5-Minute Guide: Top 10 Office Devices Never to Plug Into a Power Strip
5-Minute Guide to Commercial Property Risks - The Top-10 Things That Should Not be Plugged Into a Power Strip at the Office
Intended Audience: Business Owners, Facility Managers & Safety Professionals.
The Problem:
Power strips have become an essential and unavoidable feature in commercial offices in spitea of the fact that building and electrical codes require electrical outlets be spaced 12-feet along walls.
The average office individual workspace will have from between 1 to 2 power strips with 4 to 6 electrical devices plugged into them.
Sources vary greatly, but by averaging them out, electrical power strips maybe responsible for as much as as one out of ten commercial building fires.
First year failure rates for power strips can range from 2% to 20%, depending on the manufacturer.
The misuse of power strips is a common OSHA violation.
The main people problem associated power strips is that it is very easy for employees to misuse them by plugging in a device or multiple devices that could require more electrical power than the power strip can safely handle.
How Much Electricity Can the Average Power Strip Safety Handle:
Voltage = 120 AC
Amperage = 15
Watts = 1,500 (the maximum that can safely be drawn from a 15-amp circuit)
Maximum Continuous Load ~ around 12-amps at 1,440- watts
Top-10 Things That Never Should be Plugged Into a Power Strip at the Office.
Space Heaters: The simple answer here is that there is very little margin for error as most portable electrical heaters use between 1,200 to 1,500 watts.
Coffee Makers: Single serve coffee makers can require up to 1,500-watts and are at their peak electrical consumption level when actually heating water.
Beverage or Snack Dispensing Machines: The motors and compressors in the units repeatedly cycle on and off, potentially causing the power strip to overheat.
Mini-Refrigerators: While most of these appliances only use 100 to 150-watts when operating normally, in employee break/lunch rooms there can be a tendency to plug additional devices like coffee makers into a single power strip
Laser Printers: The heating elements in these types of printers can require 1,500-watts with startup and when under a heavy printing demand.
Large Desktop Computers: While most desktops will only need around 800-watts when in use, the problem comes when peripheral device such as monitors & printers are connected to the same power strip.
Multiple Large Computer Monitors: While such a combination may only require up to 500-watts, it a common practice to plug in other high wattage devices like a desk top computer into the same power strip.
Network Computer Racks: These units can require up to 2,000-watts and normally operate 24/7, presenting a serious overheating risk with the average power strip.
External Hard Drive Arrays: While there power requirements are only around 400-watts, the problem is that they highly prone to voltage fluctuations and surges that power strips may not be able to adequately handle.
Another Power Strip or an Extension Cord: Here the issue is that plugging one power strip into another will usually increase the number of connected devices, possibly exceeding the safe operating limits.
Replace Power Strips When:
There is noticeable physical damage like casing cracks or loose plugs.
When the strip becomes hot to touch during normal use.
If it has a history of being overloaded by devices such as space heaters.
When there is repeated tripping of the inbuilt circuit breakers on the strip.
When there has been exposure to moisture, dust or chemicals.
If exposed to moderate use and the strip is more than 3 to 5-years old.
The Main Takeaway:
The key elements to power strip safety are regular monthly inspections and periodic employee training.
For Additional Information or questions on this Subject, Contact Centurion’s Loss Control Manager, Rob Brooks, at:
(606)434-0739
Disclaimer:
This publication is intended for general educational purposes only, and is not to be considered as business, financial or legal advice.
Readers should consult with appropriate professionals before making any decisions based on the content of this newsletter.
Some of the data &/or statistics referenced within were obtained using artificial intelligence.
Centurion Insurance Services and the writer make no guarantees or warranties of any kind, express or implied, about the reliability, completeness or suitability of the information contained herein.
We will not be liable for any losses or damages arising from the use of the information provided.
