Smart home guide launched by The Smart Technology Product Safety group

Leading consumer safety charity, Electrical Safety First (ESF), has been working with law firm, DLA Piper – and a group of leading manufacturers and retailers – to create the first smart home guide for the absolute beginner.

“Many people would welcome the benefits from making their home ‘smarter’ but they don’t know where to begin”, explains Martyn Allen, Technical Director at Electrical Safety First. “Although you can find lots of information available about smart products easily, much of it is not written for the absolute beginner. And it usually doesn’t give a joined-up approach. Our guide, however, provides all the basic information required to make a home ‘smart’ or ‘smarter’ – with confidence. It covers what you need to know from the initial planning, to buying, installing and using smart devices”.

The new guide was produced and published by The Smart Technology Product Safety Stakeholder group, led by Electrical Safety First and DLA Piper. Comprised of key businesses and organisations involved in the production and sale of smart devices, the group was established to help create a 360-degree approach to product safety in the digital age.

Michiko Jo, Senior Associate at DLA Piper and joint Chair of the stakeholder group, commented: “The smart home environment is becoming increasingly prevalent. Proper and safe functioning of smart devices not only requires businesses delivering high quality products and services but also promotion of consumer’s understanding of these devices and their use. This industry-led guide promotes good practice in this space and is an important first initiative by the stakeholder group, which we established with Electrical Safety First.”

The guide, which is free (to download can be found here: https://www.electricalsafetyfirst.org.uk/guidance/safety-around-the-home/smart-homes/

“There are immense benefits to be had from a smart home”, adds Martyn Allen. “And we want to see people making informed – and safe – decisions about how they use smart technology. But this also needs the collaboration of the industry supply chain – as our stakeholder group has shown – to ensure a fully integrated approach to home safety in the 21^st Century.”