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ELECTRICAL SAFETY FIRST:IMPROVING ELECTRICAL SAFETY AND PREVENTING FIRES IN WALES

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Electrical Safety First

London Office45 Great Guildford StreetLondon SE1 0ES

Telephone: +44(0)203 463 5100Email: enquiries@electricalsafetyfirst.org.uk

CONTENTS01. EXECUTIVE SUMMARY 3

02. RECOMMENDATIONS 4

03. CONTEXT OF ESF’S POLICY AND LOBBYING WORK IN WALES 6

04. PUTTING THE RECOMMENDATIONS INTOPRACTICE–TRAININGAND FUNDING ISSUES 8

05. HOUSING IN SOUTH WALES 9

06. GRANTS FOR ELECTRICAL SAFETY IN WALES 11

07. CARE & REPAIR AUTHORITIES GRANT FUNDING-CASESTUDY 12

08. SOUTH WALES FIRE AND RESCUE SERVICE–WORKINGINPARTNERSHIP 15

09. ESF CONCLUSION & DISCUSSION POINTS 16

10. ANNEXES 18

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EXECUTIVE SUMMARYIn July 2018, the Welsh Government produced a report entitled: Electrical Fires in Wales: A Review of the Evidencei, which Electrical Safety First (ESF) welcomed as a step forward in ascertaining which electrical sourcesofignitionremainathigherlevelsinWales,andinparticulartheSouthWalesFireandRescueServicearea.This paper documents ESF’s response and discusses resulting policy issues which will focus our work with stakeholders in Wales.

The Welsh Government report identifies the overall number of accidental dwelling fires in Wales is in sustained decline, but fires with an electrical distribution source have continued to rise in the last 15 years. The South Wales Fire and Rescue Service area has had the greatest increaseii.TheGovernmentgoesontosuggestthattheyfoundthattheincreaserelatestoelectricaldistributionfiresratherthanelectricalappliancesormobiledevices.Furthermore,theGovernmentwasunabletoidentifythecauseofthe increasesiii.

WhilstESFwelcomedtheGovernment’swillingnesstoundertakethisreview,webelievethattheresearchtodateraisesadditionalquestionsandhighlightsthefactthatfurthersafetyawarenessworkandbettersystems may need to be put in place to protect the Welsh publiciv.

ESFremainsconcernedaboutelectricalsafetyinWalesandthefirescausedbyelectricaldistribution.WebelievethattherecommendationsfoundintheGovernment’sreportneedtobefullyfunded,workableandadaptabletoensurefiresarereducedthroughanationalstrategyinvolvingtheFireandRescueAuthoritiesinWales.

ESFbelievesmoreresearchneedstobeundertakenintoelectricaldistributionfiresinSouthWalesduetotheageofthehousingstock,particularlyintheSouthWalesvalleysarea.Thepotentialageofinstallationsisofparticularinterest;howeverthereisalackofdataavailabletosupportthistheoryastheIncidentReportingSystemdoesnotrecordageofproperties.

ConsiderationoftheageofhousingissupportedbyanecdotalevidencethatESFhasobtainedduringvariousoutreacheventsinSouthWalesandinourdiscussionswithstakeholders,wherebyhome-ownersreportproblemstotheCharityabouttheageofelectricalinstallationsandtheirinabilitytoaffordelectricalimprovementsorrepairs.TheredonotappeartobeanysystemsinplaceorsustainablefundingmechanismstoassistthemostvulnerableWelshhomeownerswhohavebeenidentifiedasneedingelectricalimprovementsintheirhomes.ThispotentiallyunderminestheWelshGovernment’srecommendationtoreducefirescausedbyelectricalsourcesofignition.

ThisdocumentfocussesontheSouthWalesFireandRescueServiceregion,itsolderhousingstockandtheproactiveworkbeingundertakenbystakeholderstoreducefires.ItalsolooksatthepolicyproblemsthatneedaddressingtoprotecttheWelshpublicintheirhomes.

i https://gweddill.gov.wales/docs/dsjlg/publications/fire/180716-electrical-fires-in-wales-en.pdfii Ibid p6 iii Ibid p2 iv https://gov.wales/newsroom/people-and-communities/2018/new-report-on-electrical-fires-released/?lang=en

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RECOMMENDATIONSCommunicatingwiththeWelshPublic 2.1 TheWelshGovernmentshouldhelpco-ordinateacampaignonelectricalsafety,supportedbyWelsh

FRAsandtheCharity,followingtheexampleoftheHomeOffice’s‘FireKills’initiative.We would recommend a specific week of activities, similar to ‘Electrical Fire Safety Week’ but dedicated

to Wales.

2.2 National media advertising on electrical dangers, such as the straight-forward campaign undertaken by the Home Office recently, needs to be put in place by Welsh Governmentv. Other WelshGovernmentnationaladvertisingonsmoking,organdonationandchildcarealreadyexistsinWales,buttherestillexistsastrongneedforaco-ordinatedapproachonelectricaldangers,ledbytheWelshGovernment.

2.3 Onalocallevel,theCharitywillworkinpartnershipwithSouthWalesFireandRescueServicetoreducefirescausedbyelectricity,byraisingawarenessthroughsupportingsubject-basedcampaigns(i.e.whitegoodssafety)jointcommunications,researchinitiativesandappropriateoutreachevents.

2.4 TheCharitywillcontinuetobuildnewrelationshipswithNorth,MidandWestWalesFireServices,supportingtheircommunicationsworkonelectricalsafetyissuesandpreventionoffires.

POLICY IMPROVEMENTS2.5 Welsh Government should provide a specific grant to improve electrical safety in South Wales

for the most vulnerable owner-occupiers who cannot afford electrical safety improvements that have been identified as part of a Fire and Rescue Service Home Safety Visit. The Charity will help provide ring-fenced funding through its ‘Fire Safety Fund’ for use in the South Wales FRS area to improve the electrical safety of owner-occupiers in most need. A pilot area with the greatest need forimprovementsindomesticelectricalsafetycouldbechosen.WhilstelectricaldistributionhasbeenidentifiedinSouthWalesasakeysourceofelectricalfires,thereneedstobeacombinedapproachtoreducingelectricalfiresinWalesthroughtheworkoftheCharity,WelshGovernment,SouthWalesFireandRescueServiceandCare&RepairCymru.

2.6 Electrical safety checks should be provided for all Welsh households with a person over the age of 80.Thecostofthisinitiativewouldbe£5mmaximumperyear,asdetailedinourSwansea

Universityreportvi.

v https://www.gov.uk/government/news/new-campaign-warns-it-only-takes-one-accident-to-start-a-firevi https://www.electricalsafetyfirst.org.uk/media-centre/press-releases/2017/11/older-people-in-wales-are-more-at-risk-of-electrical-fires-and-

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PARTNERSHIPS2.7 The Charity will work with the Welsh Government and FRAs to ensure that electrical safety

problems are identified and referrals are actioned in order to support the Government’s recommendations.Atpresent,itisunderstoodthatidentifiedelectricalsafetyissuesarenotalwaysreferredcorrectlyandiftheyare,budgetsmaynotallowimprovementstobemade.Withanimprovedgrantscheme,betterguidanceneedstobedrafted.

2.8 The Charity will help train Fire Officers to improve their electrical safety knowledge in the South Wales Fire and Rescue Service area.WhilsttheWelshGovernmenthasrightlyidentifiedthatFireOfficersarenotelectricians,basicawarenessofelectricalhazardsandimprovingdatacaptureareessential.

IMPROVED DATA CAPTURE AND RESEARCH 2.9 TheCharitybelievesthat,whilsttheWelshGovernment’sanalysiscorrectlyidentifieselectrical

distributionasaprobleminSouthWales,weshouldnotneglectotherissues.Theseincludethemisuseofelectricity,productsafetyfailures,theincreasednumberofappliancesinhomes,andincreasedchargingofproducts,oftencombinedwitholderhousingstockandwiring.More research needs to be undertaken to fully understand the wider issues with electrical use in South Wales. We will aim to work with South Wales Fire and Rescue Service on potential research and future-proofing of data.

2.10 Thereisapotential,giventheageofpropertiesinSouthWalesthathomeownerscouldbelivinginpropertiesill-equippedtodealwithmodernliving.A lack of hard data makes this issue difficult to accurately determine which properties and people are at risk of fires caused by electricity and we would encourage further policy research between the Charity and the Welsh Government, to allow for informed Government and stakeholder-led consumer awareness campaigns.

2.11 ItisunknownhowmanypropertiesinWalesmayneedare-wire,orhaveunsafeelectricalinstallations,asdatafromStatisticsWalesdoesnotprovidesufficientinformation.Consideration should be given to surveying South Wales properties to determine the extent of the problem.

2.12 Welsh Government should report annually to the Senedd on electrical safety policy across Wales and progress being made to reduce electrical fires in Wales.

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CONTEXT OF ESF’S POLICY AND LOBBYING WORK IN WALES 3.1 Since2016,therehavebeenthreemainissuesofconcerninWalesfortheCharity,aroundwhichwe

haveconcentratedourdiscussionswithMembersoftheNationalAssemblyforWales(AMs)andtheWelshGovernment,theseare:

•Firescausedbyelectricaldistribution,misuseofappliancesandlackofinformationonfirescausedbyelectricalitemsthatrequirecharging.

•Safetyoftenantswholiveintheprivateandsocialrentedsectors.

•Thesaleofelectricalgoods(counterfeit,substandardandsecond-hand)toWelshcitizens,oftenonline,whichcanbeunsafeorillegal.(ThelatterbeingamatterfortheUKGovernment).

3.2 TheCharityhasmadeprogressinimprovingconsumerprotectioninWalesforpeoplelivingintheprivateandsocialrentedsectors.ButacontinuingkeypriorityistheneedtounderstandwhymorefiresarecausedbyelectricalsourcesofignitioninWalesthananywhereelseintheUK.

3.3 OurlobbyingduringthepassageoftheRentingHomes(Wales)Bill,(nowtheRentingHomes(Wales)Act),sawtheWelshGovernmentacknowledgetheneedtoprotecttenantsinWalesbystatingitsintentiontointroducemandatoryelectricalsafetychecksintheprivateandsocialrentedsectors.Previously,theWelshGovernmentrejectedtheneedforfurtherregulationoftherespectivesectors.Thispolicywillhaveasignificantimpactonprotectingpeoplelivinginthosesectorsfromelectricalaccidentsandfires.

3.4 DiscussionsledbytheCharityandlobbyingbyAssemblyMembersresultedintheWelshGovernmentagreeingtolookincloserdetailatfirescausedbyelectricityinWelshhomes.ThisledtosignificantresearchandconsequentpublicationofthereportbytheWelshGovernment,‘Electrical Fires in Wales–AReviewofEvidence’vii.

viihttps://gweddill.gov.wales/docs/dsjlg/publications/fire/180716-electrical-fires-in-wales-en.pdf

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PRIVATE RENTED SECTORINWALES–POLICY PROGRESS3.5 DuringthepassageoftheRentingHomes(Wales)BilltheCharitywasabletoensurethatourpolicy

ask-ensuringmandatoryelectricalsafetychecksintheprivaterentedsectorinWales-cametofruition.Initially,theWelshGovernmentdisagreedthattherewasaneedtoimproveregulations.

3.6 AsaresultofassistancefromNationalAssemblyMembers,theCharitylobbiedtoensuretheinclusionofmandatoryelectricalsafetychecksaspartoftheBill’sFitnessforHumanHabitationrequirements.

3.7 MuchofourconcernrelatedtopoorerqualityhousingstockintheprivaterentedsectorinWales,particularlyinSouthWales.Thisareahasahighconcentrationofterracedhousingdatingfromthemid-1850sonwards.

3.8 Atthetimeofwriting,theCharityisawaitingaWelshGovernmentannouncementonthewayforward.ButatameetingoftheRentingHomes(Wales)ActimplementationgroupinSeptember2018,confirmationwasgivenoftheGovernment’sintentiontogoforwardwithmandatorychecks,howeveranimplementationdateisyettobeannounced.

REDUCING FIRES CAUSED BYELECTRICITYINWALES–POLICY PROGRESS3.9 ElectricitycausesmorethanhalfofhousefiresinWalesperyearand42%ofaccidentalhousefires

caused by a faulty fuel supply in Welsh homes were ignited by an electrical sourceviii.Since2015,theCharityhascalledforaWelshGovernmentstrategytoreducethenumberofaccidentaldomesticelectricalfiresbytenpercent,overthenextfiveyears.

3.10 Followingsuccessfulcross-partylobbyingofNationalAssemblypoliticians,wesecuredinterestinadebate by Dawn Bowden AM (Labour,MerthyrTydfilandRhymney) in the Assembly on Electrical Fires inMay2017.

3.11 DuringthedebateMs.BowdenAMcalledforconsiderationofaregulatoryregimeforelectricaltestingintheprivaterentedsector,furtherresearchintothecausesoffiresandapublicawarenesscampaignsupportedbytheWelshGovernmentonelectricalfireprevention.ThelatterisakeyexpectationoftheCharityontheWelshGovernment,whichisrelevanttoprotectingpeopleacrossWalesandnotjustinSouthWales.

viiihttp://gov.wales/docs/statistics/2016/160727-fire-statistics-2015-16-en.pdf

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THE KEY FINDINGS OF THE WELSH GOVERNMENT REPORT ARE Ix: •IthasdeterminedthattheincreaseinelectricalfiresrelatestoelectricaldistributioninSouthWales,

asopposedtoelectricalappliancesormobiledevices.

•ThisincreaseseemstobeaparticularissueintheSouthWalesRegion.Fromthedataanalysed,theredoesnotappeartobeasimilartrendinScotland,EnglandorotherpartsofWales.

•ThereportbelievesFireandRescueAuthoritiesinWales(FRAs)haveakeyroletoplayinpreventingfirescausedbyelectricaldistribution,bysharingtheCharity’sadvicex.Weagreewiththisapproach,asfireofficersrepresentatrustedpublicservice–perhapsmoresothanindividualelectricalinstallers.

•Thereport’sreviewofevidencementionstheageofhousingxiandelectricalfiresoccurpredominantlyinelectricalinstallationsratherthanappliances.WeviewthisassignificantgivensomeoftheanecdotalevidencewehavereceivedduringoutreacheventsinSouthWales,wheremembersofthepublichaveinformedusoftheirconcernsabouttheageoftheirwiringandtheirinabilitytoaffordelectricalimprovementsorrepairs.

PUTTING THE RECOMMENDATIONS INTO PRACTICE–TRAININGANDFUNDING ISSUES4.1 IntheirreporttheWelshGovernmentmadeanumberofrecommendationsforFireandRescue

Services,includingre-invigoratingtheirelectricalfiresafetymessagingandstatingthatallhouseholdsexperiencinganelectricaldistributionfireshouldreceiveafollowupSafeandWellvisit.TheCharitysupportsthis,asFRAsarethe‘trusted’servicetoundertakethiswork.

ix https://gweddill.gov.wales/docs/dsjlg/publications/fire/180716-electrical-fires-in-wales-en.pdfx https://www.electricalsafetyfirst.org.uk/guidance/safety-around-the-home/xi https://gweddill.gov.wales/docs/dsjlg/publications/fire/180716-electrical-fires-in-wales-en.pdfp12

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4.2 WhilsttheWelshGovernmentsayselectricalsafetyinWalesisapriorityxii,thereisnospecificgrantavailablefromtheWelshGovernmentprioritisingelectricalsafetyforthemostvulnerableinsociety.Thisisofparticularconcernforhomeownerswhoareunabletoaffordelectricalimprovements.

4.3 ThereferralssystemfromHomeSafetyVisitsneedsfurtherattentionandappearstoneedtobeimprovedsignificantly.IfFRAsidentifysafetyissuesindomesticpropertiesthatneedelectricalwork,whoarepeoplereferredto?Whatifthehomeownercannotaffordtomaketherecommendedimprovements?ThiscouldresultinreferralprocessesnotworkingcorrectlyandthereforetherecommendationssuggestedintheWelshGovernmentreportfallingatthefirsthurdle.

4.4 Care&Repairagenciesoftendonotidentifyelectricalworkrequireduntilanassessmentofotherworkhasbeenundertaken-i.e.electricalworkmayneedtobeundertakenbeforeotherbuildingworkscancommence.Thiscancreateproblemswithbudgets,asmajorelectricalworkcanoftenconsumetheentirebudget.

4.5 ThereisaneedtotrainFireOfficerstoidentifyelectricalsafetyrisksduringHomeSafetyVisits.TheCharity’sviewisthattheremaybeacorrelationbetweenelectricaldistributionfiresandtheageoftheproperty,aselectricalinstallationswilldeteriorateovertime.

4.6 TheelectricalsafetyelementofaHomeSafetyVisitonlycoversvisualchecksandmustcompetewithotherissues,suchastrips,slipsandfallsetc.Ifaconsumerunit,forexample,isinacupboardthiswillnotusuallybeapartoftheassessment.

HOUSING IN SOUTH WALES5.1 TheCharitybelievesthattheWelshGovernmentshouldfurtherinvestigateahypothesisthatold

housingstock,coupledwithpoorwiringandalackof‘futureproofing’,couldpotentiallycauseelectricaldistributionfires.

5.2 SouthWaleshasasignificantamountofolder,inter-connectedhousingstock,withopenatticspaces,wherefirescouldeasilyspread.Furthermore,electricalinfrastructureinhousingstockinSouthWalesisexpectedtoundertakemoderndaytasksthatitwasnotpotentiallydesignedfor.TheCharity,inpartnershipwiththeFireandRescueServices,particularlyinSouthWales,coulddevelopinitiativestoreducethisrisk.

5.3 AccordingtotheMinistryofHousing,CommunitiesandLocalGovernment,housingconstructedbefore1919isatgreaterriskoffires.InWales,26%ofhousingwasbuiltbefore1919,whereasinScotlandthisis20%and21.2%inEngland.LookingatolderpropertiesingeneralacrosstheUK,36%overallpredates1945,andofthose,34%werereportedtohaveacategory1HHSRShazardxiii.

xii https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-north-east-wales-42077549xiiihttps://gov.wales/statistics-and-research/welsh-housing-conditions-survey/?lang=en

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5.4 LookingmorecloselyatthehousingagetheoryinrelationtoSouthWales,atenthofhousingpredates1875andathirdwasbuiltbeforetheendoftheFirstWorldWar.TheWelshHousingConditionsSurvey2017/18foundthat28%ofallhouseholdsinWaleslivedinaterracedhousexiv.

5.5 Fromthe2011censusRhonddaCynonTaf,CardiffandCaerphillyhavethehighestnumberofterracedhousesrespectivelyofthe10LocalAuthorityareasinSouthWales.By population, Blaenau Gwent, Rhondda Cynon Taf and Merthyr Tydfil respectively have the highest proportion of terraced housing. [Annex A]

5.6 Domesticelectricalinstallations,whichwereinstalledinthe1950-60sandarenowexpectedtomeetmodernhouseholdusage,areofconcern.Whatisdifficulttoascertainisthebreakdownoffiresbytenure.OnthebasisthatpeoplelivingintheprivateandsocialrentedsectorsinSouthWaleswillreceiveelectricalsafetychecksshortly,itislikelythoselivingintheowner-occupiedsectorintheregionwillbethemostvulnerable,giventhatanolderdemographicandhomeownershipcouldequalalackofrepairsduetotheownerbeing‘assetrichandcashpoor’.

5.7 ThestateofexistingelectricalinstallationsacrossWalesshouldalsobeconsideredfromtheviewpointoffuture-proofing.ThewayinwhichpeopleuseelectricityintheirhomeshaschangeddramaticallysincethemajorityofWelshhomesweredesignedandconstructedandtechnologicaldevelopmentsmeanthiscanonlyaccelerate.

5.8 Electricalinstallationsdesignedandinstalledbeforethemasstakeupofdomesticelectricalappliancesmayalreadybeinadequatetodealwithcurrentusagepatterns.Anindicationofthisistheprevalenceofextensionleadsinmanyhouseholdswherethereareinsufficientplugsockets.ThiswillbeexacerbatedifandwhenpersonalElectricVehicles(EVs)becomecommonplace.Theinstallationofsolarpanelsandindividualhouseholdenergystorageunitsisalsoaforeseeabletrendthatwillpresentproblems-evenforexistingelectricalinstallationsthatareingoodcondition.Asthiswilloccurinadditiontotheever-increasingnumberofelectricalappliancespeoplewillseeasnecessaryformodernliving.

5.9 Homesthatarenotonlywithoutamodernelectricalinstallationbutarealsoinastateofdisrepairwillbeparticularlydifficultandexpensivetobringuptoaminimumstandardneededtokeeppacewithfuturedevelopments.Failingtotakeactionnowwillresultinincreasedcostsanddisruptioninthefuture-perhapsevenresultingina‘drageffect’onlargequantitiesofexistinghousingstockandassociatedlocaleconomies.Housingmustbesafe,warmandsecure,butitisalsoakeydriverfortheeconomy.Failingtoequiphomeswiththenecessaryinfrastructureforthefuturecanonlyhaveadetrimentaleffect.

5.10 Assumingthatpovertyimpactsontheabilitytopayforelectricalhomeimprovements,unemploymentratesandthenumberofbenefitclaimantsinlocalauthorityareaswereconsidered,todeterminewherethehighestdeprivationinSouthWalesmaybe.AccordingtotheOfficeforNationalStatistics,CaerphillyandRhonddaCynonTafhavethehighestunemploymentratesrespectively.Similarly,BlaenauGwent,MerthyrTydfilandCaerphillyhavethehighestnumberofoutofworkbenefitclaimants.

5.11 Takingtheaboveintoaccount,(1)RhonddaCynonTaffand(2)CaerphillyarethemostvulnerableareasinSouthWales,followedby(3)BlaenauGwent,(4)MerthyrTydfiland(5)Cardiff.

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06.GRANTS FOR ELECTRICAL SAFETY IN WALES6.1 TheWelshGovernmenthasnodedicatedgrantsavailableforelectricalsafetyinWales.Only£67.5mis

availablefromHousesintoHomes,andHomeImprovementandTownCentreLoanSchemesxv.Soanyelectricalsafetyworkwouldhavetobepaidoutoftheseschemes.

6.2 Thebudgetrepresents£3.06mperlocalauthorityinWales,or£30.68mintheSouthWalesFRSarea.Therefore,electricalsafetywouldhavetocompetewithotherbuildingimprovementsfromthisbudget.Only £139 is potentially available per terraced household in the South Wales FRS area for electrical safety improvements from current grantsxvi.TheCharitybelievesthisiswoefullyinadequate.

6.3 Furthermore,theWelshGovernmentsaysthat1-2%ofhousesareataboveaverageorextremeriskinterms of electrical safetyxvii,consequentlyaround5,000terracedhousesmayneedre-wiringinSouthWales.ItappearsthatgrantsforelectricalsafetyworksthroughcurrentWelshGovernmentfundingdonotsupportdealingwithmajorelectricalworksforthosewithlimitedresources,thereforethisneedstobelookedatingreaterdetail.

6.4 ToascertaintowhatextentlocalauthoritiesinSouthWaleswerehelpingtofundelectricalhomeimprovements,wesentanumberofFreedomofInformationrequestsregardingHomeImprovementLoansandtheHousesintoHomesscheme.

6.5 CouncilssettheirowneligibilitycriteriaforHomeImprovementLoansandanyonecanapplyfortheHousesintoHomesscheme.OnlytwoCouncilshaveprovidedanyHomeImprovementLoans.Mosthave,however,providedsomeHousesintoHomesloans.However,formostinstances,itisnotknownwhetherthismoneyhasgonetowardselectricalimprovements.

6.6 FromAnnexes B & CitcanbeseenthatundertheHomeImprovementGrantonlytwolocalauthoritiesprovidedagrantforelectricalsafetyrepairs-CaerphillyandValeofGlamorgan.Thiscouldincludenewwiring,consumerunitsandinstallations.However,nofurtherdetailonthemoniesavailableviathesegrantsforelectricalsafetywasforthcoming.Noneofthelocalauthoritieswereabletoadvisehowmuchwasactuallyspentinthesecases.

xv http://cofnod.cynulliad.cymru/WrittenQuestion/77251xviMethodology:£67.5m/22=£30.6mx10=£30.68m/220259(numberofterracedhousingstockin10localauthorityareas)=£139xviiInformationreceivedfromStatisticsWales–ElectricalConditionandHousingSurvey–“fromthesurveyresultsisthatunderHHSRS,only

1%-2%ofpropertiesinWalesposedasignificantlyhigherthanaverageorextremeriskduetoelectricalsafety,andthatitwasasimilarpictureacrossthethreeFire&RescueServiceregions.”

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HOUSES INTO HOMES6.7 TheCharityaskedlocalauthoritiesintheSouthWalesFireandRescueServiceareaforinformationon

electricalsafetygrantsavailablethroughtheHousesintoHomesandTownsScheme.From Annex D, below,onlythreelocalauthoritieswereabletoconfirmthatelectricalworkcouldtakeplace.Alltheothersfailedtoprovideanyinformation.OnlyBridgendCouncilsaiditcouldcoverre-wiring.

6.8 ItisclearthatlocalauthoritiesdonothavetheresourcestoimproveelectricalsafetyinhomesintheSouthWalesFRSareaiftheowner-occupierhasnoresourcestoundertakethiswork.TheWelshGovernmentmustlookatthisissuemorecloselyandprioritiseanelectricalimprovementsgrant,startinginSouthWales,whichhashadthemostsignificantnumberofelectricaldistributionfires.

CARE & REPAIR AUTHORITIES GRANTFUNDING-CASESTUDY7.1 GiventhattherearenograntsavailablefromtheWelshGovernmentorLocalAuthoritiesspecifically

forelectricalsafety,theonlyalternativeforthosewhocannotaffordimprovementsistobereferredtoCare&Repair.Atpresent,theCharityunderstandsthatHomeSafetyVisitsundertakenbySouthWalesFRShaveresultedinnoreferralstoCare&RepairAgencies.

7.2 TheCharityhashadapartnershipapproachwithC&RCsince2015.C&RChasdistributedtheCharity’sfunding,totalling£20ktodate,acrossWalesviacaseworkerstopeopleinneedofelectricalimprovements.ThisissomethingtheCharitywouldwishtoseesupportedbytheWelshGovernment,throughapilotschemeofelectricalgrantsinadesignatedlocalauthorityarea.

ACHIEVEMENTS OF THE PARTNERSHIP •C&RChasreceived39clientreferralsanddistributedESFfundsto38clients.

•Theaveragefundingawardedtoclientshasbeen£263.16.

•Nineofthe13Care&Repairagencieshaveappliedforfundingonbehalfofclients.ThelargestnumberofapplicationsreceivedwasfromCardiff,andNeathPortTalbot.

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•Themajorityofworkcompletedhasinvolvedtheupgradingofearthing,bondingandconsumerunitsandtheinstallationofRCDs.Thelatterisanessentialsafetydevice,whichcutsofftheelectriccurrenttopreventanelectricshock.

7.3 AccordingtoC&RC,“TheElectricalSafetyFirstschemehassuccessfullyhelpedtoprovidemuchneededfundstooldervulnerableclientsacrossWales,allowingthemtokeeptheirhomessafe.C&RCadministrationhasallowedagencycaseworkerstosecureotherfundingneededmuchquicker,whichmeansthedesiredoutcomefortheclientisalsoachievedmuchmorequickly.”

7.4 C&RCprovidedcasestudiesofclientshighlightingthechallengestoimprovingelectricalsafetyarisingfromalackoffunding.Theseexamplesrepresentanongoingproblemaroundfundinganddemonstratethatthepoorestowner-occupiersmaynotbeabletoaffordelectricalimprovements.The Charity believes the Welsh Government must consider how electrical repairs could be better funded, as this in turn will help prevent fires caused by electrical distribution in people’s homes in Wales and, in this instance, South Wales.

Case study 1 Catherine,age62,owneroccupier,livesalone.

Catherinehasfibromyalgia,memoryandbackproblemsandhashadakneereplacement.HeronlyincomeisEmploymentandSupportAllowance(ESA)of£146perfortnightandshehasnosavings.

CatherinewasreferredtoherlocalC&RAgencybyalocaladviceagencyaftershehadcontactedthemforhelp.Shehadanoldlean-toatthebackofherhousethatwasinapoorstateofrepair.Waterwascomingthroughwhenitrained,andshewasworriedabouttheelectrics.Thelean-tohousedherwashingmachine,whichalongwiththelightinginthelean-towasrunningofftrailingwiresandextensionleadsfromthekitchen.Allthewiresweregettingwetwhenitrainedandshealsohadanumberofbrokensocketsinvariousroomsthroughoutthehouse.

Care&Repairobtainedaquotefromaqualifiedelectriciantomaketheelectricssafe.Thisincludedreplacingthedamagedsocketsanddisconnectingandmakingsafetheelectricsinthelean-to,whichamountedto£698.Catherinehadnosavingsandlivedonaverylowincome,soCare&Repairhadtoapplyforcharitable/benevolentfundstoraisethemoney,forrepairs,beforethenecessaryworkwasabletogoahead.

AsCatherinehadnorelevantworkhistoryandnoservicehistory,fundraisingprovedverydifficultandittookoversixmonthsbeforeanapplicationtothePerryFundwassuccessful.FollowingcompletionoftheworkoutlinedabovetheelectricsinCatherine’shomearenowsafe.

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Case study 2 Valerie,aged77,owneroccupier,liveswithherhusband.

Valeriehaspoormobility,osteoporosisandahistoryoffalls.ShewasreferredtoherlocalC&RAgencybyaworriedrelative.Valeriehadanumberofissueswithherhomebutwasveryworriedaboutherelectrics.Shehadoldstylecircularsocketsplusanoldconsumerunitwithnotripswitch.

ValeriehadrecentlybeenassessedbyanOccupationalTherapist.TheyhadadvisedthatsheneededalevelaccessshowerandreferredhertothelocalauthorityforaDisabledFacilityGrant(DFG).Theworks,however,wereunabletogoaheadduetotheconditionoftheelectricsintheproperty.

Valeriealsohadnocentralheatingandwasrelyingongasfirestoheatherhome.ShehadbeenawardedagrantfromNest(theWelshGovernment’sfundedfuelpovertyscheme)fortheinstallationoffullcentralheating.Butagain,theseworkscouldnotgoaheadduetothestateoftheelectrics.A full rewire was advised.

Valerie’spartnerhadservedintheforcessofundraisingwaslookedatasanoptiontopayfortheworks.However,duetothelengthofthetimethiswouldtakeandhowworriedValerieandherpartnerwereabouttheseworks,theydecidedtopursueaCouncilHomeRepairLoan.UndertheCouncilloanafullrewirewascompleted,theNestgrantthenwentaheadtofitfullgascentralheatingandtheDisabledFacilityGrantalsowentaheadtofitalevelaccessshower.

7.6 TheCharityhaslongheldthepolicypositionofsupportingtheintroductionofelectricalsafetychecksforhomeownerswithonepersonagedover80inWales;thiswasakeyrecommendationinourreportproducedbySwanseaUniversity.SouthWalesFireandRescueServiceplaysacrucialroleinidentifyingelectricalfaultsbutC&Rplaysakeyroleinhelpingtopayforelectricalimprovements,oftenwithverylimitedbudgets.TheCharitywouldrecommendtheWelshGovernmentlookscloselyathowsecurefundingcanbeprovidedtoensureelectricalproblemsinpeople’shomesaredealtwithaftertheyhavebeenidentified;andwhathappensifreferralshavebeenmadebutnoresourceexiststoundertakethework.

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SOUTH WALES FIRE AND RESCUESERVICE–WORKINGIN PARTNERSHIP8.1 TheCharityhasdevelopedakeypartnershipwithSouthWalesFireandRescueServiceoveranumber

ofyears.Thishasincludedsupportingcommunications,outreachevents,provisionofgrantmoniesforcommunitysafetyandadviceonelectricalsafetymatters.WithrecentattendanceattheCommunityRiskReductionCommittee,theCharitywantstoexpanditspartnershipworkingthroughoutWales.However,forthebasisofourreportSouthWalesisseenasapriorityintermsofworkingtoreducefirescausedbyelectricity.

8.2 OneofthekeyrecommendationsoftheWelshGovernment’sreportisthat“FRAs should include adviceontheneedforelectricalsafetychecksintheirSafeandWellvisitsasamatterofcourse.”WhilsttheCharitysupportsandagreeswiththisrecommendation,anumberofconcernsexistaboutthesevisitsastheystand,whichhavepreviouslybeenreferredto.Forexample:

•FireOfficersarenottrainedtofullyidentifypotentialelectricaldangersinthehomebuttheyshould,asnotedintheWelshGovernment’sreport,beabletoundertakebasicchecks.Theelectricalchecksatpresentareonlyvisualandifthedangerishidden,i.e.inacupboardorbehindwalls,itwillnotbenoticed.

•SouthWalesFireandRescueService’sHomeSafetyvisits.In 2017/18: 17,396 Home Safety Visits occurred and 1,028 electrical issues were identifiedxviii.Thisequatestoonly6%oftheseHomeSafetyvisitsleadingtotheidentificationofanelectricalproblem.Itshouldbenotedthatelectricalchecksarein‘competition’withotherimportantinitiativesduringthesevisits,suchastrips,slipsandfallsetc.andthereforeitisnotclearwhetherthereweremoreelectricalissuesduringthesevisitsthatwerenotidentifiedastherewaseitheralackofknowledgeortheissuewashiddenawayfromview.

•AlthoughFireOfficersareresponsibleforarangeoftasks,theyarethetrustedorganisationtoundertakethesevisits.If,liketheCharity,theWelshGovernmentwantsthistobeapriority,thereneedstobeareprioritisationsoelectricalchecksarepartofthisactivity.FireOfficerswillneedadditionalbasictrainingtohelpthemtoidentifyelectricalrisksandalsotoofferadviceonfuture-proofinginordertoincreasetheeffectivenessofthesevisits.

•Therearenotedproblemswithsignpostingandreferrals,especiallyiftheoccupierneedsanelectrician.FireOfficersarenotpermittedtorecommendanelectrician,forexample.Furthermore,referralstoCRCmaynotoccurandwhentheydo,budgetmaybeunavailable.This needs to be fully reviewed, costed and funded by Welsh Government.

xviiiDatareceivedfromSouthWalesFireandRescueService–March2019

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FUTURE-PROOFING8.3 ItappearsthatsomepreparationsarebeingundertakenbylocalauthoritiesinWalestoassistWelsh

consumersonfuture-proofing,i.e.readinessforchargingelectricvehicles,howeverthisismakingslowprogress.

8.4 FollowingFreedomofInformationrequestsundertakenbytheCharity,wefoundthatofthesevenlocalauthoritiesoutofnineintheSouthWalesareathatresponded,mostoftheseareonlyatthestudyorplanningstagesforpublicchargingpoints.Averylownumberofchargingpointsexistinstreetsalreadyintheseareas.ThisraisespotentialimplicationsofthereadinessinSouthWalesforchargingvehiclesandtheimpactondomesticelectricalinstallationsandwiringinpropertiesxix.

ESF CONCLUSION & DISCUSSION POINTS9.1 GivenwhatresearchdataisavailableandfollowingconversationswithstakeholdersinWales,ESF

concludes that:

•ThereisaneedfornationalcoordinationbetweenGovernment,theFRAsandtheCharitytounderstandthedangersassociatedwithelectricalusageindomesticpropertiesinWalesandhowtopreventfires.

•TheWelshGovernmentiscommittedtointroducingmandatoryelectricalsafetychecksintheprivateandsocialrentedsectorswhichwillbetheresponsibilityoflandlordsandlettingagents.Thiswillimprovesafetyandhopefullyreducefirescausedbyelectricalsourcesofignition.However,theowner-occupiedsectorneedstobeconsidered,especiallythosewhoarevulnerableandrelyonCareandRepairAgencysupport.

•TherecommendationsoftheWelshGovernmentreportrightlypointatFRAstoworktohelpreducefirescausedbyelectricalsourcesofignitioninWales.Howeverwebelievetheseneedtobefullycostedandthoughtthrough.ItappearstherearepotentialpolicyblackholeswithregardstoHomeSafetyVisitsandelectricalsafety,fundingofrepairs,advicegiventohomeownersandreferralprocesses.

xixhttps://www.electricalsafetyfirst.org.uk/media-centre/press-releases/2019/5/driven-to-danger-electric-vehicle-drivers-charging-dangerously-due-to-lack-of-public-infrastructure/

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•Giventheevidenceonbudgetconstraintsforelectricalsafetyandthelackofgrantsavailable,thereneedstobeafocusonfundingrepairsforthemostvulnerablehomeowners.Considerationshouldbegiventograntstorepairandrenewelectricalinstallationsandwiring.

•Thereisalackofinformationanddataonfireswithregardstotenure,housingageandrequiredrepairs.TheWelshGovernmentwasnotabletogivesubstantialinformationonthenumbersofpropertiesthatneedre-wiringinSouthWales.Thisneedstobeconsideredasapriorityworkstrand.

•FireofficersneedtrainingintheprovisionofbasicelectricalsafetyadviceandelectricaladviceduringHomeSafetyvisitsshouldbeseenasapriority.

•ThereislimitedworkbeingdonewiththeWelshpubliconfuture-proofingandrisks,thiscouldleadtoincreaseddomesticchargingwithinstallationsthatarenotappropriateforthesetasks.

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10.ANNEX AEl

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Saf

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Firs

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Local Authority Area Population(1) Number of Terraced Houses (2)

Percentage of terraced houses by population

Unemployment Rate % (3)

Out of work benefit claimants % (4)

Blaenau Gwent 69,609 15749 23% 5.6 16.7

Bridgend 144,208 15401 11% 5 12.7

Caerphilly 180,795 26526 15% 6 13.5

Cardiff 362,756 43612 12% 5.7 10.4

Merthyr Tydfil 59,953 12020 20% 5.5 15.7

Monmouthshire 93,590 6515 7% 3.4 7.7

Newport 151,485 20265 13% 5.4 12.6

Rhondda Cynon Taf 239,127 49322 21% 5.8 15

Torfaen 92,264 16359 18% 5.2 12.8

Vale of Glamorgan 130,690 14490 11% 3.6 9.7

Ref: (1) StatsWales.PopulationMid2017.(2) NOMIS (based on 2011 census) Published June 2014 (3) OfficeforNationalStatistics-June-July2018(4) StatsWales-2016

ANNEX BHome Improvement Grants – FOIs to Local Authorities in the South Wales area1.Howmanyhomeimprovementgrantshavebeenissuedinthelocalauthorityareainthelastfiveyears?2.Whatestimateorfiguresarethereforthenumberofterracedhousingstockinthelocalauthorityarea

regardlessoftenure.3.Dothesegrantscoverelectricalsafetyimprovementsinhousing?4.Ifyesto3,whatdidthesecover?Forexample-rewiring,replacingsockets,changingafusebox/consumerunit5.Whatisthelocalauthority’sbudgettocoverHomeImprovementgrantsinyourarea?6.Howmanyofthesegrantswenttoolderpeopleover65–whatfiguresareavailable?

Question 1 Question 2 Question 3 Question 4 Question 5 Question 6

Blaenau Gwent None 52% No N/A N/A N/A

Bridgend None N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A

Caerphilly 534 26,700 Yes Mayincludefullrewire,renewingthefusebox,earthingandbonding,renewingsocketsandswitches

2018/19is£1,140,938

Informationnot recorded

Cardiff None Info not held

N/A N/A N/A N/A

Merthyr Tydfil None 12,600 No grants issued in ten years

N/A None N/A

Monmouthshire Notprovided No answer N/A N/A N/A N/A

Newport No answer 38.50% No answer No answer No answer No answer

Rhondda Cynon Taf Grant not yet operational

63015 N/A N/A 15 N/A

Torfaen 9 16,359 No N/A £1,060,552 N/A

Vale of Glamorgan 5 N/A Workhasinvolvedcompletely new electricalinstallationsincluding new fuse boxetc.

N/A £1,626,594 N/A

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ANNEX C1.Howmanya)HowmanyHousesintoHomesloanshttps://gov.wales/topics/housing-and-regeneration/housing-

supply/empty-homes/houses-into-homes/?lang=enandb)TownCentreLoanschemeshavebeenissuedbythelocalauthorityinthelastfiveyears?

2.Whatbudgetisavailablefora)andb)?3.Whatelectricalsafetyimprovementstohousinginthelocalauthorityareawereallocatedfromtheabovegrants?4.Ifyes,whatdidthesecover?Forexample-rewiring,replacingsockets,changingafusebox/consumerunit?

Question 1 Question 2 Question 3 Question 4

Blaenau Gwent a)32Now replaced with Land Lord loansb)7

a)£865,466b)£764,286

N/A N/A

Bridgend a)23 b)26 a)£900,000b)no set budget

Mayincludeelectricalwork could include rewiring

Caerphilly No response

Cardiff a)56b)N/A a)£3.39m Info not recorded N/A

Merthyr Tydfil a)11 b)1 a)£717,520.35b)£1,000,000

Not answered Noinfoavailable

Monmouthshire a)3 b)1 a)£1.2mb)£42.5k Includedrewiringwork N/A

Newport a)32b)N/A a)£884,496 Info not recorded N/A

Rhondda Cynon Taf

Torfaen a)28lastfiveyearsb)7lastthreeyears

a)£1,073,525b)£200,000

Info not recorded N/A

Vale of Glamorgan a)21 b)2 a)£1626594b)£1,045,665

a)Workhasinvolvedcompletelynewelectricalinstallationsincludingnewfuseboxetc.

N/A

ANNEX DVale of GlamorganLocal Authority What preparations are you

undertaking as a council to prepare for Electric Vehicle charging in your area?

Are you planning or commencing work on installing on-street charging points in your area?

If yes to 3, how many charging points have been installed to date?

Rhondda Cynon Taf Lookingintoit Yes One

Blaenau Gwent Haveinstalledchargingpoints,butissueswithlowuse/vandalism–nocorporatepolicy.

No 6

Monmouthshire Lookingatsuitablepotentiallocations,technology,funding

Yes None

Merthyr Tydfil None No 0

Bridgend Lookingatassessingpotentialfor EV locally

No None

Newport Lookingatsuitablesites Yes 4

Vale of Glamorgan Setupworkinggroup No N/A

Cardiff Been awarded funding Yes -

Torfaen Part of a regional study Yes Five

Arbenigwyr diogelwch trydanol y DU