Electrical Fire and Arcing Caused By Loose Connection in Switchboard

Location: Victoria
Regulated industry sector: Electrical - Low voltage electrical system (30 to 1000V)

Incident overview

An electrical fire occurred in a commercial building after a loose connection in a distribution switchboard caused overheating and arcing, leading to catastrophic equipment damage. The fire was exacerbated by the disconnection of an overcurrent safety device, which failed to shut off power to the fault. Although the incident caused no injuries, it was rated major due to significant damage and the extended duration of the energized fault.