Free home safety seminar Wednesday night in Oakville

Oakville Beaver

A free home safety seminar dealing with the potential hazards of aluminum wiring will be held tomorrow night at the Holiday Inn, 590 Argus Rd.

Aluminum wiring poses hazards that many homeowners dont understand, Tim Birnie, president of Birnie CurrentSAFE, said in a press release.

The Mississauga-based electrical contractor is hosting the seminar.

It has been shown that homes with aluminum wiring are 55 times more likely to experience an electrical fire than homes with copper wiring, noted Birnie.

The seminar, titled Aluminum Wiring: Debunking the Myths, will feature a presentation by Michael Harrison, public education officer for the Oakville Fire Department.

Harrison will discuss the three lines of defence against residential fires and help families prepare a fire-escape plan.

The Electrical Safety Authority (ESA) has issued a number of warnings about potential hazards of aluminum wiring related to overheating and failure of aluminum wiring terminations at outlets, light switches and other termination points.

Aluminum tends to oxidize at termination points, and this can lead to failure and the potential for a serious electrical fire without proper maintenance, Birnie said. Our goal with this seminar is to give people the information they need to protect themselves and their families.

The seminar runs from 7-8:30 p.m., with registration opening at 6:30 p.m.

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Free home safety seminar Wednesday night in Oakville