Posted by Carol Hart on Tue, Aug 03, 2010 @ 07:28 AM
Electricians in most states are guided by the National Electrical Code. In 1999, the electrical code began requiring arc fault circuit protection for circuits that supplied bedroom outlets --a requirement that applied only to new homes. Over time, the NEC has increased the requirments to the point that the 2008 code requires combination arc fault circuits in all new construction 15 or 20 amp outlets with the exception of laudry rooms, kitchen, bathrooms, unfinished basements and garages. So what does an arc fault circuit interruptor do, and should you have them installed in your home?
Currently, Connecticut is operating under the 2005 NEC, which requires the circuits only in bedrooms in new residences. Some, however, feel that the cost of the this technology isn't worth the potential savings. New homes already have a great deal of fire protection because of new types of materials being used. On the other hand, groups like the Electrical Safety Foundation International feel that AFCIs offer such protection that they recommend AFCIs be installed in existing buildings, not just new homes.
An electrical arc is not unusual and not necessarily bad--essentially it is jumping electricity which sometimes serves a function. There are situations, however, where arcing is not intentional and can pose a serious fire hazard. Old and frayed wiring is the worst offender, allowing electricity to arc along an unintended path. This causes an excessive amount of heat to build up around the wires, potentially allowing a fire to start.
It is estimated that the installation of ACFIs would cut electrical fires in half--which is why most national safety organizations like the NFPA (National Fire Prevention Agency) promote their
For more information, download the National Electrical Manufacturers Association white paper
"Using Advanced Technology to Reduce Electrical Fires".
Posted by Carol Hart on Tue, May 11, 2010 @ 07:45 AM
There is a month for everything. Some monthly observances are relatively well known, like Black History month in February, and Breast Cancer Awareness month in October. Others are less well-known. (Did you know that January is National Bird Feeding Month? And that June brings National Accordian Awareness Month?) Every May, the Electrical Safety Foundation International (ESFI) brings us Electrical Safety Month.
ESFI cites some astonishing numbers about home electrical fires: 450 lives lost in an average 53,000 fires each year; 1400 injuries; 1.4 billion in property damages. This year, the ESFI is focusing attention on Do It Yourself projects.
The home improvement market has been growing at a steady pace for over 10 
years, and homeowners concerned about the costs of home service (like electricians!!) have turned into DIYers. Interestingly, there is a corresponding increase in the number of Emergency Room visits by DIYers trying to perform electrical work by themselves. (ESFI cites more than 400 home electrocutions each year).
More injuries can be laid at the feet of DIYers and Cheap Charlies (those who find the absolute cheapest electrician possible--regardless of whether he's qualified). 4000 people are injured annually by electrical outlets, and nearly 20,000 people are injured each year by improperly installed ceiling fans!!!!
Check out their website for more information and links: www.esfi.org.
Posted by Carol Hart on Thu, Feb 18, 2010 @ 01:25 PM
Is your electrical panel a fire waiting to happen? If it says Federal Pacific Electric, it may be.
Federal Pacific was a major manufacturer of electrical panels and circuit breakers from the mid 1950s-mid 1980s. 28 million American homes were fitted with FPE equipment during that time, and according to safety experts and the Consumer Product Safety Commission, these homes are at risk of fire and shock hazards because of the panel.
How is it possible that unsafe equipment was installed in so many homes? A class action suit against FPE in New Jersey revealed that Federal Pacific rigged their testing equipment to meet UL requirements. The court found that they "knowingly... distributed circuit breakers that were not tested to meet UL standards." UL listing was removed from these products. Independent tests have shown that these breakers fail to trip in response to an overload at an alarming rate. (For those who enjoy a more technical and detailed discussion, I suggest starting with this study: http://inspectapedia.com/fpe/FPE-Hazards-Revised-070525.pdf
"But I've had my panel for years, and never had any problems. Nothing ever even trips" Homeowners may mistakenly believe that a panel with circuit breakers that never trip is a good thing, when in fact its a big problem. A circuit breaker is supposed to trip if there is an overcurrent or a short circuit because that shuts off the current and prevents fires and dangerous shocks. A frequently tripping circuit breaker is a warning sign, giving you a chance to correct a potentially dangerous problem. Just because you've lived with your Federal Pacific panel for years doesn't mean that a problem isn't lurking. (These panels were made when most homes didn't even have an automatic coffee maker!!) Your panel may work perfectly well under normal operating conditions; the real question is what will it do with an overload?
So what causes an overload? Plugging in the space heater and the hair dryer at the same time. Using the microwave when the clothes dryer is running. Even plugging in an elaborate Christmas light display can overload your electrical system. And with todays electrical demands soaring, the chances of overloading an older system soar just as high.
If you have a Federal Pacific panel in your home it needs to be replaced. Period.