Investigation into Cause of Failure of Lift Control Panel

Abstract

A fire broke out in the lift control room of a new high-rise office tower block. The initiating source of the fire was traced to a lift group control panel and the area around the neutral incoming terminal of a circuit breaker. Laboratory inspection and metallographic examination also indicated that there was highly localized overheating at the neutral incoming terminal of a circuit breaker. The cause of the fire was attributed to the presence of a localized hot spot that was most likely due to a loose connection and/or the existence of a partially broken wire at the crimped end of the wire to the lug. Such factors are typically associated with poor workmanship during cable termination. Adherence to proper wire termination techniques and conducting a thermographic survey of the completed installation could have prevented the fire.