Reduction of Fire Incidents due to Electrical Faults in Buildings

Abstract

The prevalence of fire incidents in buildings resulting from electrical faults due to haphazard planning and installations have reached an alarming state in the country. Thus, this paper highlights the advantages to be derived from a properly designed and maintained electrical engineering services in buildings. The basic theory, methodology and technical considerations involved in the design and maintenance of electrical services are discussed in this paper. These were in consonance with both National and International regulations governing electrical services design and installations, such as International Electro-Technical Commission (IEC), Institute of Electrical Engineers (IEE) Regulation, Illumination Engineering Society (IES) Codes and Electrical Act of Federal Republic of Nigeria. An office apartment was used as a case study. In order to ensure safety of equipment and consumers, relevant tests to be carried out in the installation were also prescribed in this paper. Lack of proper design, poor maintenance, sub-standard materials such as cables, luminaries, electrical panels, switches and sockets, in-appropriately sized protective devices, unqualified personnel, up-patriotic attitude and wrong ultilization of electric power were identified as major factors responsible for electric faults in buildings. The paper therefore proffer recommendations to the rampant electrical faults resulting in fire incidents in both private and public buildings and the need to inculcate maintenance culture in their operations to minimise deterioration of electrical installations in buildings.