NFEC Seminar 2013

OVERVIEW OF ELECTRICAL FIRES IN SINGAPORE

Overview of Electrical Fires in Singapore

Major Samuel Koh Chee Hian

B.Eng (EEE)(Hons), CFEI (NAFI)

Fire Investigation Team Leader | Fire Investigation Unit | Operations Department

SCOPE
OVERVIEW OF ELECTRICAL FIRES IN SINGAPORE

- Electrical Fire Statistics

-Entities involved in Electrical Fires

-Development of a airconditioning fan coil unit fire

Causes of Fires in Singapore in 2012

OVERVIEW OF ELECTRICAL FIRES IN SINGAPORE

12% are of electrical origin Continues to be one of the top fire causes in Singapore

Electrical Fires in Singapore from 2008 to 2012

550 500 450 400 350 300 250 200 150 100 50 0
518

OVERVIEW OF ELECTRICAL FIRES IN SINGAPORE

No. of Electrical Fires

434
385

451

436

20

2008

2009

2010 Year

2011

2012
No. of fires

Breakdown of Fire Causes in Industrial Premises 2012

OVERVIEW OF ELECTRICAL FIRES IN SINGAPORE

56% are of electrical origin Continues to be one of the top fire causes in Industrial Premises

10%

17%
1%

16%
56%

Dropped Light Overheating (of Food) Naked Light Electric Origin Others

FIRE STATISTICS
OVERVIEW OF ELECTRICAL FIRES IN SINGAPORE

Fire of Electrical Origin in Industrial Premises (2009 - 2012)

60 50
No. of Fires

18.4 %
40

50

49

40 30 20 10 0

25

2009

2010 Year

2011

2012

FIRE STATISTICS
Accidental Fire Causes in Commercial Premises (2012)
FIRE STATISTICS CASE STUDIES ON RECENT FIRES

45% of these fires are of electrical origin

Continues to be the top fire cause in commercial premises

14%

45%

12%

24% 5% Dropped Light Overheating (of Food) Naked Light Others Electrical Origin

FIRE STATISTICS
OVERVIEW OF ELECTRICAL FIRES IN SINGAPORE

Fire of Electrical Origin in Commercial Premises (2009 - 2012)

160 140
No. of Fires
148

120 100 80 60 40 20 0

114

110 86

2009

2010 Year

2011

2012

Breakdown of Electrical Fires 2008 2012

OVERVIEW OF ELECTRICAL FIRES IN SINGAPORE

S/N

Type of Electrical Fires

2008 171 76 69

Total No. of Fires 2009 131 94 57 2010 160 89 77 2011 120 98 86 2012 154 108 98

1 Lightings/wirings 2 Circuit breaker/switches 3 Vehicle

Breakdown of Electrical Fires 2008 2012

OVERVIEW OF ELECTRICAL FIRES IN SINGAPORE

S/N

Type of Electrical Fires 2008 171 76 69 31 12 14 10 10

Total No. of Fires 2009 131 94 57 31 4 12 6 9 2010 160 89 77 37 12 19 9 4 2011 120 98 86 25 12 9 5 5 2012 154 108 98 39 18 15 9 8

1 Lightings/wirings 2 Circuit breaker/switches 3 Vehicle 4 Fan coil unit 5 Water heater 6 Fan 7 Washing machine 8 Fridge 9 Television 10 Others

7
34

4
37

4
40

2
74

2
67

Breakdown of Electrical Fires 2008 2012

OVERVIEW OF ELECTRICAL FIRES IN SINGAPORE

Breakdown of Electrical Fires in Industrial Premises in 2012

OVERVIEW OF ELECTRICAL FIRES IN SINGAPORE

37% are from electrical wirings and lightings fixtures Fires involving lightings/wirings and circuit breakers/switches made up of over 50% of all electrical fires!

0%

4% 4%

6% 6%

37%

4%
8%

21%

10%

lightings/wirings vehicle circuit breaker/switches Fan coil unit fan heater washing machine television fridge

COMMON FIRE CAUSES

FIRE STATISTICS: AN ANALYSIS OF COMMON FIRE CAUSES

Offence to knowingly engage non LEWs under the Electricity Act Chap. (89A) Sect (82)(1)

Breakdown of Electrical Fires in Commercial Premises in 2012

OVERVIEW OF ELECTRICAL FIRES IN SINGAPORE

33% are from electrical wirings and lightings fixtures

1% 0% 2%
3% 2%

14%

33%

6%

Continues to be one of the top electrical items to be involved in fires

24%

15%

lightings/wirings vehicle circuit breaker/switches Fan coil unit fan heater washing machine television fridge

ELECTRICAL FIRE CAUSES

SHARING POINT ELECTRICAL FIRE CAUSES

ELECTRICAL ORIGIN Short Circuits

Bypass the normal loading Low/negligible resistance => High current Overloading causes intense local heating May ignite flammable materials present

COMMON FIRE CAUSES

SHARING POINT ELECTRICAL FIRE CAUSES

ELECTRICAL ORIGIN Insulation Failure

Deteriorate with age; degraded by heat/chemicals Exposed wires more prone to damage and may ignite nearby combustibles Excess current protection devices may not prove effective

COMMON FIRE CAUSES

SHARING POINT ELECTRICAL FIRE CAUSES

ELECTRICAL ORIGIN Overloading

Current exceeds full load rated value Temperatures in conductors will rise May ignite the conductors or nearby combustibles

COMMON FIRE CAUSES

SHARING POINT ELECTRICAL FIRE CAUSES

ELECTRICAL ORIGIN Local Resistances

Arising from corroded joints, poor/loose connections Heat generated as a result of high resistance May ignite combustibles which are in contact

COMMON FIRE CAUSES

SHARING POINT ELECTRICAL FIRE CAUSES

ELECTRICAL ORIGIN Improper Connections

May lead to short circuits or local resistance Heat generated as a result of high resistance May ignite combustibles which are in contact

SHARING POINT ELECTRICAL FIRE CAUSES

ELECTRICAL FIRES

SHARING POINT ELECTRICAL FIRE CAUSES

ELECTRICAL FIRES

SHARING POINT ELECTRICAL FIRE CAUSES

ELECTRICAL FIRES

SHARING POINT ELECTRICAL FIRE CAUSES

ELECTRICAL FIRES

SHARING POINT ELECTRICAL FIRE CAUSES

ELECTRICAL FIRES

SHARING POINT ELECTRICAL FIRE CAUSES

ELECTRICAL FIRES

ELECTRICAL FIRES
OVERVIEW OF ELECTRICAL FIRES IN SINGAPORE

Fire can originate from any electrical appliance or device regardless of brand.

How a Fan Coil Unit fire can occur?

SHARING POINT FCU FIRE

How a Fan Coil Unit fire can occur?

SHARING POINT FCU FIRE

How a Fan Coil Unit fire can occur?

SHARING POINT FCU FIRE

Origin and Cause of Fire

SHARING POINT FCU FIRE

Oxidation

Lines of demarcation

ELECTRICAL FIRES
OVERVIEW OF ELECTRICAL FIRES IN SINGAPORE

The dangers are real.

We should do all we can to prevent these fires.

NFEC Fire Seminar 2013

FIRE EDUCATION SEMINAR SERIES

Thank you.