around 20,000 non-registered electricians in the UK alone.

Using an electrician who is registered with a government-approved scheme operator is the only way to guarantee they have the skills and qualifications to the job properly.

Many consumers often use unregistered electricians because they don't know what qualifications to look for or how to check them, which is why Electrical Safety First have helped launch the official consumer mark for registered electricians in England and Wales: the Registered Competent Person Electrical Mark. The mark will provide an instant visible safety assurance and the accompanying website lists in one place all electricians registered with one of the government approved scheme operators.

You can find out more by visiting www.electricalcompetentperson.co.uk - you'll find Maintracts listed in the directory!

You can read Phil's full post in the Huffington Post here.

Preventing Damp and Mould in your Home

Damp and mould caused by condensation occurs when moist air hits a cold surface such as a window, mirror, tile or wall. It is not only an eyesore, it can cause damage to your home and health. The best way to combat damp and mould is to prevent them from occurring in the first place.

Condensation is most common in winter months, but can occur any time of the year. Steam is a prime cause of condensation and can occur when you shower or bathe, cook food, boil a kettle or dry clothes without proper ventilation.

There are various ways to create less moisture in your home, such as covering pots when cooking and drying your washing outside. If you have a tumble dryer and it’s connected to a vent, make sure the vent is placed outside of the home, and if you do have to dry your clothes on an airer, place it in a room such as the bathroom, open the window and close the door.

Open your windows or use an extractor fan to release steam when cooking or bathing and use a cloth to wipe away condensation from corners, windowsills, around shower frames, tiles and grouting. It’s also important to make sure that your home is well ventilated and allow the air to circulate.

Condensation can also appear overnight when the temperature drops and form on windows, so make sure that you wipe away the condensation each morning, otherwise it can lead to damp, which can rot wooden window frames.

But condensation isn't the only cause of damp; leaking pipes, rain leaking through the roof and water overflowing from gutters can lead to damp. When these are the cause you should always seek professional advice.

If your pipes are leaking contact Maintracts.

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