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Washing machine fires and AFDDs.

Colin Jenkins
Hello Guys.  I read in a national newspaper recently a report of a washing machine that caught fire and caused expensive smoke damage to a flat.  I do not know, but would guess there was no smoke detector present in the flat.  The door-locking solenoid was reported to be the cause, an issue that has been previously identified in other incidents.  I would think the door-locking solenoid failed short-circuit and burnt out.  Do we think an AFDD would operate under these circumstances?  My understanding of them is that they would not detect an incident like this, but I'm open to correction.

Regards,

              Colin Jenkins.
  • 0
    I doubt that an AFDD would have prevented this type of incident.

    Most washing machine fires seem to result from ohmic heating as a result of poor design or poor assembly. An AFDD cant tell the difference between such heating and a designed in heating element.


    An AFFD is valuable in the case of a poorly made or intermittant connection that arcs and might start a fire.
  • 0
    I'm inclined to agree - arc fault detectors are very hit and miss, and the rate of fires in countries with them is not really much changed.
  • 0
    I nipped out last night to go and see my dad, there were a couple of fire damaged appliances stood outside a neighbours house that looked like a washing machine and tumble dryer.
  • 0
    I don't think they would pick up this kind of fault either.


    I understand there's a recall on some models from a couple of brands related to door interlock fires: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-50811686

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