Can other protective devices replace AFDDs?
Smoke detectors help to alert building occupants to the presence of smoke, but only after a fire has started. It is mandatory for all new homes in Australia to have smoke alarms installed.
Early detection helps occupants evacuate, however, smoke alarms can’t prevent fires. The elderly disabled or people in a difficult location may not have enough time to evacuate.
Clipsal AFDDs are designed to help prevent electrical fires from starting.
Compact and easy to install, AFDDs fit into residential and building electrical switchboards. They can’t be replaced by any other protective device such as; miniature circuit breakers (MCBs), surge protection devices (SPDs), or residual current devices (RCDs). While these protect against specific electrical hazards, they are not designed to detect arc faults.