Effectiveness of Oxygen in Preventing Fire Spread in Electrical Cable Fires
EnvidataID, Depok – Electrical short circuits are the trigger for cable fires and are one of the main causes of fires in various buildings. Many of these fires occur in electrical cable compartments, where the heat generated by the electric current can trigger a fire, especially if there is a short circuit or overload. A recent study revealed that controlling oxygen levels in electrical cable compartments can be an effective solution to prevent fires.
Research Initiation
This article successfully found research that discusses the effectiveness of oxygen in preventing the spread of fire in electrical cable fires. This research was initiated by the Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of Indonesia, which consists of senior researchers such as; Adrianus Pangaribuan, Fadhil, Muhammmad Agung Santoso, I Made Kartika Dhiputra, and Yulianto Sulistyo Nugroho. These researchers are members of the Fire Safety Engineering Research Group, Thermodynamics Laboratory.
Research Results and Discussion
The technical discussion of this research focuses on electrical cables with a cross-sectional area of 1.0–1.5 mm², where increased temperature in the cable conductor can trigger a fire. By adjusting the oxygen level inside the cable compartment to a level lower than the normal atmosphere, the researchers found that the growth and spread of fire could be significantly controlled. Experiments were conducted in the laboratory with various oxygen levels, namely 19%, 17%, and 15%.
The results of the study showed that the lower the oxygen concentration in the cable compartment, the less likely the cable is to ignite and spread fire. At 15% oxygen levels, the tendency for cables to ignite is drastically reduced compared to normal atmospheric conditions which have an oxygen content of around 21%.
These findings provide new insights into electrical fire prevention, especially in the design and management of electrical systems in high-rise buildings, factories and other facilities. By implementing an oxygen control system inside the cable compartment, the risk of electrical fires can be significantly reduced, improving the safety of occupants and protecting assets from potential fire damage.
With the increasing need for safe electrical systems, this research opens up opportunities for new innovations in fire prevention technology. It is not impossible that in the future, automatic systems that can adjust oxygen levels in cable compartments will become the standard in the global electrical industry.
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