HOW ELECTRICAL FIRES START AND HOW TO PREVENT THEM

Fire is often evaluated as a natural disaster in specifications and descriptions. Consequently, emphasis is usually placed on how to extinguish it and how to evacuate the scene quickly, rather than how to prevent it in the first place.

The ELYAK association (Association for Protection from Electrical Fires and Damages) started a crucial debate with the slogan “Fire is Not a Natural Disaster.” It is worth stating clearly that we stand on the side of the argument that fire is not a natural disaster.

When one thinks of a natural disaster, what comes to mind is a catastrophe that is impossible for human forces to prevent, though its damages can be mitigated to some extent—a disaster under the control of a supernatural power. So, is an electrical fire caused by a supernatural power?

At this point, it is useful to look at today’s known causes of fires one by one:

• Smoking: Although it has decreased by 50% in the last 10 years, smoking remains the biggest cause of fires. No supernatural power suggests smoking, or tells people to sleep without extinguishing a cigarette, or to throw it into a forest.
• Electrical Contact: Electrical fires, which have increased by nearly 100% in the last decade, are also not caused by supernatural forces. In this area, which we will examine in detail, the biggest causes are negligence, improper engineering and workmanship, and low-quality materials.

As you can clearly see in the table below, which examines other causes with their rates and figures between 2012-2017, none of the fire causes appear to be in the status of a natural disaster.

Smoking	12399	48.7%	13010	46.9%	9168	40.1%	10532	39.0%	11,341	39.7%	3,982	33.3%
Electrical contact	5012	19.7%	5133	18.5%	5360	23.5%	6564	24.3%	6155	21.5%	3,302	27.6%
Arson	865	3.4%	1454	5.2%	1340	5.9%	2058	7.6%	2729	9.5%	951	8.0%
Children playing with fire	1389	5.5%	2097	7.6%	749	3.3%	1159	4.3%	1374	4.8%	347	2.9%
Other	835	3.3%	707	2.6%	863	3.8%	823	3.1%	1276	4.5%	502	4.2%
Iron, stove (incl. gas) electrical appliances	1242	4.9%	1190	4.3%	1189	5.2%	1245	4.6%	1272	4.4%	580	4.9%
Spark splashing	932	3.7%	967	3.5%	903	4.0%	1021	3.8%	1122	3.9%	569	4.8%
Chimney	1144	4.5%	2097	4.7%	749	5.0%	1185	4.4%	1093	3.8%	670	5.6%
Undetermined	395	1.6%	762	2.7%	830	3.6%	956	3.5%	1060	3.7%	456	3.8%
Overheating (via high heat)	714	2.8%	677	2.4%	961	4.2%	1107	4.1%	842	2.9%	459	3.8%
Flaming (flammable liquid, cooking flare-ups, etc.)

 

How does an electrical fire start?

Electrical fires, our main topic, generally start for two reasons:

• Overload: All equipment in electrical systems, especially cables, is designed according to a specific current carrying capacity. A cable or connection element exposed to current above its capacity heats up over time and can catch fire. 45% of electrical fires start for this reason, and the solution is quite simple: follow an engineering project and use materials that comply with the standards set in the regulations, and do not add any subsequent electrical systems to the structure.
• Overvoltage: Due to the sinusoidal nature of the AC current commonly used today, overvoltages (known colloquially as electrical fluctuations) occur continuously in systems. These can be prevented by surge suppressors, which are required by the regulation on preparing electrical internal installation projects. Overvoltages account for 55% of electrical fires.

Lightning, which is classified as a natural disaster, can also lead to dangerous situations like electrical fires. Lightning is a massive flow of electrons between clouds and the ground, generating millions of volts of overvoltage and hundreds of thousands of amperes of overcurrent. However, it is impossible for these values to manifest in the exact same way directly within our household systems.

It is worth noting that Trimbox protects your systems against electrical fluctuations and prevents electrical fires, including those caused by lightning and transformer explosions.

Another point: since lightning is a natural disaster, some argue that the resulting fire should also be considered a natural disaster. By simple logic, if lightning caused fires directly rather than through electrical systems, there would be no forests left in the world. However, it is true that it burns devices and starts fires through the electrical system—unless you have Trimbox protection!

What to do in case of an electrical fire:

• People encountering smoke, a burning smell, or flames should remain calm and warn those around them without panicking.
• In an electrical fire, if possible, first turn off the main switch of the system to prevent the fire from growing.
• If available, immediately press the fire button to activate the alarm system.
• Leave the scene quickly and, if possible, close doors and windows.
• Call 110 (Fire Department) to inform the fire safety center.
• If the fire has spread and escape routes are closed, take shelter in a protected place, close the door without locking it, and call the fire department to inform them of your situation.
• After leaving the building, never return until the fire is under control.
• Immediately after the fire is under control, call an expert electrician to check the system.

What is an electrical contact, and how does it start a fire?

The “electrical contact” we frequently hear about in all electrical fires refers to a situation of overheating or short circuit in the system, primarily due to overload, overvoltage, or low-quality materials. In a short circuit, the excess energy turns into heat, and the resulting spark causes a fire.

Simple precautions sometimes save lives. The best investment we can make for our family, our business, and our environment is protective measures. With Trimbox and GNDSeries, you can be protected from electricity-related damages and resulting electrical contact fires.

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