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New homes are safer because of improvements in electrical systems and materials. Fires originating in the home's electrical system account for less then 5 percent of all fatalities. Circuit breakers, which detect ground faults and overheated wires, have replaced fuse boxes, which can only disconnect a circuit when there is a short in the wiring. Code requirements for more receptacle outlets around a home's walls mean the homeowner is less likely to use extension cords that can be cut or that can overload a circuit. Other requirements such as a greater number of additional appliance circuits for the kitchen, larger capacity, restrictions on the use of aluminum conductors, and increases in electrical wire sizing have produced a more fire-safe home. This does not mean that older homes are inherently unsafe and prone to fire, but that older homes should have their electrical systems inspected and upgraded as the technology changes. |
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