National Electrical Safety Month Fact Sheet

This May during National Electrical Safety Month, homeowners are encouraged to 1) inspect wiring systems in homes 40 years and older, 10 years and older with major renovations or new appliances added, or that have been newly purchased; 2) learn the potential hazards posed by aluminum wiring systems; and 3) consider installing arc fault circuit interrupter (AFCI) technology. As electrical systems age, they can deteriorate and become overloaded. It is important that consumers have their electrical systems inspected by a licensed electrical inspector or electrician to identify and correct hidden hazards before they become tragedies.

Electricity is uniquely unforgiving, even the smallest mistake can cause fire, injury or death. Between 1994 and 1998, according to statistics from the National Fire Protection Association, there was an average of 406,700 residential fires a year, and nearly 17 percent were related to electrical distribution or appliances and equipment. Another 42,700 or 10.5 percent were related to heating and air conditioning systems. These combined to cause an average of 860 deaths, 4,875 injuries and nearly $1.3 billion in property damage. Many of these incidents could have been prevented by having an electrical inspection of the house to find the hidden hazards lurking behind the walls and in the electrical panel and appliances of the home.

To minimize the risk of electrical hazards in your home, ESFI strongly recommends that any electrical inspection include:

• Checking the capacity of the electrical service to ensure it is able to meet the demands placed upon it
• Checking the quality of exposed wiring
• Inspecting the panel box and checking that all connections are safe
• Checking the wiring of receptacles, switches and light fixtures, and checking for proper lamp wattage
• Measuring for voltage drop
• Checking for proper polarity and grounding at receptacles
• Checking for required ground fault circuit interrupters (GFCIs) and testing each
• Identifying the type of wiring (aluminum or copper) and checking conductors and presence of overcurrent protection
• Checking the type, temperature rating and condition of the wire insulation
• Checking the age and type of various electrical system components
• Checking for placement of smoke alarms and test each
• Checking for appropriate surge protection.

In addition to having your home electrically inspected, homeowners can:

• Create a detailed circuit map—A detailed circuit map will note which outlets and fixtures are controlled by each circuit, and reflect the total amount of power being demanded by appliances and fixtures.
• Remove electrical cords from behind baseboards and under carpets—a major fire hazard.
• Unplug electrical items not in use.

Consumers... this May, Inspect and Protect—Safety equals Awareness