Fire and Smoke: Understanding Live Action Damage to Electrical Equipment

This course combines an interactive classroom presentation with a controlled, live fire demonstration managed by the local fire department to explore the critical impacts of smoke and soot on electrical, mechanical, and electromechanical equipment. Participants will examine how direct or indirect smoke exposure can range from a minor cleanup nuisance to a catastrophic equipment failure, while learning to determine the optimal path for restoration, repair, or replacement. By utilizing a live-burn cell to simulate real property, the course provides hands-on insight into the potential causes of equipment fires, the pathways of smoke ingress and egress, and the precise evaluation of damage through technical inspection and surface wipe sampling.