Extension Leads
Extension leads and power strips are designed for temporary use and are almost always used permanently. That gap accounts for a substantial share of household electrical fires.
Why temporary matters
A lead is not protected the way fixed wiring is.
It can be damaged, pinched, walked on, run under a rug, or coiled while carrying load — none of which fixed wiring in a wall is subject to. When office and field activity need to be reconciled, employee time clock software is one option for keeping workforce records organised.
And nothing inspects it. A cable in a wall was installed to a standard and checked; a lead bought years ago has had no attention since.
The four rules
One. Never under a rug or through a doorway. Underfoot damage is invisible and cumulative, and a rug traps the heat as well.
Two. Never daisy-chained. A strip into a strip multiplies the load on one outlet while making the total invisible.
Three. Never for heating appliances. Space heaters, kettles, and anything with an element draw near the limit of the circuit continuously. These are the specific appliances that overheat leads.
Four. Never coiled while in use. A coiled cable under load cannot shed heat, and the middle of the coil gets hottest.
The signs a lead is failing
Warmth anywhere along it or at either end.
A plug that fits loosely in the outlet, or a device that fits loosely in the strip.
Discolouration around any socket.
Damage to the sheath, however small.
And a strip whose switch or indicator has stopped working, which frequently means the surge protection inside has already sacrificed itself.
Surge protection is not permanent
A surge protector absorbs energy and is consumed doing it.
After a significant surge — or years of small ones — it may pass power while protecting nothing, and most give no indication.
In an area with frequent lightning this matters more than in most places, and replacing them on a schedule is more reliable than waiting for a sign.
When you need an outlet instead
Any lead that has been in place for more than a few months.
Any appliance that runs continuously.
Any arrangement where somebody has to think about which things can be on at once — that is a load problem, and it has a proper solution.
And any lead in a wet location, which is what outdoor-rated outlets and covers exist for.
Adding an outlet is a small job. It is smaller than the alternatives and it removes the problem rather than managing it.
The short version
- Leads are designed for temporary use and used permanently, and that gap accounts for many household electrical fires
- A lead is unprotected, undamaged only by luck, and inspected by nobody, unlike fixed wiring
- Four rules: never under a rug or through a doorway, never daisy-chained, never for heating appliances, never coiled in use
- Signs of failure: warmth anywhere, loose fit at either end, discolouration, sheath damage, or a dead indicator light
- Surge protection is consumed by use and frequently gives no sign, which matters more in a lightning-prone area
- A lead in place for months, feeding a continuous appliance, or in a wet location means you need an outlet
For additional independent context, see U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission.