Don’t Ignore Electric Safety, Officials Tell People
All electrical work must be carried out by licensed electrical contractors under the supervision of licence holders and qualified wiremen.
Hyderabad: The Gulzar Houz fire accident, which killed 17 members of a jeweller’s family last week, brought to fore the negligence shown by households and commercial establishments towards electrical safety norms, which lead to dangerous and sometimes fatal consequences. The fire accident, according to preliminary reports, was caused by a short circuit that led to the explosion of an air-conditioning compressor.
According to an official of the Telangana State Southern Power Distribution Corporation Ltd (TGSPDCL), the Modi Pearls shop-cum-residence has 10 electricity connections, four of which were inactive. The building exceeded 10 metres in height, and therefore should have had a C16 safety approval from the electricity department.
But it did not. Neither did the building have a panel board, which could provide an extra layer of electric safety. The building reportedly ran 14 air-conditioning units, but it had old outdated wiring.
According to experts, thousands of buildings which were built before the year 2000 still use outdated wiring, which cannot take the current power load. Most owners tend to put off rewiring their houses because of the costs, but the outcome of ignoring it can be even more expensive. And possibly fatal.
Rewiring a single two-bedroom flat, a local electrician P. Raju said, would cost approximately `1 lakh.
“Before the year 2000, electricity meters were typically designed for a 500-watt load. Households usually had just a fan, a television, a refrigerator, and a few light fixtures — all within that limit. Nowadays, consumption has increased significantly. Two air conditioners alone require about 3,000 watts,” said the power official, adding that all such buildings need rewiring.
“Modern households now include air conditioners, geysers, microwaves, cooking appliances, and heaters. However, he said that the wiring and miniature circuit breakers (MCBs) and proper earthing are often not upgraded accordingly,” he said.
A power official commented, “In some parts of Hyderabad, when officials attempt to enforce safety norms in residential or commercial buildings, there are protests accusing the department of harassing the public.”
In an attempt to address the issue of electric safety, the Telangana State Electrical Inspectorate Department, which focuses on electric safety in the state, has issued guidelines to reduce fire accidents. The instructions have been sent to all hospitals, multi-storeyed buildings, residential buildings, commercial complexes, cinema halls, hotels, and other such establishments, urging compliance with electricity rules and regulations, along with additional safety recommendations from the department.
