Check the Five Appliance Fire Safety Rules the Government Urged
Key Takeaway
The government urged five appliance safe-use rules: stay within the power strip's rated capacity, clean its dust, keep cords from bending or pinching, leave airflow room, and replace consumables like filters.
They come from the Korean Agency for Technology and Standards press release of September 11, 2026, and you can check them at home right away rather than through a big inspection.
Which campaign did these rules come from?
On September 11, 2026, the Korean Agency for Technology and Standards held an appliance safe-use campaign in Sangbaek Village, North Chungcheong, together with the Korea Consumer Agency, the Korea Electrical Safety Corporation, the Jincheon branch of the Korea Senior Citizens Association, and a consultative body of appliance businesses. The background was that rural villages have fewer chances to receive safety information and a high share of elderly residents, which makes them relatively vulnerable to appliance fires.
The participating agencies visited senior centers and homes of elderly residents to inspect appliances and the distribution board (breaker box), and handed out new power strips so old ones could be replaced. They also distributed leaflets on the safe-use rules.
What are the five safe-use rules?
| No. | Rule | Where to look at home |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Keep an appliance's power consumption within the power strip's rated capacity | The strip's markings and the appliance label |
| 2 | Clean dust that builds up on the power strip | Around the plugs and the strip's sockets |
| 3 | Keep power cords from being bent or pinched | Cords running behind furniture, through door gaps, or across the floor |
| 4 | Leave space around appliances for ventilation | Between the wall and the product, and above the product |
| 5 | Replace consumables such as filters regularly | The care section of the product manual |
The table is based on the Ministry of Trade and Industry and Korean Agency for Technology and Standards press release (posted 2026-09-11), and the date checked is 2026-10-12. The right-hand column is not the press release's wording but a plain explanation of where to look.
In what order should you check at home?
Start with the power strip. The rated capacity is the value printed on the strip, and the combined power consumption of the appliances you use on it should stay within it. Whether there are empty sockets is not the criterion.
Next are the things you can see.
- Check whether dust has built up between the power strip and the plugs.
- Check whether a power cord gets bent or pinched when you move furniture or close a door.
- Check that appliances are not pushed tight against a wall or furniture.
Last are consumables. How often you replace a filter differs by product, so follow the manual. The press release did not set the interval as a number.
What did the press release not say?
These rules are short calls that do not spell out reasons or reference values. They contain no numbers such as how many centimeters to leave free or how many months between filter changes. For such values, the product manual and the manufacturer's guidance are the standard. You can check whether a product is under recall on the Product Safety Information Center's (safetykorea.kr) recall search.
If you have a power strip you have used for a long time, it is worth considering replacing it, as in this campaign. What was handed out at the campaign was also new strips meant to replace old ones.
If you do just one thing this week, what should it be?
Pick the power strip that has been plugged in the longest and look for its rated capacity marking. If the marking has worn off and cannot be read, or the area around the plugs is visibly dirty, it is a candidate for replacement or cleaning. The rules were checked in the Korean Agency for Technology and Standards press release, and for any later changes in guidance, look again on the agency's press release board at the Ministry of Trade and Industry.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do these rules apply the same way to every appliance?
The press release is a call aimed at home appliances in general, so it does not include detailed standards for each product. For values that differ by product, such as filter replacement intervals or installation clearances, follow the manual and the manufacturer's guidance.
Where do I check a power strip's rated capacity?
Look at the value printed on the power strip itself or in its product description, and compare it with the power consumption of the appliances you will plug in together. The press release urged keeping appliance power consumption within the strip's rated capacity.
Does this campaign apply only to elderly people in rural areas?
No. The campaign was an event that visited homes of elderly rural residents, but the participating agencies urged the same rules on consumers in general.
Sources & Verification Date
- KATS, Korea Consumer Agency and others hold appliance safe-use campaign in a North Chungcheong rural village (Korean Agency for Technology and Standards, Ministry of Trade and Industry press release, posted 2026-09-11) · Verified
- Recall information search (Product Safety Information Center) · Verified
All materials have been verified from official announcements and may have changed since verification.