FIRE SAFETY FEATURE
CHAMPIONING THE NEXT GENERATION OF AFDDS
Paul Fisher, managing director of Wylex, discusses how the latest wiring regulations build the case for widespread adoption of AFDDs
protect lives and property. Awareness of the latest changes to wiring regulations is also good – 88 per cent of electrical professionals know that AFDDs are included in the 18th Edition. However, this understanding is not
translating to the widespread adoption of AFDDs. A staggering 90 per cent of professionals have yet to fit them. This is for a number of reasons - 31 per cent say they take up too much space and are not practical to install; 33 per cent say they are too costly, and 49 per cent say the demand is not there from householders. It is perhaps not surprising that
G
overnment statistics show that electricity causes more than 13,000
fires a year in the UK – which equates to 18 per cent of all UK primary fires. Of the 74,000 primary fires in England, 7,500 (ten per cent) were attributed to electrical distribution and 5,000 (seven per cent) to other electrical appliances. Electrical fires can be caused by several
conditions; insulation faults, damaged or crushed cables, poorly made connections, vermin attack and frayed conductors, or deterioration of insulation materials that age over time can all lead to arc faults in electrical circuits, and these arc faults cannot be detected by miniature circuit breakers (MCB) or residual-current devices (RCD). The good news is that an arc fault
detection device (AFDD) can monitor electrical circuits for unusual conditions that are indicative of a series or parallel arc and will automatically trip the circuit when it detects dangerous electric arcs. AFDDs are miniature, modular devices that are easily installed in electrical panels.
LATEST WIRING REGULATIONS As AFDDs have evolved, so too has the legislation. When the 18th Edition IET Wiring Regulations (BS 7671:2018) came into force on 1 January 2019, they recommended using AFDDs to mitigate the risk of fire in AC final circuits.
The key areas that relate to these
recommendations are Chapter 13, which deals with the fundamental principles and the protection and safety of people, property and livestock, and Chapter 42 which deals with protecting against thermal effects. Chapter 13, regulation 131.3.1 requires electrical installations be fitted so that the chance of ignition of any flammable materials due to the high temperature or electric arc is kept to a minimum. Chapter 42 (section 421) recommends the use of AFDDs to provide additional protection against fires caused by arc faults. With this recommendation being
placed within BS7671, itself a safety standard, the regulators are clearly stating that AFDDs provide significant improvements in protection against the risk of electrical fires. Ignoring the regulatory recommendations could result in responsible individuals being held to account if it is discovered that a fire could have been avoided and they fail to provide justification for not installing an AFDD.
ROOM FOR IMPROVEMENT Wylex’s research shows that electrical professionals are very familiar with AFDDs and recognise the benefit – 92 per cent have heard of AFDDs and 71 per cent agree that AFDDs could prevent fire,
Wylex has launched a new, smaller AFDD that disconnects the power supply when it detects a dangerous arc fault in a circuit
householders don’t ask for AFDDs as it is a niche and technical area, but it is the job of an electrician to promote best practice and follow industry recommendations. The wiring regulations clearly recognise the value of AFDDs and it is appropriate for individuals within the industry to follow suit.
RESOLVING CONCERNS The space and cost issues that were named as barriers to use have been removed by the introduction of a new generation of AFDDs. New AFDDs are smaller and more affordable than in the past and they often incorporate three products - the MCB, RCD and AFDD - in a single module. This provides overload, short circuit, earth leakage and arc fault detection in one device. Being recommended in the wiring
regulations shows the importance of AFDDs. It is the responsibility of electricians, installers, landlords and facilities managers to carry out a full risk assessment and if they decide against installing AFDDs, to be able to justify why. Interestingly, in the USA and some EU countries AFDDs are now compulsory in certain locations and applications. In the USA in particular, where the devices have been in use for several years, a reduction in the numbers of electrical fires is being reported.
Wylex
wylexreasons.co.uk ELECTRICAL ENGINEERING | DECEMBER / JANUARY 2020 19
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