Province wants study on knob, tube wiring issue
GROWING consumer concerns about the safety of knob and tube wiring and a get-tough stance taken by insurance companies has prompted the Manitoba government to commission a study on the issue.
Family Services and Consumer Affairs Minister Gord Mackintosh said Friday he has received many complaints from constituents about hard-line insurance industry practices around knob and tube wiring.
It's estimated that up to 40 per cent of Winnipeg's roughly 160,000 houses have at least some knob and tube wiring. In older neighbourhoods, it's probably closer to 90 per cent.
Mackintosh has asked the province's director of consumer protection and its superintendent of insurance to work with the fire commissioner to produce a report by Nov. 1.
"It's time to direct a formal review as to what the extent of the practice is (of insurance companies demanding upgrades before agreeing to insure), the impact on consumers and what, if anything, is required to ensure fair practice going forward," Mackintosh said.
He said there have been many complaints, including one constituent who was given two weeks to make significant alterations over Christmastime.
The Manitoba Real Estate Association has also been fielding complaints from people concerned about insurance companies clamping down on homeowners and either withholding insurance or making onerous demands for changes before agreeing to insurance coverage.
Lorne Weiss, president of the MREA, which recently flagged the issue, said his association is supportive of the province's move.
"We think there is a role for the province to play in trying to ascertain if in fact there really is a problem with knob and tube wiring," he said.
His group already has a task force looking into the wiring and what they have found so far is that knob and tube in themselves are not a problem or fire hazard.
"In fact, what we have been told is that it has a higher amperage rating than the copper wiring used in new construction," said Weiss.
That means that more power can safely move through that wiring than the newer type.
Last month, the province's fire commissioner, Chris Jones, told the Free Press that knob and tube wiring "is generally safe." He said it usually only becomes a hazard if mice or squirrels eat away the protective coating, which can cause arcing, or if new wiring has been installed in part of the home and improperly connected to the old wiring.
Knob And Tube Fires - News
His group already has a task force looking into the wiring and what they have found so far is that knob and tube in themselves are not a problem or fire hazard. "In fact, what we have been told is that it has a higher amperage rating than the copper
The fire gutted Zion Lutheran Church on May 16th. Deputy Fire Marshal Jerry Crane says insulation had been blown into the attic space, covering old knob and tube electrical conductors. Crane believes the overheated electrical conductors caused the
I replace old wiring, that's my specialty; it's called knob and tube wiring. There's a lot of puzzle solving, how to replace the old wiring without causing damage to the existing structure. A lot of these old '50's houses? In Berkeley in particular the
One of my projects of the day is performing electrical upgrades to an old home that still had some knob-and-tube wiring from the 1920s. Those of you who are old-timers probably remember this stuff, all the ceramic tubes and knobs to route the wires,
In the back you'll see the last little bit of knob and tube, which I don't want to get rid of.” In 1959 and in 2009, the Christ Episcopal Church's long history, which begins in 1895, nearly came to an end when fires destroyed the Parish Halls.
Hidden Problems- Inspection Results That May Delay Your Property ...
If you want to get a quick turnaround on your next property development project there are a few things that you need to stay away from. These will often turn up on a home or property inspection. Discovering them in a property that you want to develop may end up turning a simple project into one that takes a lot more time and money to resolve than you would want.
A good inspection is critical A good inspection is critical to determining whether or not you will buy a particular property. A home, for example, may seem like a great deal but if you need to take months in order to change and update it you may find that your budget ends up being destroyed and you are left with a home that is not marketable even after substantial financial investment. It is also important to realize that if some issues are present, a bank or insurance company will not agree to cover or finance a purchase. This can be devastating to individuals who need insurance or who need a financial institution to help them with their purchase.
Electrical issues There can be many different problems with the electrical system in a home or building. These can vary depending on whether a building is new or whether it has been standing for some time. Electrical issues tend to either cause a bank to refuse financing or cause insurance rates to go through the roof. This is because electrical issues can cause a building to catch on fire if they are not corrected properly.
There are two types of wiring that can be present in older buildings. Both knob and tube and aluminum wiring have been used in the past in order to carry electricity throughout a home. Both of these wiring systems tend to raise alarm bells at financing and insurance companies. You may want to avoid buildings if they have either of these wiring systems.
There are many things that can be silent health risks in a building. Radon is an invisible, odorless gas that is naturally present in the ground. If the radon levels are too high they can have carcinogenic effects. A radon test will often show whether or not this is an issue in a particular building. It can make it very difficult to resell and there is very little that can be done to correct the situation.Asbestos is another silent health risk. It was a component in many different construction materials from tiles to insulation. If it gets into the air, breathing it can cause lung cancer. Asbestos can be removed but it is often expensive to do so.
Knob And Tube Fires - Bookshelf
Electrical Fire Analysis
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Knob and tube wiring was installed in houses up until about 1950. ... While knob and tube wiring is not inherently dangerous, it is old, and its insulation may ...
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Knob and Tube Wiring. Knob and tube wiring is a system that was the best technology had to offer in its day, however, those days have long since gone. ...
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Knob & Tube Wiring – Fire and Shock Hazards. Knob & Tube wiring gets its name from the ... Knob & Tube systems use old cloth-insulated wires and are not ...