Electrical Failure Analysis

Fire can often be the result of electrical failure. Electrical energy may be converted to heat energy when a component or electrical connection undergoes failure. Resolution and understanding of the failure depend on expert analysis of the evidence. Determination of the origin, root cause, ignition source, kindling chain, and fuel are services that WHA provide. Successful mitigation and resolution of fire litigation from suspected electrical failures require the tools and experience that WHA can provide.

• IPC-A-610 Acceptability of Electronic Assemblies
  
  • Identification of soldering anomalies such as cold-solder joints and fractured solder joints
  • Conductor clearance assessment for traces on circuit boards

• Statistical analysis from unit failure rates and population information as well as deterministic failure rates applied from testing and failure reconstruction

Some examples of electrical failures investigated by WHA include:

• Dielectric breakdown
• Component failure
• Arc tracking/conductive path tracking
• Poor quality solder joints
• Floating neutrals and high voltage transients
• Oxidation and corrosion of electrical connections (fretting)
• Contamination of circuit boards

WHA can also provide electrical failure reconstruction testing to support failure analyses.