HERE'S WHY:

INSULATION TESTING IS NOT JUST A TEST FOR POST FIRE SITUATIONS, IF YOU ARE CONCERNED WITH THE WIRING WITHIN YOUR HOME, THE TEST CAN BE COMPLETED AND HELP EVALUATE THE WIRING!

​TESTING

​​AFTER A FIRE IN YOUR HOME THE WISE THING TO DO IS HIRE A LICENSED ELECTRICIAN TO PERFORM AN INSULATION TEST ON YOUR WIRING!  

Insulation tests are performed with the power to the circuit off, your GFCI outlets disconnected, remove light bulbs and everything unplugged from your outlets (this is very important so you don't burn out your circuit boards).  Your electrician will ensure everything is safe to start preforming the test.

During the test a DC voltage of 500-1000 volts will be pushed through your wiring, during this time the meter will be tracking the resistance of the wiring.  If your wiring doesn't meet the ANSI / NETA 100.1 resistance table it is suggested you replace that wiring.  Further evaluation and testing of the circuit can determine if the entire circuit is bad or if only one section is.  This is up to you as to pay for additional evaluation and testing, or just go ahead and replace the entire circuit.  In my opinion replacing the circuit will give you better piece of mind and save you the cost of further testing that could just lead to replacing the entire circuit in the end.  If you need this testing give us a call and we will be happy to assist you and give you our honest opinion and go over cost options so you can make the best decision.

Wiring within your home is most likely "Romex" type NM-B cable.  This wire was manufactured and designed to operate up to 600 volts and temperatures not to exceed 90° C (194° F), and for normally dry locations.  As we all know fire is HOT!  Temperatures in your home can reach over 1000° F, this is well above the rating of the wire and even when not in direct contact with the flames the insulation is being degraded at a rapid rate.  We are all too commonly running into issues where insurance companies want to pay the least on their claim.  The adjuster may look at the damages to your home and determine the only area of work needs to be where the fire occurred.  Sometimes they simply forget the wiring ran through your attic is exposed to this high heat and can be severely damaged yet show no visual signs.  The ONLY way to ensure the wiring within your home has not degraded is with an insulation test. Remember, I have personally seen wiring with 

no visual damage fail this test!  Just a visual inspection of the wiring cannot tell you if the 

heat from the fire damaged the insulation.