International. Although cases of fires that originate in air conditioning equipment are not frequent, there are different mechanisms that prevent this kind of event from occurring, just taking a little care.
According to the technical director of ASBRAV - Southern Brazilian Association of Refrigeration, Air Conditioning, Heating and Ventilation, Ricardo Vaz, the devices are tested and the chances of them catching fire due to their own failures are practically ruled out.
"Of course there is a danger of fire in the equipment, to be connected to the electrical network, but this danger can be prevented. No air conditioner catches fire out of nowhere. The unit is tested in the factory before its commercialization, and hardly any user could cause a fire by misuse. Then, the accidents occur due to improper installation and lack of maintenance," explains Ricardo Vaz.
In the installation, according to Vaz, some details should be considered, such as the good design of the cables, connectors and circuit breakers. In addition, the installation has to worry about the insulation of the cables and the floor.
"These things are very important. Fire cases are often linked to poor facilities. It is necessary to install a specific, dedicated circuit for air conditioning. This prevents overheating. But even if some installation issues are resolved, proper maintenance is important. Therefore, it is recommended that a technician do constant maintenance."
Other examples of installation errors that can result in fires are undersizing the wiring and switch; use non-insulated cables; not using the appropriate connectors; and not make an ideal ground pole. Vaz notes that periodic maintenance can notice the problem before the accident occurs. For this reason, we recommend the visit of a technician at least every three months.
Each country must also keep in mind and follow the standards of existing electrical installations.
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