S 1.64 Avoidance of electrical ignition sources

Initiation responsibility: Building Services Manager, Fire Safety Engineer

Implementation responsibility: Employee, Building Services

Most of the structural fire protection measures aim to restrict any developing fires, to make it possible for personnel to escape, and to permit access to rescue crews. These measures usually only have a minimal effect on preventing fires from starting.

The employees and personnel working daily at their workplaces must be especially careful and observant in this regard. In addition to the well-known and obvious potential sources of fire such as ash trays, the "cigarette thrown in the waste basket", and candles at Christmas, attention must also be paid to less obvious electrical sources of ignition.

Electrical equipment

When new household appliances are bought privately, the old appliances still working are often "donated" to the company and used there. The fact that old appliances in particular are an even greater fire hazard due to the higher probability of being defective is often overlooked, though.

The use of electrical appliances and equipment intended for private use but used in a company or government office must therefore be clearly regulated. Their use should only be approved as an exception when the corresponding equipment has been checked beforehand by an electrician and determined to be safe. Approved equipment should be specially labelled so that unauthorized devices are easy to detect and take out of operation.

Refrigerators in particular, which run constantly, and coffee machines, which are often left on for hours, should only be operated in rooms specifically constructed for such equipment (small kitchens, etc.).

Power outlet strips

No matter how many power outlets the architect planned, there are simply never enough, or they are in the wrong place. Power strips are then usually used to provide the missing outlets. If the power strips are of insufficient quality or are used improperly (refer also to T 4.62 Use of inadequate power outlet strips), these power strips are a dangerous ignition source.

The use of power strips should be avoided whenever possible. Extra power outlets should be added to existing channel systems or in properly mounted cable conduits.

If this is not possible and the use of power strips cannot be avoided, then the following applies:

Electrical distribution

The entire electrical distribution system, and primarily the circuit breakers, screw connections, and terminals, are subject to ageing like all technical devices. They must therefore be inspected at regular intervals in accordance with DIN VDE 0105-100:2005-06 "Operation of electrical installations".

If damage is found, a licensed technician must provide proof of the proper operating condition of the electrical system to the corresponding trade boards, trade unions, and insurance companies.

In Germany, the regulations for occupational health and safety from the trade unions (BGV, A3 - Electrical systems and equipment) stipulate the following regular tests:

Non-stationary equipment includes power strips, among other devices, but also many pieces of IT equipment such as workstation computers.

Fans

Fans blocked by dust can lead to overheating in the IT equipment to be cooled by the fans, but the fans themselves can also become a potential source of fire (refer also to T 4.63 Dusty ventilators).

Fans must be inspected regularly for dust deposits and cleaned if necessary, as well as to see if they are turning freely. This should be done at least once a per year or more often, if a requirement is identified (see also S 2.4 Maintenance / repair regulations).

Logs

All inspections as well as their results are to be documented in a suitable form.

Review questions:

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