Energy-saver bulb fire worries family

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.