AFDD Q and A

Would have been good to have circuits tested at a more representative 10 to 13A for loads imposed on standard socket circuits rather than 20 and 32 A. New purpose built student accommodation in Belfast is wired in a fashion that will never see such current on socket circuits. Care homes might have a tad more current on the kitchen circuits but definitely not on the individual rooms. HRRBs and HMOs the same. 

If AFDDs are only intended to protect fixed circuits serving only socket outlets, then any perusal of fire statistics will drastically reduce the number of fires that are quoted as having an electrical source. 

So to compile a cost benefit analysis, we would need to ascertain the number of fires that had an ignition source caused by arcing in circuits with socket outlets rated up to 32A. Fire statistics are not that granular but I would hazard a guess that there wouldn't be that many!

Would have been good to have circuits tested at a more representative 10 to 13A for loads imposed on standard socket circuits rather than 20 and 32 A. New purpose built student accommodation in Belfast is wired in a fashion that will never see such current on socket circuits. Care homes might have a tad more current on the kitchen circuits but definitely not on the individual rooms. HRRBs and HMOs the same. 

If AFDDs are only intended to protect fixed circuits serving only socket outlets, then any perusal of fire statistics will drastically reduce the number of fires that are quoted as having an electrical source. 

So to compile a cost benefit analysis, we would need to ascertain the number of fires that had an ignition source caused by arcing in circuits with socket outlets rated up to 32A. Fire statistics are not that granular but I would hazard a guess that there wouldn't be that many!