• • • SAFETY IN ENGINEERING • • •
Critical fire safety measures every Electrical
Engineer should know By Ellie Gabel
Just By Ellie Gabel
ire risks are more common in electrical work than they may initially seem. Electrical issues account for 18 per cent of fires causing property damage and 15 per cent of those causing deaths. In light of this threat, here are seven critical fire safety measures every electrical engineer should know.
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1. Proper Wiring and Grounding First, engineers must know how their wiring practices affect fire hazards, as wiring accounts for half of all electrical fires in homes. All circuits need proper grounding to prevent arcs, and wiring has to distribute power evenly to avoid overloading any one part of the circuit.
The state of the cables involved should also come under consideration. Frayed wires or worn insulation could cause arc flashes, igniting nearby flammable materials, so engineers must look for such damage before installing or repairing cables.
2. Fault Protection
Electrical faults are another common cause of fires in this industry. Consequently, engineers must look for, fix and avoid faulty circuitry to minimise the risks of ignition.
Loose connections and damaged components are prominent errors here. Many faults can be easy to miss at first, but engineers can find them by testing circuits and devices to ensure they work correctly before finishing a job. Circuit interrupters can account for these risks should they arise outside of normal inspections, making them a critical part of any system.
3. Sufficient Thermal Management
Excessive temperatures are another easy-to-miss electrical fire hazard. Overheating can melt cable insulation or heighten ignition risks when a spark or arc occurs.
What sufficient thermal management looks like depends on the system in question. High-power devices need liquid or air cooling methods to keep temperatures manageable. Smaller items or circuits may not need additional coolers, but engineers can consider cabling’s impact on heat. Using junction boxes with appropriate heat dissipation ratings will help.
16 ELECTRICAL ENGINEERING • OCTOBER 2024
electricalengineeringmagazine.co.uk
Safety should be at the forefront of any electrical engineer’s mind. It’s also important to consider all risks, not just those that are most prevalent. While shock hazards may take much of the spotlight in this industry, fire safety also deserves attention
4. Safe Assessments and Maintenance
Fire safety is not only prevalent when designing or installing electrical systems. Engineers must also consider these hazards when performing regular inspections or maintaining equipment. Always de-energise machinery before inspecting it when possible. Non-contact voltage testers can improve testing safety when this isn’t an option, but they can produce false negatives in some cases, so they’re imperfect. Infrared temperature sensors can also help find risks from a safe distance, but they’re only a baseline measure. Protective equipment and lockout/tagout procedures are still necessary.
5. Changing Fire Safety Standards
Engineers should also be aware that fire codes change often. While standards from organisations like the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) do not become law in most cases, they inspire legislation and provide details on how to comply with whatever is legal. NFPA guidance typically updates every three
years. Regional fire codes may see similar review schedules. Contractors hoping to remain compliant should keep up with these changes to ensure they always understand current best practices.
6. Appropriate Fire Suppression Systems
While prevention is the focus of fire safety, professionals also need to know how to respond to an emergency. Keeping suitable fire suppression systems nearby is key. Water may be appropriate for many fires, but it is highly dangerous for electrical ones, as it will exacerbate shock hazards. Chemical fire extinguishers are an essential alternative, so electrical workers should always have one present.
7. Employee Training
All employees must undergo fire safety training. OSHA specifies that the degree of education required must match the worker’s risk for a given hazard. The more fire risks an engineer might face in their work, the more in-depth their fire safety training should be. Retraining and refresher courses should complement initial onboarding. Training resources must be updated any time applicable regulations change.
Electrical Safety Must Include
Fire Prevention Measures Fire safety is a central part of electrical safety, even if it doesn’t seem that way at first. Consequently, these seven fire prevention and response measures are essential in any electrical engineer’s work. Integrating them into training and workflows is key to ensuring ongoing safety.
Credit Unsplash
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