New Electric Heat Tapes Help Prevent Fires: Safety Alert
Consumer Product Safety Commission
New Electric Heat Tapes Help Prevent Fires:
Safety Alert
CPSC Document #5045
To help prevent fires, the U.S. Consumer Product Safety
Commission (CPSC) urges homeowners (including residents of mobile
homes) to replace uncertified heat tapes more than three years
old. Uncertified heat tapes should be replaced with new heat
tapes certified to meet recognized voluntary standards. At the
present the following organizations are certifying heat tapes to
meet recognized voluntary standards: Underwriters Laboratories
(UL), the Canadian Standards Association (CSA), and Factory
Mutual Research Corporation (FMRC).
Electric heat tapes are used to keep water pipes from freezing.
Heat tapes are usually installed in attics or underneath porches
and homes, especially mobile homes. CPSC estimates there are
about 2,000 fires, 10 deaths, and 100 injuries each year
involving heat tapes. The use of certified heat tapes can help to
reduce the frequency of these fires.
CPSC offers these safety tips for purchasing, installing, and
maintaining electric heat tapes:
- Replace uncertified heat tapes more than 3 years old with new
heat tapes certified to meet recognized voluntary standards. All
new heat tapes will have a 3-prong plug.
- Always plug the 3-prong plug into a 3-prong outlet to make sure
the heat tape is grounded.
- Use a ground-fault circuit-interrupter (GFCI) wherever heat
tapes are plugged in.
- Do not wrap heat tape over itself unless specifically permitted
in the manufacturer's instructions.
- Apply heat tapes directly on the pipe to be protected, never on
top of the insulation covering the pipe.
- Do not cover the heat tape with insulation unless advised by
the manufacturer. Use nonflammable insulation such as fiber
glass. Do not use foam or vinyl insulation that could catch fire
from a failing heat tape.
- Keep the end-cap sealed and off the ground to prevent water
from getting in. Moisture can lead to a fire.
- Do not use heat tapes designed for water pipes on gutters,
driveways, or fuel lines.
- If heat tape has a thermostat, check instructions to see if the
thermostat should be placed against the pipe and covered with
insulation or if it should be left hanging and uncovered.
- Inspect heat tapes each year and replace them if you notice
signs of deterioration. Look for discolored surfaces (especially
at the plug), charring, cuts or breaks in the insulation, or bare
wires.
- Check installation instructions when you change types or brands
of heat tape because different heat tapes have different
installation requirements.
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