Warning: More than 40,000 home fires per year are due to faulty wiring, causing more than 350 deaths, thousands of injuries and more than $2 billion in property damage, according to the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission.
This is why it is so important for electrical contractors to maintain a high level of electrical safety. Several steps can be taken to safeguard your home or office from electrical hazards and fires.
Ground Fault Circuit Interrupt, or GFCI, receptacles are used to protect individuals from the possibility of electrical shock or death where water sources are present. A GFCI monitors the amount of current flowing from hot to neutral.
If there is any imbalance, it cuts power to the receptacle as quickly as one-thirtieth of a second. The National Electrical Code requires GFCI protection for underwater swimming pool lights, construction sites, bathrooms, outdoor areas, garages, hot tubs, spas, bathrooms, kitchen counters, crawl spaces, unfinished basements, wet bar sinks and laundry sinks.
Arc Fault Circuit Interrupt, or AFCI, breakers are used to protect against the possibility of fire due to arcing from a damaged wire or loose connection. The AFCI can distinguish between a working arc that may occur in the brushes of a vacuum cleaner or in a lamp cord that has a broken conductor from overuse.
Arc faults in a home are one of the leading causes for household fires. While these devices were previously only required to protect bedrooms, the National Electrical Code now requires AFCI protection for dining rooms, living rooms and other habitable areas.
Smoke, carbon monoxide and carbon dioxide detectors are an integral and important part of home safety. There are several types of smoke detectors, including optical, ionization and air sampling.
The devices should be hooked directly to the electrical wiring via a 15 amp dedicated circuit. The detectors should be interconnected so that no matter which one detects smoke, it sends a signal to each to sound their alarm.
The devices should all have a battery backup in the case of an electrical outage. Smoke detectors should be located in every sleeping quarter, hallway leading to a sleeping quarter and at the tops of staircases.
As a home or business owner, the most important step you can take in protecting yourself and your property from electrical hazards or fires is to hire a professional. Do not attempt to do the work yourself.
Hire only licensed, bonded and insured electrical contractors for any electrical project or problem. I recommend getting at least three quotes from reputable contractors and be sure to check the status of their license at the Contractors State License Board Web site, www.cslb.ca.gov.
For more information, call Aaron Kessel at (858) 531-3348 or visit www.allcurrentelectric.com.
This is why it is so important for electrical contractors to maintain a high level of electrical safety. Several steps can be taken to safeguard your home or office from electrical hazards and fires.
Ground Fault Circuit Interrupt, or GFCI, receptacles are used to protect individuals from the possibility of electrical shock or death where water sources are present. A GFCI monitors the amount of current flowing from hot to neutral.
If there is any imbalance, it cuts power to the receptacle as quickly as one-thirtieth of a second. The National Electrical Code requires GFCI protection for underwater swimming pool lights, construction sites, bathrooms, outdoor areas, garages, hot tubs, spas, bathrooms, kitchen counters, crawl spaces, unfinished basements, wet bar sinks and laundry sinks.
Arc Fault Circuit Interrupt, or AFCI, breakers are used to protect against the possibility of fire due to arcing from a damaged wire or loose connection. The AFCI can distinguish between a working arc that may occur in the brushes of a vacuum cleaner or in a lamp cord that has a broken conductor from overuse.
Arc faults in a home are one of the leading causes for household fires. While these devices were previously only required to protect bedrooms, the National Electrical Code now requires AFCI protection for dining rooms, living rooms and other habitable areas.
Smoke, carbon monoxide and carbon dioxide detectors are an integral and important part of home safety. There are several types of smoke detectors, including optical, ionization and air sampling.
The devices should be hooked directly to the electrical wiring via a 15 amp dedicated circuit. The detectors should be interconnected so that no matter which one detects smoke, it sends a signal to each to sound their alarm.
The devices should all have a battery backup in the case of an electrical outage. Smoke detectors should be located in every sleeping quarter, hallway leading to a sleeping quarter and at the tops of staircases.
As a home or business owner, the most important step you can take in protecting yourself and your property from electrical hazards or fires is to hire a professional. Do not attempt to do the work yourself.
Hire only licensed, bonded and insured electrical contractors for any electrical project or problem. I recommend getting at least three quotes from reputable contractors and be sure to check the status of their license at the Contractors State License Board Web site, www.cslb.ca.gov.
For more information, call Aaron Kessel at (858) 531-3348 or visit www.allcurrentelectric.com.