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AFDDs - when do they work?

I'm struggling to see the benefots of fitting AFDD's.

I've searched the web, but cannot find any compelling evidence that they actually help in safety.

 The Proffesional Journals all say they are a good thing, but with little content to show the data used to show they make a difference.

As we know, many fires are not caused by arcs, the build up of fluff in a tumble dryer is a typical example.

When I did my Social Housing work, I found many burnt out shower switches, along with washing machine sockets and occasional cooker switches that were totally burnt around the terminals, yet, in many cases would still work until the switch finally fell apart. Clearly some of these switches had been arcing, then had fused the cable to the terminal, others showed black terminals with only a small contact area, thus heating the terminals and causing the 'fishy' smell, which was quite typical.

Is there any evidence that AFDD's would stop these failures?

What about internal appliance faults?

Wasnt Grenfell started in a fridge? If so, would AFDD detect that fault?

And, what are appliance manufacturers doing to make their goods safer? From what I see, there are still thin tin plate terminals on cookers,and poor, loose spade terminals inside firdges and other appliances.They are made to be as cheap as possible, and it shows when you tighten up a terminal, and it bends the back plate as it is so thin.   

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  • OK Graham, you ask for "Laboratory tests" well I am quite happy to provide complete data on my tests. Will that satisfy you that this discussion is relevant and necessary? In the meantime the USA code has mandated AFDDs in all installations, which I suggest is now about 25% of the total. Your job is to collect the fire statistics showing that this has made a statistically significant change. Your effort and mine will be similar, and will cost both of us a significant sum of money. I am ready.

  • Your effort and mine will be similar, and will cost both of us a significant sum of money.

    Perhaps that's why the conclusive data you're seeking isn't there yet.

    It's really interesting how this industry skips between different positions on the topic of improving safety, from "Any life saved is worth it" at one end of the scale to "prove to me beyond a shadow of a doubt that it's worth it."

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  • Your effort and mine will be similar, and will cost both of us a significant sum of money.

    Perhaps that's why the conclusive data you're seeking isn't there yet.

    It's really interesting how this industry skips between different positions on the topic of improving safety, from "Any life saved is worth it" at one end of the scale to "prove to me beyond a shadow of a doubt that it's worth it."

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