Aluminum electric wires cause fire, DTI warns
AT least eight establishments have been caught by the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) provincial office selling electrical wires made of aluminum, instead of copper, which is considered highly dangerous and prohibited under the law.
DTI Provincial Director Peter Mangabat warned the public against these aluminum products and urged consumers to be vigilant when making a purchase to look for the “product standard” (PS) mark.
The PS mark serves as an authentication that the goods underwent testing and have been approved by the DTI to be reliable and safe to use.
“The aluminum is highly combustible unlike copper, so when the aluminum is consumed by the heat produced by electricity what remains is a little copper or none at all but the outer coat of the wire therefore producing short circuit that might cause fire,” the DTI official said.
He advised the public to check the reliability of the electrical wire to be purchased by repeatedly scraping the wire strips at the end of the wire and if it turns white, then it is aluminum.
Copper does not change color even by scraping, he added.
ESTABLISHMENTS
Mangabat said the eight establishments caught trading aluminum electric wires were mostly from Dagupan City, Urdaneta City and Mangaldan.
Owners of the establishments are now facing charges filed by the DTI for violation of product standard and will be penalized P25,000 on first offense.—Dada Martin Austria
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