Arc faults: the hidden fire risk revealed
No matter what kind of buildings you manage or provide services for, the risk of fire for your facilities or your customers is a potential threat you can’t ignore. The International Association of Fire and Rescue Services (CTIF) reports that in 2015 there were over 760,000 structural fires. However, this statistic includes only 21 reporting countries, so we can guess the actual global number might be in the millions. In the U.S. alone, the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) reports that in recent years there’s been an annual average of over 3,300 fires in office buildings and 37,000 in industrial or manufacturing buildings. Of these, over 5,200 are attributed to ‘fixed wiring and related equipment’ of electrical systems. During this same time, there have been over 380,000 fires annually in residential structures, with over 14,000 attributed to wiring and related equipment. If such an event happens in your home or facility, you’ll have safety procedures, equipment, and a lo...
