Expert Panellists share insights on pertinent causes of electric fires, preventive strategies and more in the Short Circuit se Suraksha curtain raiser.
Electrical fires caused by short-circuits pose a serious hazard to life and property. Today, such disastrous mishaps can be prevented by the right checks and balances and through the deployment of smart technology. Short Circuit se Suraksha is an awareness-building initiative by RR Kabel and the News18 network to educate its viewers on this most often neglected cause of residential and commercial fires.
In the curtain raiser episode of this series, Mridu Bhandari talks to Shreegopal Kabra, Managing Director, RR Kabel, Mr. Atul Garg, Director, Delhi Fire Service; and Mr. S.S. Warick, Maharashtra Fire Services and Chief Officer, MIDC Fire Services, to discuss the latest advancements in fire detection and preventing strategies that could avoid electrical fires.
Mr. Garg cited several reasons, such as faulty wiring, circuit overload, and malfunctioning equipment, that cause more than 70% of fires across India. Mr. Kabra emphasised smoke being a leading cause of fire; he said, "The biggest misconception is that people succumb to the actual fire in short circuit accidents, infact it is the thick, black, toxic smoke that is the biggest cause of fatalities in a fire, this smoke is often emitted from the burning of PVC wires that are toxic and highly dangerous". He spoke about the availability of products such as low-smoke, zero-halogen cables, which can minimize destruction caused by fires. He strongly feels that cables made out of PVC should be discontinued as it’s toxic and corrosive, with zero- visibility, causing maximum damage during a fire.
Both Mr. Garg and Mr. Warick unanimously agreed on the need for proper planning for fire hazards and timely training imparted to occupants to avoid unforeseen circumstances. Furthermore, Mr. Kabra stressed a collaborative approach by the ministry, fire department, CPWD, and media to tackle this menace at the fundamental level. Mr. Warrick explained how elaborately the National Building Code lays down the rules for fire safety and protection, right from fire extinguishers, hydrants, sprinkler systems, smoke detection systems, and escape mechanisms. He strongly recommends the need for a licenced electrical engineer in every state to oversee and certify the adoption of these best practices. Mr. Warrick quoted, "Planning at the initial stage of the building, then the actual execution, followed by testing, are very important parameters in the life cycle of a building."
Mr. Kabra explained the current apathy towards cables, which, on account of being invisible, are not sufficiently guarded against. Additionally, he recommends that RERA include electrical plumbing and fire fighting in their guarantee to safeguard properties from damage from fires. Commenting on vigilante policies for electrical compliance, Mr. Garg said, "We have recently amended the building bye laws of Delhi so that all electric meters should be installed outside buildings because, as you know, meters have a lot of material stacked around the middle and this can cause fire".
While all panellists agree that law enactments aren’t sufficient to tackle fire hazards, the conversation concluded with the guests agreeing on the need for safety and electrical audits from time to time, raising awareness amongst citizens, and a united effort by the government, media, and industry stakeholders to combat threats posed by electrical fires.
Moneycontrol journalists were not involved in the creation of the article.
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