WCA September 2023

Focus on India

Electrical fire safety and the role of quality wires Electrical short circuits commonly

safety factor of owning a safe home is beyond any comparison. For investors, investing in a house is a safe and secure option that helps both rental income and capital appreciation. Hence, it’s a win-win for investors as well as buyers. The sad reality is that consumers are unaware of the importance of electrical fire safety that must be maintained when they plan such investments. Homebuyers save on cost with poor quality wiring but in the bargain put their lives in jeopardy. Today, we aim to create that awareness and educate our consumers and stakeholders about this harsh reality to ensure our future is safe.” Dr PS Rahangdale, retired deputy municipal commissioner – disaster management (MCGM) and ex-chief fire officer, said, “During a fire breakout, smoke inhalation kills more people than the fire itself. So, even though the new bill has announced new guidelines for fire safety, it is necessary to address the underlying issue and prevent such fire related disasters from ever occurring. This is possible only if the appropriate wire, cable and electrical fixtures of quality standards are implemented, be it for any residential or commercial property.” RR Kabel www.rrkabel.com

originating from low-quality wires are a major cause of fire incidents in India. A group of experts headed by Shreegopal Kabra, managing director of RR Kabel and past president of IEEMA, is aiming to address this problem and raise awareness of the use of quality wires. A new fire safety bill has been introduced, mandating stringent regulations and a legal framework to punish violators. The new law states that all buildings taller than 22 floors, including residential and industrial structures with hazardous activities, must appoint a dedicated fire safety officer. The bill also states that these buildings must set up an IoT-enabled fire safety mechanism for constant monitoring of potential fire incidents. A bi-annual fire safety audit is now mandatory, to assess preparedness. Wire and cable manufacturers such as RR Kabel aim to improve safety by encouraging the use of LS0H (low smoke, zero-halogen) wires, as they do not release hazardous gas, acid or smoke in the event of a fire. Addressing the issues, MD Shreegopal Kabra said, “In cases of fire accidents, consumers are unaware of the fact that the smoke created from electrical

Shreegopal Kabra, RR Kabel managing director

mishaps is much more dangerous than the actual fire itself. We at RR Kabel aim to take strategic measures to raise awareness among citizens about these aspects of electrical fire safety. We wish to educate them that using good quality wires is an ideal solution to curb such dangerous fire disasters. We want people to understand key aspects of electrical fire safety, make a commitment with us to create a safe nation, and help reduce the number of fatalities caused due to poor quality of wires.” Commenting on the new bill, Jitendra Mehta, president at Credai-MCHI (Thane), said, “Property is a solid asset class for any homebuyer, and the

Cable and conductor machinery

Bow stranding from Shree Ambika

Shree Ambika manufactures and exports cable and conductor machinery. Since 1992, the company has developed and supplied rod breakdown machines (single/double rod); 1+6 bow-type skip stranders for AAC/ACSR/AAAC conductors; 1+12 (for 19 wires) bobbin bow-type skip stranders for AAC/ACSR/AAAC conductors; tubular machines; and 19B, 37B, 61B and 91B rigid stranding machines with side bottom hydraulic batch loading, Wi-Fi PLC-controlled individual bobbin wire break detector and pneumatic tension control. Shree Ambika Cable Machine P Ltd www.cable-machine.com

Tungsten carbide die polishing and re-grinding Ajex & Turner has developed in-house tungsten carbide die polishing and re-grinding machines for drawing dies and heading dies (in the fastener industry). The company also manufactures many types of die polishing accessories, including diamond powder, diamond paste, slurry, measuring pins (go/no-go), die polishing pins and steel needles.

Ajex & Turner states that its grinding machines offer better die life and performance, and that its TCD – 10, 11 and 12 models are popular in many industries. The TCD – 11 can be used for larger sizes such as 120mm, and the TCD – 12 can be used up to 15mm. Ajex & Turner Wire Technologies Pvt Ltd www.ajexturner.com

Ajex & Turner’s TCD – 11 polishing and re-grinding machine

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September 2023