The Arc Fault Detection Device… again.

From what has been recorded by crews attending real fires involving electrical items, many instances of ignition arise from resistive heating (i.e. poor connections with high current devices - showers for instance) or direct contact of flammable material with a heat source (tumble driers with 1-2kw+ heaters that for whatever reason set alight fluff for instance). I provide below some real extracts from the additional information field on the IRS (Incident Recording System) records for fires in Scotland listed as cause being electrical supply or appliances. These give a flavour of what crews find. I have not selected them to show up resistive or conductive ignition alone, as the first entry shows. I remain sceptical about the benefits of AFDDs given that typical fires in electrical wiring or appliances in domestic properties are unlikely to be prevented by these devices. The dozen extracts only give a flavour of what in practice are hundreds of such incidents each year in Scotland alone. As you will see, some of those incidents caused severe fires - devastating for the occupants.

Edit: @davezawadi (David Stone)‍, I have posted a variant based on this post with more suitable intro comments to the BSi DPC for 421.1.7


"sparking in main fuse panel in tenement stair, remained at location until scottish power arrived.  Indicated a loose joint that was moving and sparking in cabinet. No fire service action required or equipment used."


"2 storey semi-detached house. Fire damage - 5per cent to ground floor wet room, 10per cent to upstairs bedroom, 25per cent to roof. 75per cent smoke damage throughout. Faulty extractor fan"


"insulation foam within tumble drier burnt due to overheating, fire contained to within the tumblr drier"

"Fire in Electricity Meter and wiring. Large cupboard within hallway. Owners attempted to extinguish with Dry Powder Extinguisher."


"damage confined to scorching behind electrical socket.  extinguished on arrival."


"Tumble dryer destroyed. Extinguished on arrival. Motor burnt out"

"we where mobilised to a smell of burning, on inspection and liaising with the occupant we found that there was an electrical fault with the washing machine. We removed it to the outside for safety precautions. No equipment was used at this incident."


"mid terraced 2 storey dwelling, damage 90 percent by fire. electrical fault in tumble drier"


"Small fire in electrical transformer within washing machine"


"Kitchen smoke damaged. Electrical fault with fridge"


"2 storey terraced building approx 10m x 8m. Electric shower destroyed by fire, 25 per cent fire damage to bath, 80 per cent smoke damage and 20 per cent heat damage to bathroom."


"Fuse box wires in airing cupboard and clothes damaged by fire."

From what has been recorded by crews attending real fires involving electrical items, many instances of ignition arise from resistive heating (i.e. poor connections with high current devices - showers for instance) or direct contact of flammable material with a heat source (tumble driers with 1-2kw+ heaters that for whatever reason set alight fluff for instance). I provide below some real extracts from the additional information field on the IRS (Incident Recording System) records for fires in Scotland listed as cause being electrical supply or appliances. These give a flavour of what crews find. I have not selected them to show up resistive or conductive ignition alone, as the first entry shows. I remain sceptical about the benefits of AFDDs given that typical fires in electrical wiring or appliances in domestic properties are unlikely to be prevented by these devices. The dozen extracts only give a flavour of what in practice are hundreds of such incidents each year in Scotland alone. As you will see, some of those incidents caused severe fires - devastating for the occupants.

Edit: @davezawadi (David Stone)‍, I have posted a variant based on this post with more suitable intro comments to the BSi DPC for 421.1.7


"sparking in main fuse panel in tenement stair, remained at location until scottish power arrived.  Indicated a loose joint that was moving and sparking in cabinet. No fire service action required or equipment used."


"2 storey semi-detached house. Fire damage - 5per cent to ground floor wet room, 10per cent to upstairs bedroom, 25per cent to roof. 75per cent smoke damage throughout. Faulty extractor fan"


"insulation foam within tumble drier burnt due to overheating, fire contained to within the tumblr drier"

"Fire in Electricity Meter and wiring. Large cupboard within hallway. Owners attempted to extinguish with Dry Powder Extinguisher."


"damage confined to scorching behind electrical socket.  extinguished on arrival."


"Tumble dryer destroyed. Extinguished on arrival. Motor burnt out"

"we where mobilised to a smell of burning, on inspection and liaising with the occupant we found that there was an electrical fault with the washing machine. We removed it to the outside for safety precautions. No equipment was used at this incident."


"mid terraced 2 storey dwelling, damage 90 percent by fire. electrical fault in tumble drier"


"Small fire in electrical transformer within washing machine"


"Kitchen smoke damaged. Electrical fault with fridge"


"2 storey terraced building approx 10m x 8m. Electric shower destroyed by fire, 25 per cent fire damage to bath, 80 per cent smoke damage and 20 per cent heat damage to bathroom."


"Fuse box wires in airing cupboard and clothes damaged by fire."