Is Your Home Safe?
According to the American Red Cross, “fires kill more Americans each year than all-natural disasters combined, affecting people from all backgrounds and geographical locations.” Unlike natural disasters, electrical fires ARE preventable. Smoke alarms, fire drills, and fire extinguishers help save lives AFTER the fire occurs. But what can stop an electrical fire from happening?
What causes electrical fires?
In the last thirty years, our homes have been dramatically transformed by electricity. Common causes of electrical fires are overburdened or stressed wires and cords, unknowingly damaged wires, worn or deteriorated electrical insulation, or wires or cords in contact with vibrating metal. When wires are
overburdened, stressed, worn, or damaged, the electrical current inside the wire, arcs, and sparks cause intense heat. The temperatures of the arcs can exceed 10,000 degrees Fahrenheit easily igniting surrounding materials such as wood framing or insulation, causing a fire in areas of the home hidden from view or early detection.
What is an AFCI?
An Arc Fault Circuit Interrupter (AFCI) is a newly designed high-tech circuit breaker that detects an arc or sparks from a wire inside the wall and shuts off the power, preventing a fire. AFCIs replace standard breakers in your electrical panel.
How can an AFCI protect my home?
Unlike a standard circuit breaker that detects only overloads and short circuits, AFCI’s provide a higher level of protection by detecting hazardous arcing and shuts off electricity before a fire can start. The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) estimates that AFCI’s could prevent more than 50 percent of the electrical fires occurring each year. Safety requirements in the National Electric Code (NEC) now include installation of AFCI’s in bedroom, dining, living, and family room circuits in newly constructed homes. However, older homes with aging wiring systems can also benefit from the added protection of AFCI’s. Depending on the size of a given home, the additional cost for installing AFCI protection is $140-$350 according to the Electrical Safety Foundation International (ESFi). For more information and a video demonstration on AFCI’s go to http://www.afcisafety.org. Get your home protected today!
The information contained in this article has been obtained from sources Wisconsin Reinsurance Corporation and its subsidiaries (WRC) believe to be reasonably competent, reliable, and tend to represent the best opinion on the subject. WRC does not make any warranty, guarantee, or representation as to whether this information is absolutely correct, complete, or sufficient. It is the responsibility of the user to comply with local, state, or federal rules, regulations, or other requirements. The content is not warranted to encompass all situations which may arise. WRC assumes no responsibility for damages resulting from the use of this information.
