Electrical safety in Residences

The following advice is given to reduce the risk of students mis-using electrical equipment which they might wish to use in study bedrooms.

If fitting plugs to electrical equipment it is vital that the following be observed:

(a) Plugs must be wired correctly; if you have any doubts as to how to achieve this, you should not attempt to fit the plug yourself. You should ask assistance from the Accommodation Assistant or Supervisor at your residence who will contact the Electrical Section whose advice is freely available;
(b) The cable clamp inside the plug must grip into the outer cable sheath. The inner conductors and their sheaths are not intended to take mechanical strain;
(c) The correct fuse for the appliance must be fitted, do not attempt to replace the fuse with odd pieces of wire. Spare fuses can be obtained from the shops on campus.

Every item of equipment must be fitted with its own plug. You should not attempt to wire two items into the same plug. Incidences have been found where bare wires have been pushed into sockets and held with matchsticks. This practice is highly dangerous and could lead to a fatality.
If you require an extension lead, you should purchase a proprietary lead. It is not acceptable to join up odd lengths of lead with tape.
Overseas students may find that some plugs to their electrical equipment will not fit UK sockets. A range of adapters is available from the shop on campus. Overseas students are also reminded that the standard UK supply in residences is 220/240 volts, 50 cycles, AC.
On advice from the Health & Safety Executive the University advises all students that they should not attempt to modify any electrical appliances such as television sets and radios due to the risk of fire and electrocution.
In order that the University can be assured that students are not putting themselves or others at risk by the use of electrical equipment, the University will carry out a series of checks to ensure that electrical equipment is being used in a safe condition. Unsafe electrical equipment will be removed and may be reclaimed from the Accommodation Office who will explain the reasons for removal and how any deficiencies may be corrected.

Further resources

The University also provides other important information and guidance about electrical safety on campus