Extension Cords Pose Fire Hazard for High‑Wattage Appliances – 7 Common Gadgets Should Never Be Daisy‑Chained
What Happened — An electrician‑sourced advisory published by ZDNet warns that using standard extension cords for high‑draw appliances (≥ 1,800 W) can overload the cord’s gauge, cause overheating, melt insulation, and ignite fires. Seven everyday devices—including refrigerators, toaster ovens, and air fryers—are singled out as unsafe for extension‑cord use, especially when daisy‑chained.
Why It Matters for TPRM —
- Physical safety incidents can disrupt business continuity and expose organizations to liability.
- Office‑environment hardware that fails or ignites can damage critical IT assets and data.
- Vendor‑supplied office equipment policies often overlook electrical safety, creating hidden risk.
Who Is Affected — Corporate office environments, co‑working spaces, and remote‑work setups that rely on extension cords for power distribution; vendors supplying office hardware, facilities‑management services, and MSPs that install or maintain workplace infrastructure.
Recommended Actions —
- Audit all office power distribution practices; inventory devices drawing > 1,800 W.
- Enforce a policy prohibiting extension‑cord use for high‑wattage appliances and daisy‑chaining.
- Provide dedicated wall outlets or hard‑wired circuits for identified appliances.
- Include electrical‑safety clauses in third‑party contracts and facility‑management SLAs.
Technical Notes — Extension cords are rated by gauge (e.g., 16‑gauge ≈ 13 A, 14‑gauge ≈ 15 A/1,800 W). Over‑loading exceeds the cord’s thermal rating, leading to insulation melt and fire risk. No software vulnerability or cyber‑attack vector is involved; the risk is purely physical. Source: https://www.zdnet.com/article/dont-plug-common-household-gadgets-into-an-extension-cord/