The Internet of Things (IoT) has become a mainstay in every field and the electrical industry is no exception. Energy professionals are deploying IoT for countless reasons, but it has the chance to boost safety by preventing electrical fires. Heat, burns and fires are likely to occur with all energy generators, but IoT could make these hazards one of the least common incident reports in the future.

How the IoT prevents fires

In 2022, around 1.5 million fires caused $18 billion in damage in the U.S. Energy professionals seek to upskill for the next generation of operations, which includes intimate knowledge of how a simple device and sensor could spot the chance of a fire before a person.

Real-time response

IoT devices are always collecting data, and if the equipment combines with artificial intelligence or machine learning, it becomes even more robust and knowledgeable. The analytics let operators see electrical loads, trip status and heat variances in real time to spot overloads. 

Smart circuit breakers

Many governments and energy professionals are collaborating to upgrade antiquated circuit breakers to modern, smart versions. These have off-site operational functionality with remote terminal units, allowing workers to always visualize data even if they cannot go to the site. 

Historical data logging, measuring currents, and noticing phase imbalances save technicians countless hours of manual labor. Technicians execute preventive maintenance faster if they see numbers validating suspected arc or ground faults, taking action before the issue worsens enough to cause a fire.

Environmental condition sensors

Outside conditions play a role in fire prevention despite circuit breakers or transformers being contained. IoT sensors will acknowledge temperatures and humidity and how they affect performance. If they sense smoke or gas, an automated response can contact emergency services or activate suppression systems.

Automated load-shedding

Sparks fly and fires start when electrical systems draw and manage too much power. If the controls sense potential overheating or ignition, they can shed load automatically. This capability is critical to prevent outages during peak hours when people require the most energy.

What technologies are disrupting the market

Fire prevention with IoT works alongside other system improvements, like strengthened soil. Conventional mineral oils for transformers have low flash and fire points, ranging between 155-160 degrees Celcius, compared to novel synthetics or FR3 fluids rising up to 360 degrees Celsius. Using the latter alongside sensors and AI is ideal when creating a holistic fire-prevention strategy.

IoT-infused electrical systems are more than a single sensor within a control panel. IoT-based fire prevention leverages many disruptive technologies changing the landscape of fire prevention, including:

• Smart smoke detectors
• Thermal imaging cameras
• Power quality monitors
• Automated evacuation systems
• Shutdown mechanisms
• Smart plugs and outlets

When real-time analytics matters

Has IoT successfully prevented electrical fires in the past, and how effective has it been? Case studies explore if energy specialists should commit to installing these tools.

One case study analyzed 265,000 U.S. homes to see if AI-infused smart home technology could prevent electrical fires. The sample contained 4,100 instances where fire hazards were possible. The technology distinguished between catastrophic fires versus ignition concerns that did not lead to arcing. The research shows electrical fires are on the rise, but IoT handled the uptick with no false positives. 

Another analysis used IoT to prevent fires and identify top concerns in educational buildings, which included:

• 37.71% caused by excessive thermal demand
• 22% caused by tampered electricity

Few fires related to flaming heat sources

The assets successfully communicated with cloud-based software to give people access to real-time data. The system was even capable of sending text message alerts in case of an emergency and notifying firefighters.

Only the IoT can prevent electrical fires