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 Aluminum Electrical Wiring Advice for Renters and Tenants
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InspectAPedia tolerates no conflicts of interest. We have no relationship with advertisers, products, or services discussed at this website.
Here we provide immediate safety advice for occupants of rented apartments, homes, or condominiums where solid conductor aluminum electrical wiring has been installed.
Green links show where you are. © Copyright 2013 InspectAPedia.com, All Rights Reserved. Author Daniel Friedman.
Aluminum Wiring Advice for Renters and Tenants
- See if you have aluminum wiring (solid conductor branch circuit) installed in your home. Aluminum wiring identification tips are provided at ALUMINUM WIRING, HOW TO RECOGNIZE.
- Look for signs of aluminum wiring failure, such as flickering lights, odors of burning plastic at switches or receptacles, outlets or switches that are warm to the touch, charred or sparking receptacles or switches, but be aware that overheating may have occurred or be occurring without an easy to spot sign in the occupied space; See U.S. CPSC Aluminum Wiring - CPSC Publication #516 for other trouble signs.
- Turn off the circuit(s) involved in these signs of trouble and call a licensed electrician who is familiar with aluminum wiring hazards and proper repair methods.
- Notify building management orally and also in writing if these concerns are found. This page contains a clear summary of the concern: Aluminum Wiring Summary Page for Public Use. Also see Aluminum Wiring Safety.
- Aluminum wire failures and fire hazards may be subtle; overheating may occur not just where something is plugged in or at a switch, but at other connections or outlets on the circuit.
- Improper "repairs" may actually make conditions more dangerous - repairs must absolutely be proper and must use one of the CPSC recommended methods. See ALUMINUM WIRING REPAIR METHODS for proper repair methods for aluminum wiring, and see ALUMINUM WIRING REPAIR NOT-Recommended for examples of improper repair methods.
- Don't panic, but it is reasonable for a property owner to fix the Aluminum wiring promptly, correctly, and completely. Also see DIRECTORY OF ELECTRICIANS - Aluminum Wiring.
- The immediate safety step to take is to Install smoke detectors at locations recommended by your local building officials or fire department. Sample smoke detector locations are also provided on instructions that come with the smoke detector.
- In the event of smoke or a fire from any cause whatsoever, exit the building, notifying others to do so as well, and call the fire department from outside the building.
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Technical Reviewers & References
Related Topics, found near the top of this page suggest articles closely related to this one.
- Thanks to reader J.S. for suggesting this topic 02/03/2010
- [1] AlumiConn™ AlCopStore.com
223 Salt Lick Road, #279,
St. Peters, MO 63376
Tel: 866-826-2256, Fax: 636-754-0500, Email Sales: pking@AlCopStore.com, Email General Inquiry: info@AlCopStore.com
- [2] "Repairing Aluminum Wiring," [As updated 2011] U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission Publication CPSC#516 available online
- [3] "Record of Commission Action, Commissioners Voting by Ballot", CPSC Publication No. 516, Repairing Aluminum Wiring (original version op.cit.), (Briefing package dated March 15, 2011), Quoting:
The Commission voted unanimously (5-0)·to approve republication of CPSC Publication No. 516, Repairing Aluminum Wiring, with the explicit recognition that the COPALUM and AlumiConn connectors currently are the only products that meet the agency's standards to prevent aluminum wire fire hazards
Copy on file as /aluminum/Pub516_Alumi_Conn.pdf
- [4] Dr. Jess Aronstein, protune@aol.com is a research consultant and an electrical engineer in Poughkeepsie, NY. Dr. Aronstein provides forensic engineering services and independent laboratory testing for various agencies. Dr. Aronstein has published widely on and has designed and conducted tests on aluminum wiring failures, Federal Pacific Stab-Lok electrical equipment, and numerous electrical products and hazards. See Aluminum Wiring Bibliography and see FPE HAZARD ARTICLES, STUDIES for examples.
- [5] "The Influence of Corrosion Inhibitor and Surface Abrasion on the Failure of Aluminum-Wired Twist-on Connections",
Aronstein, J.; Campbell, W.,
Components, Hybrids, and Manufacturing Technology, IEEE Transactions on
Volume 7, Issue 1, Mar 1984 Page(s): 20 - 24
- [6] Thanks to reader Thomas Kremer
for suggesting clarification to this topic 08/09
- [7] Personal communication, Email, P. King to D Friedman, 3/10/2012 [copy on file AlumiConn_PK120310.pdf].
Books & Articles on Building & Environmental Inspection, Testing, Diagnosis, & Repair
 The Home Reference Book - the Encyclopedia of Homes, Carson Dunlop & Associates, Toronto, Ontario, 25th Ed., 2012, is a bound volume of more than 450 illustrated pages that assist home inspectors and home owners in the inspection and detection of problems on buildings. The text is intended as a reference guide to help building owners operate and maintain their home effectively. Field inspection worksheets are included at the back of the volume. Special Offer: For a 10% discount on any number of copies of the Home Reference Book purchased as a single order. Enter INSPECTAHRB in the order payment page "Promo/Redemption" space. InspectAPedia.com editor Daniel Friedman is a contributing author.
Or choose the The Home Reference eBook for PCs, Macs, Kindle, iPad, iPhone, or Android Smart Phones. Special Offer: For a 5% discount on any number of copies of the Home Reference eBook purchased as a single order. Enter INSPECTAEHRB in the order payment page "Promo/Redemption" space.
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 The Aluminum Wiring Information Website Aluminum Wiring Hazards and Repairs: in-depth info, photos, documents. Main Page.- The Aluminum Electrical Wiring Hazard Explained (in the document you are presently viewing)
- ALUMINUM WIRE REPAIR METHODS to reduce risk in buildings with Aluminum Electrical Wiring - Overview of Acceptable Repair Practices (in the document you are presently viewing)
- Aluminum Wire Repair Method Details - "How to" details, how to identify, COPALUM repair, alternative repairs, history, products, research, source of special AMP TYCO COPALUM connectors & COPALUM Electricians (in the document you are presently viewing)
- COPALUM Electricians: Sources of TYCO COPALUM -Certified/Trained Aluminum Wire Repair Services (in the document you are presently viewing)
- Other Products, Ideal 65 Purple Twister (not recommended), & other Aluminum Wire Products/Articles (in the document you are presently viewing)
- The Aluminum Wiring Bibliography: extensive resources on Aluminum Wiring
- Aluminum Wire Failure Reports & Photos: Real life aluminum wiring field failure reports
- Reducing the Fire Hazards in Aluminum-Wired Homes, Jess Aronstein, Ph.D., This document answers most technical questions about the hazards and remedies of aluminum electrical wiring. Some of the sections of this very thorough document are listed below:
- Fire Hazards With Aluminum to Copper Twist-on Connectors & Acceptable Aluminum Wiring Repair Practices Color Photos, Current Issues. 9/28/95 CPSC Meeting Minutes
- "Is YOUR Aluminum Wiring Safe?" article discussing safety claims made by some people without looking at the wiring, J. Aronstein, 11/21/95
- "Repairing Aluminum Wiring," U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission Publication CPSC#516 available online
- * Safety Hazards and Safe Inspection Procedures for Electrical and Home Inspectors at Residential Electric Panels
- Electrical Panels, How to Inspect in buildings, safety for electrical inspectors, electrical panel, fusing, wiring defects, defective products. Inspection Class Presentation
- Electrical System & Wiring Hazard Inspection, Detection, Cause, Remedy, Prevention - Main Electrical Page
- Directory of Home Inspectors accessible via Internet
- ...
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