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Essential Installation Steps you must carry out to avoid Compact Fluorescent Lamps CFL fire hazards

By Carl A

Republish: EasyPublish™
Published: 13Jan2010
Word count: 608
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When a fire is caused by a CFL, or Compact Fluorescent Lamps, it is often due to either a defective product, or more often than not; improper installation. CFLs over-heat if they are installed incorrectly, so it's essential that when you are installing your CFL that you do it correctly. One way you can protect yourself and your family is to make sure you only buy CFLs that meet the highest standard, these CFLs will have been tested and proven to meet the US government's Energy Star standards.

CFLs that are Energy Star qualified will also meet UL safety standards. These standards require the bulb itself to be self-extinguishing in the event of a fire, so in most cases, the tubing of the bulb will only darken. Energy Star qualified CFLs should never catch on fire when installed correctly.

CFLs are often, unless stated otherwise, made from glass, and can break if they are roughly handled or dropped, so always be sure you are using the upmost care when removing the bulb from its packaging, installing it or even replacing it. You should always screw and unscrew the light from its base, never the glass, and you should never forcefully twist the CFL into a light socket either, it should twist securely into place without much force required at all.

By twisting the bulb in with the glass and not the plastic base, you could break the vacuum seal or the glass tubing in the CFL. When certain parts of the CFL are exposed to oxygen, they can become defective and over-heat, causing a fire hazard, so always be sure to handle the CFL carefully, and twist the base into place, not the actual CFL.

In some cases, once the fluorescent tubing in the CFL reaches the end of it's usability, the arc that is contained within this tubing can sometime elevate the temperature of the plastic which houses it. In this elevated temperature, short lived though it is, you may notice smoking to a very minor degree, as well as this, the CFL may start to give off an unusual odor. In other more extreme cases, a flashing arc internal to the fluorescent tube or ballast may occur, causing a deformation or a small breach of the plastic housing unit, but don't be too alarmed, as if the CFL is Energy Star qualified, the materials will have been tested so as to prevent subsequent safety hazards.

If your CFL should ever smoke or start smoldering, you need to immediately shut off the power to the CFL. Once it has cooled, remove it from the light socket. Once you have done this, it is advisable that you should contact your local light bulb manufacturing regulating authority and provide them with the product manufacturer's name and model information that is included on the CFL base and if possible an electronic photo. You will also most probably need to explain how the CFL was used within the household.

Once this has been done, you should also visit the manufacturer's web site to find customer service contact information to inform them of the early failure. The manufacturer that produce the CFL should then be able to provide you with a replacement or a refund, due to a breach of the warranty (if the warranty was breached) so make sure you always hold on to any receipts you may have to prove your date of purchase.

Some manufacturers may then request the problem product to be delivered to them so they can establish why the smoking happened, so always make sure that you keep the product until you speak to the manufacturer.

Carl A is the chief executive officer of Energy Saver Lights, Inc. http://www.energysaverlightsstore.com

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