Wondering if anyone could us with some insurance information if possible. Would anyone have statistics/details relating the % of workplace fires that occur from electrical appliances (electrical switchgear, distribution boards, fixed appliances, etc)? Our maintenance manager is looking for some information to help justify the AFE for the fire suppression project. I have contacted the FPA for assistance but not sure how quickly they can supply the info or if they will at all as we are not paying members. Any help would be great,

Chris - I think that info relates to domestic fires (haven't read it all though but the word domestic kept cropping up). Safetyman - FPA will be your main source. In the meantime have you tried the Firenet site - very good for all things fire related. I also seem to recall a Fire Surveyor magazine we used to get in our office. This carried fire reports, costings and causation stats for industrial and commercial fires each month together with annual totals. My subscription lapsed around 4 years ago so cannot be sure if it still does. I think this is the magazine - appears to have changed name though - http://www.fire-magazine.com/index.aspx I do remember a couple of trends in commercial fire stats though throughout the late 90's / early 00s. Arson caused 50% of fires Electrical caused 15% of fires or thereabouts. Smoking, Hot Works and processes caused around 7-10% each although hopefully smoking will have dropped off in recent years. I don't think they ever broke it down by appliance / switchgear etc. What is it you are trying to fire suppress? With process kit we used to justify asking clients to fit suppression on basis of criticality to business, replacement lead times and lost profits.