According to a report by Accidental Deaths and Suicides in India (ADSI), maintained by the National Crime Records Bureau, 35 people are killed every day due to fire-related accidents between 2016 and 2020.
Owning a house is certainly considered one of the most important choices of an individual, and with it comes several responsibilities. The most pivotal of them all is safety, as it’s one of the primary factors to consider while buying or making one. One of the first items on one’s checklist while zeroing in on a dream home should be electrical safety because, if disregarded, it might result in potentially fatal situations. However, when it comes to wiring and electrical safety, there is a lack of understanding and awareness. Therefore, it is important to make sure this factor is taken into account.
According to a report by Accidental Deaths and Suicides in India (ADSI), maintained by the National Crime Records Bureau, 35 people are killed every day due to fire-related accidents between 2016 and 2020.
Electrical incidents were the top 5 causes of these fire mishaps. Loose or improper wiring, substandard electrical fittings, and poor maintenance of wiring trigger most short-circuit fires. The situation becomes grave in old buildings, as the electrical infrastructure has not been upgraded to bear the new and increasing load. Today’s households utilize twice the number of electrical home appliances in comparison to earlier days and with the hybrid work culture, many are working from home, which requires them to plug in their devices for frequent charging, adding additional load to the system.
With rising urbanisation, issues of electrical safety need to be addressed. The entire network of wiring and cabling is of the utmost significance when it comes to residential buildings. With little awareness, most people expect that wiring done during the construction of the house will remain permanently. The wires gradually lose their efficiency, with their outer insulation developing cracks or torn owing to wear and tear. The use of bad-quality wires for heavy appliances people use in their homes can be disastrous due to the high amounts of current that they draw into them. Under these circumstances, inferior wires are more likely to develop hot spots that weaken the insulation, which can result in short circuits and fires.
Numerous studies have shown that smoke inhalation rather than burning injuries causes the majority of fatalities in house fires. This is caused due to the use of low-quality wires that are not fire-safe.
However, many known brands are manufacturing fire-safe wires like the Low Smoke Zero Halogen (LS0H) that can withstand fire incidents and prevent mishaps due to smoke inhalation. These wires are designed to reduce hazardous fumes and corrosive chemicals that can cause risk to life and damage electronic appliances. During a fire incident, the visibility factor is of prime importance as it helps to detect the source and extinguish the fire at the earliest. With low-quality wires, the visibility is only 5-10%, whereas modern wires permit up to 45% visibility. However, these wires come at a price higher than the rest and Indian consumers are often price sensitive. This makes understanding the value of good quality wires and their benefits to their homes imperative.
With the rising awareness of better fire safety in residential buildings, builders need to comply with the electrical safety guidelines laid down by the government. Consumers in Tier 2 and Tier 3 cities also need to be aware of the advantages of adopting fire-resistant cables when constructing a structure, in addition to consumers in urban areas.
With the advancement of technology and manufacturing of fire-safe wires, consumers now need to migrate toward technologically advanced wires to ensure the safety of their families and prevent fatal fire accidents.
Home buyers should consider security features in addition to other amenities when planning to buy a home. The facility should be outfitted with fundamental security features, such as emergency fire alarms, fire extinguishers, or automated sprinklers, and it should surely have security personnel on duty who are trained to assist in an emergency. It is preferable to make concessions regarding a flat’s carpet size than to choose a home without a refuge room, especially in older buildings.
If used properly, electricity can be our best friend, but if not, it can be quite dangerous. Humans find it challenging to comprehend how electricity flows. We, therefore, have a very difficult time estimating the extent of the harm it may inflict. It is crucial to be privy to these precautions and to educate others in order to establish a secure and safer environment.
(This article is authored by Shreegopal Kabra, Managing Director, RR Kabel)
