Cheap extension cords driving fire risk, warns ASP FireSubstandard cables and weak enforcement are fuelling preventable fires, highlighting that compliance with SANS standards is non-negotiable08 July 2026: South Africans are being urged to exercise extreme caution when purchasing electrical extension cords, following growing concern across the industry about the influx of substandard and non-compliant products into the local market. “From a fire safety perspective, this is deeply worrying,” says Michael van Niekerk, CEO of ASP Fire. “Compliance on paper does not always translate to safety in practice,” adds van Niekerk. “Saving a few rand on an extension cable is simply not worth the risk,” points out van Niekerk. “Electrical fires are often preventable,” concludes van Niekerk.