March/April 2010 Electrical Faults Cause Equipment Breakdowns, Property Damage, Fires View a Video to See What Can Happen, How Much Your Customers Have to Lose An electrical switch sparks and heats up as voltage flows through a short circuit. The current level spikes and begins to arc, burning away plastic and metal parts. Surging electricity overloads the wiring and starts a building fire, one of the thousands of electrical structure fires reported each year in the United States. MILLIONS OF DOLLARS IN CLAIMS Electrical faults are a leading cause of equipment breakdowns, property damage, fires and explosions. Short circuits and other electrical accidents lead to millions of dollars in insurance claims. When home and business owners take electrical equipment for granted, they ignore the risks and the result can be a catastrophic loss. VIDEO SHOWS WHAT'S AT STAKE This video produced by the National Fire Protection Association shows what can happen to your clients when electrical equipment fails. Their business, their property, equipment, and even lives could be at stake. We'll examine two common causes of electrical-related insurance claims - short circuits and electrical arcing. SHORT CIRCUITS CAN START FIRES A short circuit allows electrical current to travel on a different path than intended, connecting two points meant to be at different voltages. This causes excessive current and potential damage. Short circuits are usually caused when wiring insulation breaks down, water leaks, or another material makes contact. HOT AS THE SUN A short circuit can create an electrical arc. This stream of hot ionized plasma jumps to another spot, reaching temperatures of more than 11,000 degrees F, roughly the same as the surface of the sun. You might think of an arc as a "long spark." A similar electric spark is momentary; an arc is a continuous discharge. COUNT ON HSB FOR EQUIPMENT COVERAGE Businesses and homes rely more than ever on electrical and electronic equipment. It's important that your customers understand the severity of electrical exposures. HSB provides equipment breakdown coverage backed by insurance and technical professionals who have experience with electrical risks. We also offer information about electrical preventive maintenance and loss prevention. Contact your HSB representative for more information. Hartford Steam Boiler - One State Street - P.O. Box 5024 - Hartford, CT 06102-5024 Phone: 860-722-1866 - Fax: 860-722-5106 ©1996-2010 The Hartford Steam Boiler Inspection and Insurance Company. All rights reserved.