How to Prevent Electrical Fires from Occurring at Work

August 30, 2022

By admin

Electrical fires at workplaces aren’t a common sight, but whenever we see them reported in the news, the sheer scale of damage and in some cases, even casualties caused is clear for all to see. One of the most common causes of fires in the workplace is a poorly maintained or handled electrical infrastructure; one could imagine how a large, power-reliant workplace would require complex electrical layouts that keep the entire premise connected to the grid. Naturally, it’s important to keep these layouts well maintained by a licensed electrical worker to minimise the risk of electrical fires that cause physical and financial damage to organisations. In this article, we will explore common causes of electrical fires at the workplace and how you can prevent them.

What Causes Electrical Fires?

Workplaces require a wide array of cables and wiring, and in an effort to keep the infrastructure compact and its cost low, contractors might attempt to squeeze as many electrical cables as possible into a single tray or trunking. Moreover, the fact that electrical cables appear extremely sturdy only further adds to the impression that they are able to withstand harsh conditions. However, cable trays will fail if loaded beyond their limits, potentially causing short circuits, fires, and even arc flashes. To ensure a safe and proper cable layout, engage a licensed electrical engineer to plan your workplace’s electrical infrastructure.

Besides overloading, poor electrical cable insulation can also cause electrical fires at the workplace. There are typically two errors in poorly insulated electrical cables — insufficient cross-section and low-quality insulator layers. The former can lead to an excessive rise in temperature, which results in damaged insulation, causing power surges, fires, and even explosions. The latter causes cracks in the insulation which leads to electrical leakage, increasing the risk of short-circuiting and fires.

Another common cause of electrical fires is the short circuiting of electrical switchboards. This can be caused by various factors, such as faulty wire insulation, loose connections, and faulty electrical apparatus. Often, these factors can be difficult to spot, which is why regular maintenance by a licensed electrical worker is required to ensure all electrical wiring is intact.

How to Prevent Electrical Fires

As mentioned above, some electrical faults can be hard to spot, and without a trained eye, faulty electrical apparatus can easily be overlooked. This is why it’s important to get a licensed electrical engineer to conduct thermal scanning on the switchboard and electrical equipment to identify the hot spot on the electrical cables, breakers or components that need attention or replacing. The increase in heat will escalate until complete thermal failure of the electrical apparatus resulting in a fault and they also increase the risk of electrical fires and electrocution.

Comprehensive electrical safety inspections can be a hassle, but they are absolutely crucial in spotting discrepancies and potential dangers within your electrical infrastructure that could eventually lead to electrical fires. Consider engaging a licensed electrical worker to conduct these inspections regularly; the temporary disruption is necessary to keep your systems safe and efficient.

Finally, electrical fires are caused by various reasons and without a proper understanding of the electrical design principles to apply in the layout of the workplace, identifying issues can be like finding a needle in a haystack. This is where getting an electrical consultant in Singapore with the necessary expertise can come in handy, allowing you to quickly fix what’s faulty in your system before it becomes a bigger issue down the road. For more information about our electrical services, please visit our website.