What is touch voltage and how do I prevent it?

What Is Touch Voltage and Why Does It Matter? Touch voltage is the voltage you can receive across your body when you touch something metallic — like a washing machine casing, a radiator, or a tap — while a fault exists in the electrical installation. Instead of fault current flowing safely to earth, it flows through you. Even relatively low voltages can cause serious injury or cardiac arrest. Why Does It Happen? Broken or disconnected earth wire inside an appliance or socket Missing or loose bonding conductor connecting metallic pipework, radiators, or structural steelwork to earth A faulty appliance where live internal conductors have touched the metal casing Deteriorated wiring in older properties, particularly pre-1960s installations Missing RCD protection that would otherwise disconnect the supply quickly enough to prevent harm Warning Signs to Look Out For A tingling sensation when touching an appliance, tap, or radiator Electric shocks when touching two different metal objects at the same time RCDs that trip repeatedly for no obvious reason A burning smell from sockets or appliances Visible damage to cables, plugs, or socket faces What You Can Check Safely Visually inspect plug tops — check the earth pin is present and connections look secure Check that bonding clamps on incoming gas and water pipes near the meter are still in place and not corroded Look for any exposed or damaged cables What You Should NOT Do Do not attempt to open consumer units, junction boxes, or rewire anything yourself Do not use an appliance you suspect has a fault — unplug it at the wall Do not ignore tingling sensations — they are a serious warning When to Call an Electrician Call a Part P registered electrician immediately if you experience any tingling, receive a shock, or suspect earthing is missing. Touch voltage is a Category 1 (C1) danger — it requires urgent remediation before the installation is used.