Shocking to know you’re not safe

Just how safe are you in your RDP home, is the electrical wiring done according to standard?

“The wiring in RDP housing is at fault, not to mention the boards are made of plastic which is highly flammable,” said Mr JJ Mashiyane, a concerned electrician.

He went on to explain that the standards which have been set by the South African National Standard (SANS) and the

International Electro-technical Commission (IEC) state that the tip of the glow wire should reach temperatures as follows during testing:

For parts intended to retain current-carrying parts in position: 960±15°C;
For parts intended to be installed in hollow walls: 850±15°C;
And for all other parts, including parts not intended to retain current carrying parts in position including the earth terminal and parts intended to be embedded in walls which are combustion resistant: 650±15°C.

Some examples of the switchboard housing that have caught fire.

Some examples of the switchboard housing that have caught fire.

With this he added that the housing used for the switchboards in the RDP houses are not heat resistant and are susceptible to combustion should the wiring reach the heats depicted by the testing.

“Not only this but the plastic housing allows for people to bypass the wiring adding to the vast amount of illegal connections found among homes throughout eMalahleni,” he said.

Mashiyane presses the importance of installing the correct housing in these homes, he says that installing the wrong housing may lead to people’s homes and possessions being at risk of fire, additionally they are putting their lives at risk by moving into these homes fitted with the improper housings.

“I further stress that government should make use of locally produced universal switch board DMC Polyester non adjustable housings, the advantages being that they are non-flammable with the glow-wire test and non-conductive of electricity,” he said.

The Emalahleni Municipality was contacted for comment as to why RDP housing is being built using these flammable housings, but failed to comment in time for print.

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