Aluminum Wiring in Homes

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Aluminum Wiring in Homes

Between approximately 1965 and 1973, single-strand aluminum wiring was sometimes substituted for copper branch-
circuit wiring in residential electrical systemsAluminum and copper wiring. Each metal is clearly identifyable by its
color due to the sudden escalating price of copper. After a decade of use by homeowners and electricians, inherent
weaknesses were discovered in the metal that lead to its disuse as a branch wiring material. Although properly
maintained aluminum wiring is acceptable, aluminum will generally become defective faster than copper due to
certain qualities inherent in the metal. Neglected connections in outlets, switches and light fixtures containing
aluminum wiring become increasingly dangerous over time. Poor connections cause wiring to overheat, creating a
potential fire hazard. In addition, the presence of single-strand aluminum wiring may void a home’s insurance
policies. Inspectors may instruct their clients to talk with their insurance agents about whether the presence of
aluminum wiring in their home is a problem that requires changes to their policy language.

Facts and Figures

On April, 28, 1974, two people were killed in a house fire in Hampton Bays, New York. Fire officials determined
that the fire was caused by a faulty aluminum wire connection at an outlet.
According to the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), "Homes wired with aluminum wire
manufactured before 1972 ['old technology' aluminum wire] are 55 times more likely to have one or more
connections reach "Fire Hazard Conditions" than is a home wired with copper."

Aluminum as a Metal
Aluminum possesses certain qualities that, compared with copper, make it an undesirable material as an electrical
conductor. These qualities all lead to loose connections, where fire hazards become likely. These qualities are as
follows:

Higher electrical resistance. Aluminum has a high resistance to electrical current flow, which means that, given
the same amperage, aluminum conductors must be of a larger diameter than would be required by copper
conductors.
Less ductile. Aluminum will fatigue and break down more readily when subjected to bending and other forms of
abuse than copper, which is more ductile. Fatigue will cause the wire to break down internally and will
increasingly resist electrical current, leading to a buildup of excessive heat.
Galvanic corrosion. In the presence of moisture, aluminum will undergo galvanic corrosion when it comes into
contact with certain dissimilar metals.
Oxidation. Exposure to oxygen in the air causes deterioration to the outer surface of the wire. This process is
called oxidation. Aluminum wire is more easily oxidized than copper wire, and the compound formed by this
process – aluminum oxide – is less conductive than copper oxide. As time passes, oxidation can deteriorate
connections and present a fire hazard.
Greater malleability. Aluminum is soft and malleable, meaning it is highly sensitive to compression. After a
screw has been over-tightened on aluminum wiring, for instance, the wire will continue to deform or “flow” even
after the tightening has ceased. This deformation will create a loose connection and increase electrical
resistance in that location.
Greater thermal expansion and contraction. Even more than copper, aluminum expands and contracts with
changes in temperature. Over time, this process will cause connections between the wire and the device to
degrade. For this reason, aluminum wires should never be inserted into the “stab,” “bayonet” or “push-in” type
terminations found on the back of many light switches and outlets.
Excessive vibration. Electrical current vibrates as it passes through wiring. This vibration is more extreme in
aluminum than it is in copper, and, as time passes, it can cause connections to loosen.

Identifying Aluminum Wiring

Aluminum wires are the color of aluminum and are easily discernible from copper and other metals.
Since the early 1970s, wiring-device binding terminals for use with aluminum wire have been marked CO/ALR,
which stands for “copper/aluminum revised."
Look for the word "aluminum" or the initials "AL" on the plastic wire jacket. Where wiring is visible, such as in
the attic or electrical panel, inspectors can look for printed or embossed letters on the plastic wire jacket.
Aluminum wire may have the word "aluminum," or a specific brand name, such as "Kaiser Aluminum," marked
on the wire jacket. Where labels are hard to read, a light can be shined along the length of the wire.
When was the house built? Homes built or expanded between 1965 and 1973 are more likely to have
aluminum wiring than houses built before or after those years.

Options for Correction
Aluminum wiring should be evaluated by a qualified electrician who is experienced in evaluating and correcting
aluminum wiring problems. Not all licensed electricians are properly trained to deal with defective aluminum wiring.
The CPSC recommends the following three methods for correction for aluminum wiring:

Rewire the home with copper wire. While this is the most effective method, rewiring is expensive and
impractical, in most cases.
Use copalum crimps. The crimp connector repair consists of attaching a piece of copper wire to the existing
aluminum wire branch circuit with a specially designed metal sleeve and powered crimping tool. This special
connector can be properly installed only with the matching AMP tool. An insulating sleeve is placed around the
crimp connector to complete the repair. Although effective, they are expensive (typically around $50 per outlet,
switch or light fixture).
Use the approved Alumiconn connectors for connecting wiring.

Although not recommended by the CPSC as methods of permanent repair for defective aluminum wiring, the
following methods may be considered:

Application of anti-oxidant paste. This method can be used for wires that are multi-stranded or wires that are
too large to be effectively crimped.
Pigtailing. This method involves attaching a short piece of copper wire to the aluminum wire with a twist-on
connector. the copper wire is connected to the switch, wall outlet or other termination device. This method is
only effective if the connections between the aluminum wires and the copper pigtails are extremely reliable.
Pigtailing with some types of connectors, even though Underwriters Laboratories might presently list them for
the application, can lead to increasing the hazard. Also, beware that pigtailing will increase the number of
connections, all of which must be maintained. Aluminum Wiring Repair (AWR), Inc., of Aurora, Colorado,
advises that pigtailing can be useful as a temporary repair or in isolated applications, such as the installation
of a ceiling fan.
CO/ALR connections. According to the CPSC, these devices cannot be used for all parts of the wiring system,
such as ceiling-mounted light fixtures or permanently wired appliances and, as such, CO/ALR connections
cannot constitute a complete repair. Also, according to AWR, these connections often loosen over time.
Replace certain failure-prone types of devices and connections with others that are more compatible with
aluminum wire.
Remove the ignitable materials from the vicinity of the connections.

In summary, aluminum wiring can be a fire hazard due to inherent qualities of the metal. Inspectors should be
capable of identifying this type of wiring.

Below are safety recalls from the Consumer Product Safety Commission concerning aluminum wiring in
homes.

June, 1974
Release #74-040
CPSC Safety Recommendations For Aluminum Wiring In Homes

WASHINGTON, D.C. (June 1974) -- The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission held four days of fact-finding
hearings on March 27 and 28 in Washington, D.C., and on April 17 and 18 in Los Angeles, California, to seek
information about possible hazards associated with the use of aluminum in home electrical wiring systems.

The Commission has received numerous reports about home fires that have been attributed to the use of aluminum
conductors in branch circuits. Many of these fires have been the result of overheated terminals involving aluminum
wiring and a receptacle or switch.

The Commission currently is evaluating the data presented at the hearings by consumers and representatives of
industry and government and conducting additional tests at the National Bureau of Standards to better understand
the failure mechanism. Further action by the Commission is dependent upon a finding that aluminum wiring is either
a substantial product hazard or poses an unreasonable risk of injury to consumers.

An estimated two million homes and mobile homes have been constructed using aluminum wiring since 1965.

To assist consumers who live in homes with aluminum wiring to reduce the potential risk of fire and the possibility of
dangerous overheating, the Commission suggests the following precautionary steps.

CONSUMERS WHO HAVE NOT HAD THOROUGH ELECTRICAL TRAINING SHOULD NOT ATTEMPT TO INSPECT
THEIR HOME WIRING SYSTEM OR MAKE ANY ELECTRICAL REPAIRS OR ADJUSTMENTS BEFORE SEEKING
EXPERT ADVICE. SERIOUS OR FATAL ELECTRIC SHOCK COULD RESULT.

1.If you are not certain or if you do not know whether your home is wired completely with aluminum, ask a
knowledgeable electrician or other qualified individual to make the determination. If aluminum wiring was used, have
the electrician or individual check the connections on heavily loaded and constantly loaded circuits to determine if
the electrical connections have been made properly or show evidence of deterioration.

2.Trouble signals associated with aluminum wiring problems include:
* warm switch or receptacle face plates.
* strange or distinctive odor or the smell of burning plastic in the vicinity of a receptacle or switch.
* flickering of lights not traceable to appliances or obvious external causes.
IF THESE TROUBLE SIGNALS ARE PRESENT IN YOUR HOME, SEEK EXPERT ADVICE IMMEDIATELY.

3.If it is necessary to replace wall switches and receptacle outlets, only devices which are designed specifically for
use with aluminum wiring should be used. These devices are labeled CO/ALR on the mounting strap.
Proper installation of the CO/ALR device is critical. The work should be performed only by a qualified electrician or
individual familiar with the techniques of using aluminum wiring. Proper techniques include the ability to remove the
wire insulation without nicking the wire, to wrap the wire with proper distance and direction around the terminal screw,
to tighten the screw with the proper torque, and to position the wires within the outlet box to avoid loosening the
terminal connection. Complete installation procedures are available at no cost by writing to Aluminum Wire
Installations, U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, Washington, D.C. 20207.

4.Pigtailing. A technique called pigtailing is sometimes used to improve aluminum wiring connections. Pigtailing
involves connecting a short piece of insulated copper wire between the aluminum wire and the switch or receptacle
connecting terminals. Although this technique may be an acceptable practice for new installations, the addition of
more wires and splices into existing outlet boxes is not generally recommended.

November 4, 1975
Release #75-069
CPSC Invites Offerors For Aluminum Wire System Safety Standard
WASHINGTON, D.C. (Nov. 4) -- The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission today invited any interested person
or group to offer to develop a recommended consumer product safety standard for aluminum wire systems -- the
wiring and devices -- currently used in residences, schools, recreational facilities, and other public buildings. The
recommended standard so obtained could later be adopted by the Commission as a mandatory Federal standard.
In a Federal Register notice published today, the Commission also invited any person or group to submit an existing
standard for aluminum wire systems for Commission consideration for adoption as a mandatory Federal standard.
According to the Commission, the major hazard associated with aluminum wire systems that needs to be addressed
in a safety standard is death or injury caused by burning or asphyxiation due to fire caused by defective connections
within aluminum wire systems.
The Federal Register notice defines the aluminum wire system as consisting of aluminum electrical conductors
intended or suitable for use in 15 and 20 ampere electrical circuits (generally 10 AWG (American Wire Gage) sizes
and smaller) as well as all devices connected to it, including outlets, wall switches, circuit breakers, fuse holders,
lamp holders, wire connectors, and relay switches.
Included in the definition is aluminum wire which is clad with any conductive coating, but not included is copper clad
aluminum conductors when the copper coating is 10 percent or greater of the conducting cross sectional area.
Since 1965, an estimated two million single family, multifamily, and mobile homes across the country have been wired
with aluminum wire.
The Commission has preliminarily determined that hazards associated with aluminum wire systems present an
unreasonable risk of injury or death on the basis of testimony received at two public hearings held in Washington, D.
C., and in Los Angeles in March and April 1974, research at the National Bureau of Standards, and hundreds of
hotline calls and letters received from consumers detailing problems with aluminum wire systems. The Commission
has collected reports of over 165 aluminum wiring failures and numerous aluminum wiring related-fires.
Between August 29 and September 17, 1974, the Commission's hotline received 404 phone calls from the New York
area in response to a newspaper article discussing the hazards of aluminum wire. Of those calls, 179 homeowners
reported hazardous conditions such as burned wire insulation, burned receptacles, fire in wall switches, the odor of
burning wires, overheated switches, scorched walls, and melted wire insulation.
The Commission received a petition from Southwire Company, Carrollton, Georgia, on August 27, 1974, asking the
Commission to adopt a standard submitted by it for aluminum conductors and associated devices. The Commission
viewed Southwire's petition in part as a request to commence a standard development proceeding, and, to this
extent, responded to the petition by a Commission decision to initiate such a proceeding. Southwire may re-submit its
standard for CPSC consideration as part of the standard development proceeding.
The Consumer Product Safety Act offeror procedures encourage and provide wide opportunities for participation by
all interested persons -- industry, trade associations, technical experts, and consumers -- in the standards
development process regardless of who is selected as offeror, a CPSC spokesperson said.
The Federal Register notice indicates that the Commission may agree to contribute to the cost of developing a
proposed regulation but anticipates that the bulk of the offeror's work will be done by voluntary effort or funded by
non-Commission sources.
Copies of the November 4th Federal Register invitation and injury and hazard data are available from the Office of
the Secretary. Existing standards and offers must be submitted by December 4, 1975 to the Office of the Secretary,
U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, 1750 K Street, N.W., Washington, D.C., 20207.
The development period will end 150 days after the notice is published in the Federal Register although the Agency
may extend the time period for good cause. Persons interested in participating in the development activities should
also contact the Office of the Secretary.

May 1, 2003
Release #03-120
May Is National Electrical Safety Month: Good News for Homeowners - Aluminum Wiring Fix Still Available
WASHINGTON, D.C. - The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) announced today that Tyco
Electronics Corp., of Harrisburg, Pa., has agreed to continue offering the COPALUM connector repair system until at
least 2005 for homes with aluminum wiring. The COPALUM repair system has benefited tens of thousands of
consumers by reducing the risks of dangerous overheating and fire that can be caused by failing aluminum wiring
connections. It is estimated that 2 million homes were built with aluminum wire between 1965 and 1973.

Warning signs, such as warm-to-the-touch face plates on outlets or switches, flickering lights, circuits that don't work,
or the smell of burning plastics, can indicate a fire hazard within 15- and 20-ampere aluminum wiring circuits. A
failure in the circuits can lead to electrical arcing and a serious fire, which can spread within the walls of a home
before being detected.

The COPALUM crimp connector, which has been available for more than 20 years, is the only system recognized by
CPSC that provides a complete and permanent repair and reduces the fire hazard in aluminum wire circuits. The
COPALUM connector system attaches a copper wire to the old aluminum wires and is then crimped together with a
power tool, achieving a "cold weld" between the conductors. The "cold weld" creates a permanent bond that
eliminates electrical arcing or glowing connections and creates a safer electrical connection at outlets, switches,
lights, circuit breakers, and panelboard terminals. The COPALUM connector repair materials and power crimping
tools are only available to electricians who receive training from the manufacturer, to ensure that repairs are properly
made.

"CPSC appreciates Tyco's commitment to protecting the safety of consumers by continuing to offer COPALUM
connectors," said CPSC Chairman Hal Stratton. "Without the Tyco Electronics system, the only method for safely
upgrading aluminum wiring systems would be to install new copper circuits, which is often impractical for consumers."

CPSC believes that "twist-on" connectors, receptacles and switches and other devices that connect directly to
aluminum wires, are an inadequate solution. The COPALUM crimp connector system provides a safe, permanent fix.

If homeowners are not certain whether their home has aluminum branch circuit wiring, they can look at the markings
on the surface of the electric cables which may be visible in unfinished basements, attics or garages. Aluminum
wiring will have "Al" or "Aluminum" marked every few feet along the cable. A home inspector or qualified electrician
also can assist in identifying aluminum wiring. CPSC advises that consumers should not open the interior of the
panelboard or circuit breaker compartment - this can expose live wires and pose an electrocution hazard.

COPALUM connectors are available from Tyco Electronics under the AMP brand. Consumers can check to see if the
COPALUM connector system is available in their area by calling the company at (800) 522-6752. To order a list of
authorized electricians in their area, consumers can write to: Tyco Electronics Corp., Attn: Aluminum Wire Repair
Program, P.O. Box 3608, Harrisburg, PA 17105-3608. If no authorized electrician is currently located nearby,
consumers can have an electrician interested in repairing their home contact the nearest supplier of AMP- brand
COPALUM connectors for training and other repair information.

For more information about aluminum wiring and the crimp connector system, see "Repairing Aluminum Wiring" (pdf).
Consumers can also obtain a free copy of this booklet by writing to CPSC, Washington, DC 20207.