Did you know that, according to the Electrical Safety Foundation International (ESFI), Christmas trees result in approximately 260 residential fires per year? The same fires kill 12 people and cause another 24 injuries. These figures make it perfectly clear: electrical safety is especially important during and around the holidays. What simple tools curb risks of electrical fire, shock, and other serious accidents?

Conduit and Metric Spacers

Keeping electrical hazards at a minimum depends on intact and organized wiring. Insulation, such as conduit, protects wires to prevent damage, fraying, and wear. More specifically, rigid or flexible conduit wraps around wiring to shield them from the elements and small animals’ teeth. Consumers working with electricity and sensitive circuits may want to choose metal conduit, or electric metal tubing (EMT). Electric metal tubing also shields circuits from harmful electromagnetism, and, in most cases, should be used with some form of conduit bushing to prevent any tearing or damage from jagged metal edges.

Similarly, metric spacers can be used to separate electric parts. Separating or elevating parts dramatically reduces the likelihood of electrical shorts, shock, and fire. Metric spacers do not have threads. Consumers can also choose from threaded spacers, or standoffs.

Nylon Nuts, Bolts, and Screws

Electrical safety also depends on reliable and secure fastening. Nylon fasteners, for example, such as nylon nuts, bolts, and screws, can be used to secure rubber, metal, wood, or plastic parts. Nylon screws are relatively easy to fasten and unfasten, making them perfect for electronics and electrical parts that need to be taken apart and put back together regularly. Nylon fasteners are lightweight, and often entail fairly simple installation. (Unlike their metal counterparts, they do not require a power drill or hole punch for placement.) Consumers can ensure that these fixtures stay in place by using cap nuts or acorn nuts. Cap nuts fit over bolts, screws, and nuts to protect external threads from weathering, abrasion, corrosion, and chemical wear.

Electrical safety is especially critical during the holidays. Stay safe this season with the help of small, simple tools, such as metric spacers, nylon fasteners, and cap nuts. Helpful sites: www.alliance-express.com