Dangerous harmonies: Is there a hidden villain in India’s devastating electrical fires?
Electrical causes are predominating in India’s recent fire incidents; while codes and guidelines are covering these increasingly, there are still major gaps such as taking into account harmonic currents put into the system by state-of-the-art electronics equipment
The recent surge in electrical fires in India, particularly in residential buildings and hospitals, has been traced back to the increasing use of air-conditioners and the resulting strain on electrical systems. According to The Hindu, over 80% of Delhi's fires are now attributed to electrical faults, with nearly three-quarters of Mumbai's incidents caused by short-circuiting, faulty wiring, overheating, or overloaded circuits.
These fires are often triggered by electrical fires, which can quickly spread due to the high current drawn by air-conditioners, leading to wiring burning up and the protection devices failing to trip in time. The issue is exacerbated by the lack of certified fire forensic investigators and the failure to conduct root cause analyses and implement systemic remedies.
With the demand for air-conditioners projected to double in the next decade, the risk of electrical fires is expected to continue rising.
Brief written by urgent.news from The Hindu's own syndicated text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
