AC-linked fires raise alarm as extreme heat pushes cooling systems to the limit

Noida: With temperatures continuing to hover around 40 degrees Celsius and urban areas becoming major heat traps because of concretisation, air-conditioners are running almost round the clock in homes, hotels, offices and commercial establishments — leading to a rise in fires across Delhi-NCR.At least 30 major fires in Ghaziabad in the last two months were linked to faulty air-conditioners. In Noida, the number is 86.A preliminary investigation into the blaze at a hotel in Delhi’s Malviya Nagar that left 21 dead has also indicated it originated in the air-conditioning unit.Fire officials said probes revealed recurring causes such as poor maintenance, overloaded circuits, damaged wiring, overheated compressors, improper gas refilling and prolonged operation at extremely low temperatures.Fire departments and electrical safety officials said heatwaves were putting immense pressure on AC systems that were not designed for continuous loads. Chief fire officer of Ghaziabad Rahul Pal told TOI excessive load was one of the most common causes of blazes. Another was lack of timely servicing.“Sometimes people keep running an AC after it is out of gas, leading the compressor to go into overdrive. Some don’t install stabilisers but connect their AC directly to circuits that are not meant for the purpose. Faulty wiring is ignored, or servicing done improperly by local operators instead of the company,” said Pal. “We have even seen a 1-tonne AC being used to cool a 20-square-foot hall, causing the wiring to overheat.”Officials said technicians often replaced components with those incompatible with the system, refilled refrigerant gas incorrectly, or left behind loose wiring during servicing. So, the issue arose not necessarily with old ACs but poorly maintained ones. “Even a new AC can overload if not maintained properly,” Pal said.Pradeep Kumar Chaubey, chief fire officer of Noida, said all major fires in Noida and Greater Noida over the last two months had been due to AC short circuits or blasts. “There is a dire need for awareness on how to handle air conditioners,” he told TOI.He said regular servicing was essential. “It ensures compressors don’t get overloaded, thus reducing the risk of a fire or a blast. The gas in the AC is flammable, so it should only be filled by a professional. The MCB should be of good quality so that in case of a short circuit or fire, it trips and cuts chances of the flames spreading,” Chaubey said.Ramesh Chaudhary, assistant director of the electrical safety department in GB Nagar, said continuous operation during extreme heat damaged cable insulation over time. Ideally, ACs should not be operated below 24 degrees Celsius, he added.“We see people running air-conditioners at 16 degrees Celsius all through the day. This overloads the machine, often leading to stress on the wiring,” he said, adding that AC manufacturers, too, recommend operating units at 24 degrees for optimum efficiency.Officials said wiring-related faults were another major cause behind AC fires. A loose electrical connection, worn-out cable or overloaded circuit could create sparks, and, in confined spaces such as outdoor compressor units, even a minor spark could trigger a blaze.Electrical safety officials said this problem was increasingly linked to outdated electrical infrastructure in older residential societies and commercial buildings.“It is not just about one house. In bigger housing societies constructed 15-20 years ago, a frequent problem seen during inquiries into fires is that their electrical infrastructure was not built to support multiple high-capacity appliances running for long hours. If the electrical load in a building is increasing, the wiring needs to be changed accordingly,” said Saurabh Singh, assistant director of electrical safety in Ghaziabad.He said AOAs and RWAs were being advised to conduct electrical safety audits every two to three years so that wiring systems could be upgraded in accordance with increasing electrical loads.“There aren’t any warning signs or early indicators of an AC being a fire hazard. Regular audits and maintenance need to happen,” Singh said.Following the Malviya Nagar fire, Noida fire department officials are now reviewing fire safety compliance in hotels, commercial buildings and public establishments, with focus on emergency exits, electrical audits, functioning fire-fighting systems and regular inspections.“We will also release a video with a demo of how to maintain ACs and what to do in case of a fire,” said Chaubey.The Ghaziabad fire department has circulated posters detailing standard operating procedures for safe AC usage. The SOPs advise regular servicing and inspection, use of certified technicians, proper stabilisers and quality MCBs, while cautioning residents against continuous operation for long hours.Authorities have also advised households and commercial establishments to immediately switch off AC units if they notice a burning smell, smoke, overheating, an unusual noise or repeated tripping.