Know how to identify appliances at risk of fire – 07/06/2023 – Equilíbrio

Fire is the result of the combination of a spark, oxygen and a material to burn. In a domestic environment, this combination can occur due to overload, misuse and even the heating of materials that generate combustion, for example. Thus, fires become common in winter, when we demand more power due to the frequent use of devices to heat or dry.

A fire caused by a heater caused the death of playwright Zé Celso at the age of 86 this Thursday morning (6).

The suspect is that a heater started the fire when touching clothing fabrics. The situation would have happened about two years ago, but at the time, the flames were contained and no one was hurt.

Captain Henrique Rissato da Silva, operational service coordinator at the group responsible for the Ribeirão Preto Metropolitan Region, says that winter contributes to the increase in the number of fires as it is also a period when people stay at home more. Prevention, according to the commander, consists of avoiding plugging more than one electrical device into the same socket and, when leaving, turning off those with higher voltage.

Genuine product and correct installation are essential

Roberto Barbieri, advisor in the area of ​​electronic security equipment at Abinee (Brazilian Association of Electrical and Electronics Industry), says that all equipment that makes up the electrical installation, such as cables, sockets, switches, circuit breakers and light bulbs, must be certified by Inmetro (National Institute of Metrology, Quality and Technology).

“If you buy a product legally sold in Brazil, it has been certified and has theoretically assured safety. The vast majority of household appliances also have a certification against electrical hazards in the equipment, the manufacturer is guaranteed that the equipment will not have problems”, says Barbieri . The biggest challenge therefore becomes the electrical structure.

“We don’t have a guarantee of the installation, in Brazil it’s not certified. When you turn on high power electrical equipment, many watts, even if certified, there has to be a circuit breaker that will eventually turn off that installation if it’s a risk, and that depends on who made and designed it”, reinforces.

Higher risk adapters and appliances

Using adapters and bejamins to connect appliances to sockets is risky, as this may indicate that the product exceeds the limit designed for the socket. And, contrary to common sense, it is not the short circuit that causes the most damage, but the overload.

“A short circuit is an instantaneous failure and generally this does not cause a fire, it is very fast. Overloading, in turn, is using excess power on that circuit for a long time. amperes and spending an hour drying your hair, for example, generates an overload that can heat up the cables and the socket and cause a fire if the installation is not adequate”, points out Barbieri.

Equipment that requires more power, such as irons, flat irons or dryers, are the most dangerous at this time, especially if left close to fabrics and flammable materials such as paper, plastic and wood.

“The more watts, the greater the risk. The power has a proportionality with the current, which passes through the cables and can generate heating. If you place a flat iron on top of a bed, it can set the sheet and mattress on fire, but because of the heat and not for the electrical part”, says Barbieri.

If a fire starts, what to do?

Among the things that can be done when fire spreads in a domestic environment is to turn off all electrical parts to avoid any kind of exposure to shocks. And contrary to popular belief, it’s important not to throw water on the fire. The ideal is to have a carbon dioxide or chemical powder fire extinguisher, like those found in cars.

“If possible, immediately turn off the general circuit breaker of the place, cutting off the electricity supply. At the sign of fire, one should leave the place as quickly as possible and call the Fire Department”, highlights Captain Silva. He also reinforces that the smoke, in addition to being heated, has toxic substances that can cause burns in the body and in the respiratory tract.