It is very easy to take electrical systems for granted. Most work reasonably well at virtually all times and help light your home and place of work. Electricity helps keep places warm in the winter and cool in the summer. The many pieces of equipment and technology at work and appliances inside the home all rely on electricity to power them.
Because electrical systems generally are hidden and can work flawlessly for many years, they often go overlooked. Unfortunately, electrical systems pose a constant fire hazard that could partly or wholly destroy a building.
An electrical fire occurs when malfunctions or failures with the components, equipment, or machinery that make up an electrical circuit cause a fire. Like any fire, an electrical fire is very dangerous and could cause injuries or deaths.
Electrical Fires Often Have Common Causes
The causes of electrical fires often boil down to several commonly occurring issues. Having common causes means that it is possible to identify potential electrical problems and correct them before an electrical fire happens.
The most common causes of electrical fires include:
- Old appliances and equipment
- Improper maintenance
- Not abiding by safety codes
- Faulty circuit breakers and electrical panels
Appliances and equipment that use electricity suffer wear and tear over time. The electrical components within them can weaken and create electrical hazards, and those hazards could cause an electrical fire or deliver an electrical shock.
The U.S. Fire Administration says old appliances and equipment account for 19 percent of fires in non-residential buildings and 13 percent of residential fires.
Electrical systems are not permanent and need regular maintenance. When that maintenance does not happen or occurs only rarely, a dangerous condition could develop that might cause an electrical fire. Electrical fires generally occur in one of two places. Those are in the home and at work. Residential and commercial electrical fires have some common causes and some potentially deadly consequences. The best way to understand both is to look at each one separately.
Facts About Commercial Electrical Fires
Many commercial electrical fires have additional causes, like flammable substances, faulty equipment, and overloaded circuits that could cause fires. Workers also could make errors that cause electrical fires, such as accidentally severing a wire.
Extension cords, old panels, aging wiring and other equipment used to create an electrical system for a commercial location could start an electrical fire. A short circuit caused by damaged insulators and exposed wiring is the most common cause of commercial electrical fires.
Possibly the most infamous case of a commercial electrical fire is the explosion of TWA flight 800 on July 17, 1996. The initial cause of the explosion was unknown for many months before the federal investigators with the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) determined an electrical short and some enabling factors made it happen.
The explosion claimed all 230 lives and occurred as the commercial flight was climbing after its takeoff. Many speculated on the source, and some claimed it was shot down by an antiaircraft missile fired by either terrorists or the U.S. Navy.
The NTSB investigation eventually revealed that a short circuit in the many miles of wiring contained within the Boeing 747 caused a short circuit and arcing within a fuel tank. The fully loaded aircraft had been sitting on the tarmac awaiting permission for takeoff.
The fuel inside the tanks began to vaporize as the internal temperature rose due to the use of onboard air conditioning systems. An electrical arc ignited the vaporized fuel, which triggered the explosion.
The NTSB since has ordered a full check of aircraft wiring systems on a regular basis to help prevent additional tragedies. That means checking many miles of electrical wiring running through commercial passenger aircraft to help to ensure passenger and crew safety.
Facts About Residential Electrical Fires
The U.S. Fire Administration (USFA) says about 24,000 residential electrical fires occur every year and account for 6.3 percent of all fires in the home. Those electrical fires cause potentially hundreds of deaths and thousands of injuries every year.
The USFA says single-family homes and duplexes that hold up to two families account for more than 80 percent of residential electrical fires in the United States. Single-family homes and duplexes or condominiums often are owned by the residents.
A privately owned residence generally will not have a dedicated maintenance crew responsible for keeping all systems in good condition. Privately owned homes also have fewer local regulations that require regular inspections of electrical systems than apartment complexes.
The longer nights and colder weather during the winter months make the wintertime the worst time of the year for electrical fires. The lights are on longer and more people use space heaters and electrically powered heating sources during the winter than during the other seasons.
Bedrooms are where most residential fires occur. The USFA says 15 percent of residential electrical fires start in the bedroom, but the family room, living room, and den are where the most fatalities occur.
When a residential fire occurs, the initial danger often is hidden. The first things a fire affects are the wire insulators and the framing that holds up the structure in which the electrical wiring is placed. These generally are hidden from view, which enables residential fires to spread before smoke alarms can detect them.
How to Prevent Electrical Fires
You could reduce the chances of a residential electrical fire by about 13 percent simply by having your appliances inspected annually. An electrician could trace the circuits for each and ensure they are working as designed. You also could have an appliance specialist inspect one or more items to ensure their power sources are safe and reliable.
The electrical panels in homes, including circuit breakers, often need updating to stay safe. But many homeowners ignore them until there is an electrical problem. Being more proactive in addressing older electrical circuits and systems can help to make them safer.
Many homeowners also fail to update their electrical systems as local safety codes change to make them safer. A home with very old wiring could have multiple exposed wires that could trigger an electrical fire. Many of those issues are not found unless the home is for sale and a potential buyer pays to have the electrical system inspected.
Commercial electrical fires could have similar causes as residential fires. They also could have special circumstances, like the one illustrated by the TWA flight 800 tragedy.
Preventing a commercial electrical fire requires annual inspections and maintenance to ensure the electrical system is in good shape, up to code, and relatively safe. The system also needs to provide a sufficient amount of power for the commercial operation. Doing so helps prevent system overloads that could damage wiring and other components.
A commercial operation should have an available provider of commercial electrical services. The provider should be capable of providing regular maintenance and repairing the system when necessary.
What To Do If You Have an Electrical Fire
You cannot douse an electrical fire with water. Throwing water onto an electrical fire could cause the problem to spread to other electrical circuits and components. It also might endanger you and anyone near you by conducting electricity if enough water accumulates on the floor.
The best way to put out an electrical fire is with either a portable fire extinguisher or a fire-suppression system. The fire extinguisher must be rated for Class C fires to be effective against electrical fire.
A fire-suppression system is the best system because it works around the clock and does not require you or someone else to be there with a fire extinguisher. A fire-suppression system uses tubing that contains a fire-retardant. If a fire occurs, the tubing bursts and disperses the anti-fire agent to extinguish it.
At the very least, you should have fire extinguishers strategically placed in your home or place of business that can put out regular fires as well as electrical fires. Having Class C-rated fire extinguishers and a fire-suppression system gives you the best of both.
The highly experienced and expert electricians at Tomm Electric in New Jersey can help to inspect, maintain, and repair commercial electrical systems. We also can upgrade and improve your existing system or install entirely new ones as needed. With our help, you stand a much better chance of preventing an electrical fire.