Nadia Mann (4) holds the charred energy saving lightbulb
from the kitchen of her home after it caught fire as her
mother, Sandra, was tucking her into bed. Photo by Stephen
Jaquiery.
Concerns that energy-saving light bulbs can short-circuit
and melt are warranted but need to be taken with a degree of
caution, fire safety experts say.
Dunedin woman Sandra Mann was shocked after an energy-saving
bulb in the kitchen of her home, caught fire, damaging the
ceiling and light fitting.
However the Energy Safety Service, part of the Ministry for
Economic Development, said it had no reported instances where
the bulbs had caught fire, and all bulbs were subject to
strict safety requirements.
Mrs Mann said after checking on her three children in bed one
night recently, she noticed a strong smell of burning plastic
as she walked back to the kitchen.
She and her husband tracked down the smell to a bulb
which was burning, and dropping molten material on the floor.
They immediately turned off the power and removed the bulb.
"I'd hate to think if I had been a bit longer in the kids'
room then the house might have gone on fire," she said.
Energy Safety Service senior technical officer Bill Lowe said
the service had had "minimal issues" with the bulbs.
There had been "a couple" of cases where the electrical
components in the top of the bulb had failed, causing it to
smoke, but none had caught fire, he said.
Dunedin Deputy Chief Fire Officer Trevor Tilyard other people
had reported to the service instances where the bulbs had
caught fire.
He understood most were caused by people holding the glass
bulb when they were fitting it, causing it to break.
Southern region fire safety officer Barry Gibson said people
needed to realise the bulbs were not suitable for narrow lamp
shades or bulkhead lamps which did not allow air to flow.
Mr Lowe said the bulbs were mainly manufactured in China and
brought into New Zealand with strict safety requirements,
particularly because of the high number of wooden houses in
the country.
The glass on most of them was "robust" so there should not be
issues with the glass cracking.
People needed to use common sense when installing bulbs and
avoid touching the glass.
Mrs Mann had not installed the failed bulb.
The family had been in their home only for about six weeks.
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