benoît dôme, jonathan manson european copper institute domestic electricity & fire 7 th eΦa...

Benoît Dôme, Jonathan Manson

European Copper Institute

Domestic electricity & fire

7th EΦA ROUNDTABLE

September 11th & 12th 2008

www.leonardo-energy.org

7th EΦA ROUNDTABLE – September 11th -12th 2008STATISTICS

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Content

Statistics – an EU even a global perspective

Getting the right answers – fires caused by installations, equipment, use …

What we do know – growing awareness and concern about electrical safety in the home – an 11 country study

Discussion



Statistics – an EU even a global perspective

Greater appliance availability and home leisure place increasing strains on older installations

Consequently electrically caused domestic fires continue to grow – accounting for 25% of all home incidents **

ECI 2002 conclusions made worse by strong economic conditions / affluence

Current economic weakness places electrical maintenance down the priority list

**Source: Paris Fire Brigade - GRESEL



New Zealand - 2005 study issue of relatively low numbers

• Electrical Wiring Systems and Fire Risk in Residential Dwellings – overheating is the main issue.

Source: Energy Safety Service NZ Ministry of Economic Development



Source: Energy Safety Service NZ Ministry of Economic Development

New Zealand – trends very close to the 2002 FEEDS/ ECI analyses

• Electrical Wiring Systems and Fire Risk in Residential Dwellings – and equipment & the installation are increasingly to blame.



France Official Statistics – domestic fires are a cause for concern – 25% electrically caused **



Council of Canadian Fire Marshals and Fire Commissioners- les pertes causées par l'incendie au Canada - 2002



Statistics – getting the right answers [1] What contributes to electrically caused fires?- Installation:

- Wiring / circuits- Connections- Design [earthing systems; under-rated]- Un[der]qualified installer “favours”

- Equipment- Affluence, comfort & leisure- High demand equipment [eg cookers, heaters, air-

conditioning/ climate control, power showers] powered by inappropriate installations

- Too few socket outlets requiring the use of multiple adapters/ extension leads



Statistics – getting the right answers [2]

What contributes to electrically caused fires?- Users:

- Ignorance- Unwillingness to invest in maintenance- System & equipment abuse- Lack of enforced regulation

What combats this?– Lobbying and regulation – national and EU levels– Consumer Associations – counselling Periodic Inspection

and the need for increased domestic electrical safety– Same message promotion by all players.



Statistics – what we know – an 11 country study*

More homes today invest in electrical renovation and spend more per job than 5 years ago.

Still only 3% of homes undergo such work Renovation set to increase by 3-10% pa …. …… which means all homes in EU will be

electrically safe by some time in the 22nd century

*Source: ECI/ AIE member installers June 2008



• Residential renovation work profiles – ad hoc improvements – less pre-emptive maintenance

Type of work undertaken YES NO SOMETIMES

Total rewiring as part of restructuring 5 1 2

Total rewiring: 1 3 4

Connection to earthing electrode: 4 1 3

Installation of residual current device: 5 1 2

Replacement of sockets and/or switches: 6 0 2

Replacement of main switches: 3 1 4

Installation of new sockets: 5 0 3

Installation of new switches: 5 1 2

Installation of additional protection devices: 2 3 3

Statistics – what we know – an 11 country study*

*Source: ECI/ AIE member installers June 2008



Statistics – regulations – steps towards statutory Periodic Inspection after pcc

Belgium - certificate of safety required for all homes built after 1980

France - 1st stage legislation in place [sale of home PI for installations > 15 years old]

Germany – meister system + e-Check Italy - Electrical safety certificate required for all homes -

new decree 37/8 closes loop holes that were in the Legge 46/90

Poland - Spearheaded by the "Society of Electricians“ Spain – Regulation lobbying at National and at

Autonomous Community levels Switzerland - PI required every 20 years - statutorily

controlled by the electrical supplying utilities UK - Inspection/ certificate required when [major] works

are carried out in the home



Discussion

Getting to grips with the causes of domestic electrical fires.

Multiple sources of market intelligence [electrical contractors, AGE, EFA members, Consumer Associations …]

Reasonable expectations for future regulations Understanding the different requirements for private

dwellings v public buildings / areas/ common parts …….

Benoît Dôme, Jonathan Manson

European Copper Institute

Domestic electricity & fire

7th EΦA ROUNDTABLE

September 11th & 12th 2008

benoît dôme, jonathan manson european copper institute domestic electricity & fire 7 th eΦa...

Documents

th ea roundtable

statistics statistics

statistics source

content statistics

statistics new zealand

statistics council of

country study discussion

brigade gresel slide