Some hidden sources of ignition - such as arc faults - are not always easy to identify, writes BEAMA in its Guide on Arc Fault Detection Devices According to statistics from a 2011/12 study from the Department for Communities and Local Government Fire Statistics, the cause of 20,000 fires a year is electricity. More recent statistics from 2013/14 attribute 12 per cent of fires to electrical distribution (wiring, cables, plugs). Worrying figures such as these explain fires of this kind being referred to as a 'silent killer' - as they occur in areas that are hidden from view and avoid early detection. Minor issues like trapped/crushed cables, rodent damage or a pierced insulation can and do lead to injury, damage or loss of property and even life.
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