One of the biggest threats to your home lurks right inside. Electrical problems cause more than 20,000 fires per year in the UK and more than 45,000 in the US each year. Fire isn't the only danger; 30,000 non-fatal shock accidents occur each year in the United States while 350,000 people per year are seriously injured by electric shock in the UK.

An easy way to protect your home and family is to take the following actions:

Make sure your electrical panel is up to date

Since your service panel is the heart of your home's electrical system, it is critical to update it to meet today's energy demands and safety requirements. In the US, homes built before the mid-1960s have 30 or 60 amp fuse panels, but those built in the last 50 years have resettable circuit breakers. In the US for example, a hundred amps is the minimum allowed, but 200 amps is standard in new homes. European homes have similar panels, although the voltage and amperage standards are different. If your panel doesn't fit, it should be replaced.

Your panel should also have a device installed to prevent electric shock, as conventional circuit breakers alone cannot protect you. Called a Ground Fault Circuit Interrupter (GFCI) in North America and a Residual Current Device (RCD) in Europe, these devices detect an imbalance in the flow of current in and out of a circuit and immediately shut off the circuit to prevent electric shock.

Finally, your panels must also protect against arc faults. These accidental low-voltage discharges cannot be detected by circuit breakers, so you must install a special device — called an Arc Fault Circuit Interrupter (AFCI) in North America and an Arc Fault Detection Device (AFDD) in Europe — which will monitor them and make circuit tripped when detected.

Find out how old your cable is

Old or damaged wiring is a major cause of house fires. You can often determine the age of your home's wiring by the materials used. In England, for example, wires covered with tin, cloth, or black rubber were used in homes before the 1960s. Similarly, aluminum wire was used only in US homes from about 1965 to 1973 and is 55 times more likely to reach a "fire hazard condition" than copper wire, according to the US Consumer Product Safety Commission. Have a licensed electrician check your home's wiring if you have any problems.

Replace damaged outlets and switches

Check all the light switches and outlets in your home. Cracked or broken plates pose a risk of electric shock, while hums or discoloration indicate a wiring problem that could pose a fire hazard. If you have young children, make sure every outlet is closed or plugged in.

Use equipment safely

Even if your electrical system is in good condition, your household appliances and devices may not be safe. Worn wires and damaged plugs increase the risk of fire and electric shock. Improper use — such as running electrical wires under a rug or installing a bulb with more wattage than the lamp is designed to handle — is also dangerous.

source: www.se.com 

Related links:

https://mitra-one.id/en 

https://www.se.com/id/en/ 

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