Aluminum electrical wiring hazards research bibliography & references:

Bibliography of publicly available articles, pamphlets, resources providing information about aluminum electrical wiring.

Aluminum Wiring Hazards & Repairs Bibliography

• RECOMMENDATIONS FOR THE HOMEOWNER/OCCUPANT
• ALUMINUM WIRING RENTAL HOME ADVICE
• INFORMATION FOR THE HOME INSPECTOR
• FIELD SURVEYS of ALUMINUM WIRING & REPAIRS
• CONNECTORS/CONNECTIONS
• FAILURE MECHANISMS
• NICKEL PLATED ALUMINUM WIRE
• COPPER-CLAD ALUMINUM WIRE
  
• ALLOY ALUMINUM WIRE
• CONNECTOR/CONNECTION STANDARDS AND TEST METHODS
• INDUSTRY HANDBOOKS
  
• GOVERNMENT AGENCY DOCUMENTS
• FIRE IGNITION/FIRE INVESTIGATION
  
• CONTACT ADDRESSES FOR REQUESTING INFORMATIO

ALUMINUM WIRING HAZARDS & REPAIRS - hone see detailed links at the ARTICLE INDEX

Recommendations for the Homeowner/Occupant

• "The Trouble With Aluminum Wiring," Consumer Reports, January, 1981, p. 42
• "The Use of Aluminum Conductors with Electrical Wiring Devices in Electrical Wiring Systems," Underwriters Laboratories, Inc., 333 Pfingsten Road, Northbrook, IL 60062, Issued March 1973, reissued July 1980
• J. Aronstein, "Reducing the Fire Hazard in Aluminum-Wired Homes," Wright-Malta Corporation, Ballston Spa, NY, Jan. 25, 1982
• Reducing the Fire Hazards in Aluminum-Wired Homes web article
• "Is YOUR Aluminum Wiring Safe?" article discussing safety claims made without looking at the wiring, J. Aronstein, 11/21/95
• CPSC Publication 516 on Aluminum Wiring

Information on Aluminum Wiring for Home Inspectors

• D.J. Friedman, "Safety Considerations for the Electrical Inspector," The ASHI Technical Journal of home inspection and in-service building component failures, Vol. 2 No. 1, Winter, 1992
• D.J. Friedman, "Aluminum Wiring Poses Potential Fire Hazard," The Journal of Light Construction, June 1996 [Reprinted in the ASHI Reporter, January 1997, p.10-11]

Field Surveys of Aluminum Wiring Hazards & Failures

• "National Controlled Study of Relative Risk of Overheating of Aluminum Compared with Copper Wired Electrical Receptacles in Homes and Laboratory," Executive Summary. Prepared for U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission. Report #F-C4812-01, Franklin Research Center, Philadelphia, PA, April 20, 1979
• R. Newman and W.H. King, Jr., "Pilot Survey of Branch Wiring Systems in Montgomery County, Maryland," U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, Sept., 1977
• J. Aronstein, "Summary Report, Study of Overheating of Aluminum-Wired Electrical receptacles in Scarborough, Toronto, Homes," Wright-Malta Corporation, Ballston Spa, NY, Jan. 11, 1982

Aluminum Wiring Connectors/Connections

• Aronstein, Jesse., and W. Campbell. "Overheating failures of aluminum-wired special service connectors." IEEE Transactions on Components, Hybrids, and Manufacturing Technology 6, no. 1 (1983): 8-15.
• H. Dupre, "The Problems Involved in Designing Connectors for Aluminum Cable," Misc. Paper no. 51-325, AIEE Fall General Meeting, October, 1951.
• J. Aronstein and W.E. Campbell, "Overheating Failures of Aluminum-Wired Special Service Connectors," IEEE Trans. Components, Hybrids, and Mfg. Tech., V. CHMT-6 No. 1, Mar. 1983
• N.T. Bond, "Reliability in Electrical Terminations on Aluminum Conductors," Electrical Products Div., Alcoa Conductor Products Co., Alcoa Laboratories, Massena, NY.
• C.W. Zimmerer and F.Neumer, "Aluminum Building Wires and Connectors," Bulletin of Research, No. 48, Underwriters Laboratories Inc., Sept. 1954
• J. Aronstein and W.E. Campbell, "The influence of Corrosion Inhibitor and Surface Abrasion on the Failure of Aluminum-Wired Twist-on Connections," IEEE Trans. Components, Hybrids, and Mfg. Tech., V. CHMT-7 No. 1, March, 1984.
• R. Schubert, "Erratic Behavior of Al/Al Wire Junctions," Elecrical Contacts - 1986, Proceedings of the 32nd IEEE Holm Conference on Electrical Contacts, Boston, 1986.
• "Test of 'Old Technology' Aluminum Wire With Twist-On Connectors," Project Report CPSC-C-79-0079, Task II, for U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission. Wright-Malta Corp., Ballston Spa, NY, November 23, 1981
• J. Aronstein, "Overheating Failures of Presently-Listed Aluminum Wiring Connection Combinations Within Rated Service Conditions". Wright-Malta Corp., Ballston Spa, NY, November 23, 1981
• Kaiser Aluminum, ALUMINUM TYPE NM? HERE'S HOW [PDF] (1965) Ten Years Cleared the Way for Easier, Better Wiring, IAEI Magazine, September 1965, courtesy of Douglas Hansen CodeCheck
  
  Watch out: the company later abandoned these instructions, they should NOT be used today.
• Kaiser Aluminum, HOW to PREPARE and CONNECT KAISER ALUMIUM WIRE #12 and #10 AWG [PDF] (1958) courtesy J. Aronstein by private email 2020/01/26
  
  Watch out: the company later abandoned these instructions, they should NOT be used today.
• R.L. Hicks, "Pigtail Splicing Connections for Baseboard Heaters and Similar Cyclic Loads," Ontario Hydro, Research Division

Failure Mechanisms of Aluminum Wiring

• Aronstein, Jesse, and Doug Lee. "Selection Criteria for Residential Aluminum Connections." In 2012 IEEE 58th Holm Conference on Electrical Contacts (Holm), pp. 1-8. IEEE, 2012.
• Aronstein, J. "Evaluation of a Setscrew Connector for Aluminum Wire." In Electrical Contacts-2007 Proceedings of the 53rd IEEE Holm Conference on Electrical Contacts, pp. 123-129. IEEE, 2007.
• Aronstein, Jesse, and Thomas K. Hare. "AC and DC electromigration failure of aluminum contact junctions." IEEE Transactions on Components and Packaging Technologies 28, no. 4 (2005): 701-709.
• Aronstein, J. "Performance classification for electrical connections using ASTM B868." In Proceedings of the Fifty-First IEEE Holm Conference on Electrical Contacts, 2005., pp. 162-166. IEEE, 2005.
• Aronstein, J. "An updated view of the aluminum contact interface." In Proceedings of the 50th IEEE Holm Conference on Electrical Contacts and the 22nd International Conference on Electrical Contacts Electrical Contacts, 2004., pp. 98-103. IEEE, 2004.
• Aronstein, J., and R. Butturini. "Evaluation of crimped terminations and splices in in-wall electric heaters." In Proceedings of the Forty-Eighth IEEE Holm Conference on Electrical Contacts, pp. 252-258. IEEE, 2002.
• Aronstein, Jesse. "Analysis of field failures of aluminum-copper pigtail splices made with twist-on connectors." In Electrical Contacts-1999. Proceedings of the Forty-Fifth IEEE Holm Conference on Electrical Contacts (Cat. No. 99CB36343), pp. 87-93. IEEE, 1999.
• Aronstein, Jesse. "Environmental conditions of residential electrical connections." In Electrical Contacts-1998. Proceedings of the Forty-Fourth IEEE Holm Conference on Electrical Contacts (Cat. No. 98CB36238), pp. 230-238. IEEE, 1998.
• Aronstein, Jesse. "Evaluation of a twist-on connector for aluminum wire." In Electrical Contacts-1997 Proceedings of the Forty-Third IEEE Holm Conference on Electrical Contacts, pp. 46-56. IEEE, 1997.
• Aronstein, J. "AC and DC electromigration in aluminum." In Electrical Contacts-1996. Proceedings of the Forty-Second IEEE Holm Conference on Electrical Contacts. Joint with the 18th International Conference on Electrical Contacts, pp. 311-320. IEEE, 1996.
• Aronstein,J. "Electromigration Failure of Aluminum Contact Junctions," Elecrical Contacts - 1995, Proceedings of the 41st Annual Meeting of the Holm Conference on Electrical Contacts, Montreal, 1995.
• Aronstein, J. "Evaluation of receptacle connections and contacts." In Proceedings of IEEE Holm Conference on Electrical Contacts, pp. 253-260. IEEE, 1993.
• Aronstein, J. "Environmental deterioration of aluminum-aluminum connections." In Electrical Contacts-1992 Proceedings of the Thirty-Eighth IEEE Holm Conference on Electrical Contacts, pp. 105-111. IEEE, 1992.
• Aronstein, J. "Failure of Aluminum Connections in Residential Applications," Elecrical Contacts - 1991, Proceedings of the 37th Annual Meeting of the Holm Conference on Electrical Contacts, Chicago, 1991.
• Aronstein, J. "Conduction in failing aluminum connections." In Thirty-Sixth IEEE Conference on Electrical Contacts, and the Fifteenth International Conference on Electrical Contacts, pp. 479-486. IEEE, 1990.
• Aronstein, J. "Conduction in Failing Aluminum Connections," Electrical Contacts - 1990, Proceedings of the 36th IEEE Holm Conference on Electrical
• Aronstein, J., and T. K. Hare. "Conduction through surface films on aluminum wire." In Electrical Contacts, 1988., Proceedings of the Thirty Fourth Meeting of the IEEE Holm Conference on Electrical Contacts, pp. 173-178. IEEE, 1988.
• Aronstein, J. "Evaluation of a plated aluminum wire for branch circuit applications." In Electrical Contacts-1987, p. 107. 1987.
• Aronstein, Jesse, and W. Campbell. "Evaluation of an aluminum conductor material for branch circuit applications." IEEE transactions on components, hybrids, and manufacturing technology 8, no. 1 (1985): 105-108.
• Aronstein, Jesse, and W. Campbell. "The influence of corrosion inhibitor and surface abrasion on the failure of aluminum-wired twist-on connections." IEEE transactions on components, hybrids, and manufacturing technology 7, no. 1 (1984): 20-24.
• Aronstein, Jesse, and W. Campbell. "Overheating failures of aluminum-wired special service connectors." IEEE Transactions on Components, Hybrids, and Manufacturing Technology 6, no. 1 (1983): 8-15.
• Aronstein, Jesse. Reducing the Fire Hazard in Aluminum-wired Homes. [PDF] at InspectApedia.com Wright Malta Corporation, 1982.
• Aronstein, Jesse., and W. Campbell. "Failure and overheating of aluminum-wired twist-on connections." IEEE Transactions on Components, Hybrids, and Manufacturing Technology 5, no. 1 (1982): 42-50.
• Aronstein, J. Test of'Old Technology'Aluminum Wire With Twist-On Connectors. Project Report CPSC-C-79-0079, Task 11, for US Consumer Product Safety Commission. Wright-Malta Corp., Ballston Spa, NY, 1981.
• Babrauskas, Vytenis. "How do electrical wiring faults lead to structure ignitions." [PDF} In Proc. Fire and Materials 2001 Conf, pp. 39-51. 2001. Retrieved 2020/01/26 original source https://doctorfire.com/pages/ElectricalFires.pdf
• Beland, Bernard, and Denis Saucier. "Fire damage to aluminum wired receptacles." Fire technology 22, no. 4 (1986): 341-345.
• Braunovic, Milenko, Nikolai K. Myshkin, and Valery V. Konchits. Electrical contacts: fundamentals, applications and technology. [PDF] CRC press, 2006.
• Braunovic, M. "Stress relaxation of aluminum wire conductors." In Electrical Contacts-1998. Proceedings of the Forty-Fourth IEEE Holm Conference on Electrical Contacts (Cat. No. 98CB36238), pp. 239-251. IEEE, 1998.
• Braunovic, M. "Fretting Corrosion Between Aluminum and Different Contact Materials," Electrical Contacts - 1977, Proceedings of the 23rd Annual Meeting of the Holm Conference on Electrical Contacts, Chicago, 1977.
• Braunovic, M. "Effect of Fretting on the Contact Resistance of Copper, Aluminum, and Nickel-Coated Aluminum Wire Connections," Wear, V. 112, 1986.
• Bond, N.T., D.L. Robinson, and M. Mohajery, "Fundamental Considerations of Aluminum Electrical Contact Interfaces," Elecrical Contacts - 1977, Proceedings of the 23rd Annual Meeting of the Holm Conference on Electrical Contacts, Chicago, 1977.
• Contacts meeting jointly with the 15th International Conference on Electrical Contacts," Montreal, 1990.
• Ferrino-McAllister, J. L., Richard J. Roby, and J. A. Milke. "Heating at electrical contacts: Characterizing the effects of torque, contact area, and movement on the temperature of residential receptacles." Fire technology 42, no. 1 (2006): 49-74.
• Leger, M. "Metallurgical Analysis of Failed CO/ALR Devices," Ontario Hydro, #78-54-K, Ontario, Canada, February, 1978.
• Electrical Contacts meeting jointly with the 18th International Conference on Electrical Contacts," Chicago, September 1996
• Schoft, Stephan. "Measurement and calculation of the decreasing joint force in high current aluminum joints." In Proceedings of the 50th IEEE Holm Conference on Electrical Contacts and the 22nd International Conference on Electrical Contacts Electrical Contacts, 2004., pp. 511-518. IEEE, 2004.
• Schoft, Stephan, Josef Kindersberger, and Helmut Löbl. "Reduction of joint force by creep in high current joints." In Proceedings of the 21th Conference on Electrical Contacts, pp. 406-412. 2002.
• Shea, John J. "Glowing contact physics." In Electrical Contacts-2006. Proceedings of the 52nd IEEE Holm Conference on Electrical Contacts, pp. 48-57. IEEE, 2006.

Nickel Plated Aluminum Wire

• H.O. Hansson, "Sinipal: Swedish-bred Aluminum Substitute for Copper Wire," Wire and Wire Products, September, 1970.
• J. Aronstein and T.K. Hare, "Evaluation and Analytical Electron Microscopy Investigation of a Plated Aluminum Wire for Branch Circuit Applications," IEEE Transactions on Components, Hybrids, and Manufacturing Technology, V. 11, No.2, June 1988, p. 218-226

Copper-Clad Aluminum Wire

• J.C. Fan, "An Examination of Copper Clad Aluminum Conductor for Circuit Size Wiring," Texas Instruments Inc., Metallurgical Materials Div., Wire Products Dept., Attleboro, MA.

Alloy Aluminum Wire

• J. Aronstein and W.E. Campbell, "Evaluation of an Aluminum Conductor Material for Branch Circuit Applications," IEEE Trans. Components, Hybrids, and Mfg. Tech., V. CHMT-8 No. 1, Mar. 1985

Connector/connection standards and test methods

• UL Standard 1567, Underwriters Laboratories, Inc., Northbrook IL (CO/ALR Wiring Device Terminals for Aluminum Wire)
• UL Standard 486C, Underwriters Laboratories, Inc., Northbrook IL (Splicing Connectors for Aluminum Wire)
• ASTM B812-90, "Standard Test Method for Resistance to Environmental Degradation of Electrical Pressure Connections Involving Aluminum and Intended for Residential Applications," ASTM, 1916 Race Street, Philadelphia, PA

Industry Handbooks

"Aluminum Building Wire Installation Manual and Design Guide," The Aluminum Association, Inc.

Government Agency Documents

• Bunten, Elaine D., John L. Donaldson, Eugene C. McDowell, HAZARD ASSESSMENT of ALUMINUM ELECTRICAL WIRING in RESIDENTIAL USE [PDF] Product Systems Analysis Division Institute for Applied Technology National Bureau of Standards Washington, D. C. 20234 (1974) prepared for the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, Washington D.C. 20207 , retrieved 2019/04/26 original source: https://nvlpubs.nist.gov/nistpubs/Legacy/IR/nbsir75-677.pdf
  
  Watch out: the suggestion, made in 1974, of the Bunten paper that the aluminum wiring hazard could not be assessed were later supplanted by substantial data indicating that aluminum wiring was a significant fire hazard in homes. - Ed.
  
  Abstract:
  In the mid- 1960s, aluminum wire began to be used in significant quantities for residential branch- circuit wiring. Reports of problems from various localities in the U.S. raised serious concern and controversy as to the safety of this application. An official determination on this matter is within the jurisdiction of the Consumer Product Safety Commission. This report reviews the history of the use of aluminum in residential wiring and describes the characteristics essential to data to be used to evaluate the performance of aluminum wiring in the field.
  
  The examination of existing field data shows that no available data have the characteristics necessary to develop a reliable estimate of the level of risk to consumers associated with aluminum wiring. Neither can the available data be used to establish the relative risk of aluminum con^ared to copper wiring. There is only a gross estimate of the extent to which aluminum wiring is now in use in U. S. residences. Statistically sound estimates of risk would be possible only after data collection on a large scale.
  
• Denver CO, & cited in Florida Building Code, ALUMINUM ELECTRICAL WIRING, [PDF] Fire Prevention & Investigation Division, Denver Fire Department, Department of Safety (2001) - retrieved 2019/04/26 original source http://www.floridabuilding.org/fbc/commission/fbc_0411/electrical_tac/aluminum_wiring.pdf
  
  Watch out: the advice in this document that CO/ALR or AL/CU connectors as acceptable is NOT recommended by the US CPSC and risks fire or injury
• R. Newman, "Hazard Analysis of Aluminum Wiring," April, 1975, U.S. CPSC, NIIC-0600-75-H006
• J.T. Wilson, "Report of the Commission of Inquiry on Aluminum Wiring," Ontario, Canada, March, 1979
• J. Aronstein, "Tests of 'Old Technology' Aluminum Wire," Wright-Malta Corp. Project Report CPSC-C-81-1418, U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, Washington, DC, Feb. 10, 1983

Aluminum Electrical Wiring Hazards, Inspection, Repair Procedure documents available on Internet:

• ALUMINUM WIRING HAZARDS & REPAIRS
• ALUMINUM WIRE FAILURE REPORTS
• ALUMINUM WIRING IDENTIFICATION
• ALUMINUM WIRING RENTAL HOME ADVICE
• ALUMINUM WIRING REPAIR METHODS
  • ALUMINUM WIRE CHANGEOUT
  • ALUMINUM WIRE AlumiConn
  • ALUMINUM WIRE COPALUM
  • ALUMINUM WIRE SPLICES
  • ALUMINUM WIRE GROUNDS
  • ALUMINUM WIRE REPAIR SPLICE SPACE
  • REDUCE THE AL WIRE RISK: DETAILS
• ALUMINUM WIRING REPAIR ELECTRICIANS
• ALUMINUM WIRING REPAIR, Other Products
• ALUMINUM WIRING REPAIR COALR & CU-AL DEVICES
• ALUMINUM WIRING REPAIR NOT-Recommended\
  • COALR or / CU/AL Devices
  • HARBOR FREIGHT CRIMPER
  • IDEAL-65 Purple Twister
  • MARRETTE B-Cap Connector
  • SCOTCHLOK 3-M Connector
  • Wiring Repair Methods CPSC Meeting
• ALUMINUM WIRING SAFETY ASSESSMENT
  • Aluminum Wiring - CPSC Publication #516-PDF
  • Aluminum Wiring - CPSC Publication #516-HTML
  • ALUMINUM-WIRED HOMES, REDUCE THE HAZARD
• ALUMINUM WIRING REPAIR METHODS
  • ALUMINUM WIRE CHANGEOUT
  • ALUMINUM WIRE AlumiConn
  • ALUMINUM WIRE COPALUM
  • ALUMINUM WIRE SPLICES
  • ALUMINUM WIRE GROUNDS
  • ALUMINUM WIRE REPAIR SPLICE SPACE
  • REDUCE THE AL WIRE RISK: DETAILS
• ALUMINUM WIRING REPAIR ELECTRICIANS
• ALUMINUM WIRING REPAIR, Other Products
• ALUMINUM WIRING REPAIR COALR & CU-AL DEVICES
• ALUMINUM WIRING REPAIR NOT-Recommended
  • COALR or / CU/AL Devices
  • HARBOR FREIGHT CRIMPER
  • IDEAL-65 Purple Twister
  • MARRETTE B-Cap Connector
  • SCOTCHLOK 3-M Connector
  • Wiring Repair Methods CPSC Meeting
• BOOKSTORE - ELECTRICAL
• DIRECTORY OF ELECTRICIANS - Aluminum Wiring
• DIRECTORY OF ELECTRICIANS - FPE Zinsco
• ALUMINUM WIRING BIBLIOGRAPHY

Fire Ignition/Fire investigation

• J. Aronstein, "Fire Due to Overheating Aluminum Wired Branch Circuit Connections," Electrical Safety Conference, Univ. of Wisconsin-Extension, Madison, WI, April 7, 1981

Contact Addresses for Requesting Information

• The American Society of Home Inspectors, ASHI 847-290-1919 85 West Algonquin Road 847-290-1920 FAX Arlington IL 60005-4423 https://InspectAPedia.com/home_inspection/Contact_ASHI.php
• The Aluminum Association, 900 19th St. NW, Washington DC 20006
• NFPA - (National Fire Protection Association) 1 Batterymarch Park P.O. Box 9101 Quincy, MA 02269-9101
• UL - Underwriters Laboratories Inc. 333 Pfingsten Road Northbrook, IL 60062
• NEMA -National Electrical Manufacturers Association 2101 L Street, N.W. Washington, DC 20037 202-457-8400 FAX 202-457-8411
• Internat. Assoc. of Elect. Insp. 214-235-1455 901 Waterfall Way, Suite 602 214-235-3855 Richardson, TX 75080 6226,563 CIS
• The Journal of Light Construction 802-434-4747 RR2 Box 146 jlc@bginet.com Richmond VT 05477
• Also AIEE - tbd.

 

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• ALUMINUM WIRING HAZARDS & REPAIRS - home
• ALUMINUM WIRING IDENTIFICATION
• ALUMINUM WIRING REPAIR METHODS
  • ALUMINUM WIRE AlumiConn
  • ALUMINUM WIRE CHANGEOUT
  • ALUMINUM WIRE COPALUM
  • ALUMINUM WIRE REPAIR SPLICE SPACE
  • ALUMINUM WIRE SPLICES
• ALUMINUM WIRING REPAIR ELECTRICIANS
• ALUMINUM WIRING REPAIR METHODS - CPSC Meeting 9/28/95
• ALUMINUM WIRING REPAIRS NOT-RECOMMENDED
  • ALUMINUM WIRING REPAIR COALR & CU-AL
• REDUCE THE AL WIRE RISK: DETAILS
  • ALUMINUM-WIRED HOMES, REDUCE THE HAZARD - PDF

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