Electrical Fire Preventative

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Circuit Breaker Maintenance

Please click here for an informative article on the function and maintenance of circuit breakers (switchgears).

Make sure that you have a qualified electrical contractor perform all work on your circuit breakers.

OPERATION CIRCUIT BREAKERS / SWITCHGEAR HAVE THREE PRIMARY FUNCTIONS:

  • Most of the time a circuit breaker is nothing more than a conductor, carrying current from the source of energy to equipment.
  • A circuit breaker is used to control equipment (on/off).
  • In its most critical function, a circuit breaker serves as a safety device designed to protect the electrical distribution system and its components from excessive current. 

 

Science of the Hazard Circuit breakers are used to control electrical equipment and protect electrical equipment by interrupting electrical faults.

Failure of a circuit breaker due to misapplication, overheating, degradation of insulation, and loss or performance can result in an electrical explosion due to arcing or extended arcing. This will destroy the circuit breaker, and possibly adjacent circuit breakers, resulting in loss of power to the facility or key equipment.  

If combustibles are in the area, hot arcing products generated by the failure or by the extended arcing may also be the ignition source of a fire following event.

This material is informational only. It is not intended to be, and is not in fact, a statement, in whole or in part, of GNY’s underwriting guidelines. Nothing said here amends or affects the interpretation, application, or both, of the coverage provisions in any GNY insurance policy; nor do the statements made here constitute a representation that insurance coverage exists for any loss under any GNY policy. Coverage depends on facts and circumstances of each individual claim or loss, the applicable laws, and the policy provisions in the GNY insurance policy.