Fires in electric meter cupboards occur more often due to connection overload
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By Simone Jacobs
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Experts have sounded the alarm as fires in electric meter cupboards become a more common occurrence in the Netherlands. One of the biggest concerns is that households are overloading their fuse boxes as more and more connections are added.
Dutch experts warn against overloading electric meter cupboards
According to RTL Nieuws, there were a total of 176 incidents in electric meter cupboards reported last year, which amounts to three per week. Most of these involve fires.
The transition to more sustainable energy is part of the reason for the rise in incidents, says energy consultancy firm KRADO. More electrical appliances are constantly being added, such as heat pumps, charging stations, solar panels and home batteries. "This can lead to overloading, resulting in short circuits and fires," said Walter Hulshorst from KRADO.
Another problem experts have noticed is problems with electrical installations, from loose or too-thin wiring to overcrowded meter cabinets. "All electricity in the home runs through the meter box. Fire safety therefore starts with a properly installed and well-maintained fuse box," Sjoerd van Gelder of Techniek Nederland told NOS. "The electrical installation in your home is not a hobby project, nor is it something you leave to a handy neighbour."
How to prevent fires in your electric meter cupboard
Electrical engineering expert Henry Lootens advises Dutch residents to make sure they use a qualified and certified electrician. A tip is to ask about their “seal rights”, which allow an installer to cut the grid operator’s seals at the bottom of the meter cabinet - if they have sealing rights, they are more likely to know what they are doing. You can find and compare qualified electricians on Techniek Nederland’s website.
Another important tip is to avoid using your electric meter cupboard to store other items such as shoes, umbrellas or clothes. "All those extra items allow a fire to spread more quickly," said insurer Interpolis.
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Editor for the Netherlands at IamExpat Media. Simone studied Genetics and Zoology at the University of Pretoria in South Africa before moving to the Netherlands, where she has been working as a writer and editor since 2022. One thing she loves more than creating content is consuming it, mainly by reading books by the dozen. Other than being a book dragon, she is also a nature lover and enjoys hiking and animal training.Read more