Arts & Entertainment
CAFÉ SCIENTIFIQUE ARLINGTON
CAFÉ SCIENTIFIQUE ARLINGTON
WHAT: Reexamination of Aluminum House Wiring
WHEN: Tuesday, Nov. 1, program begins at 6:15 PM. Come early to order food and drinks
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WHERE: The Front Page Restaurant, 4201 Wilson Blvd., Arlington, VA, located near Ballston Metro on the ground floor of the NSF building. Parking is available under the NSF Building or at Ballston Common Mall.
WHO: Peter Pollak, PE, Adjunct Professor of Electrical Engineering at the George Mason University Volgenau
School of Engineering will moderate a panel discussion of representatives electrical wire manufacturers,
members of the National Electrical Manufacturers Association: Christel Hunter, Senior Engineer Distributor
ProductsNorth America Alcan Cable and Richard Bennett, Director of Quality, Cerro Wire LLC; to review their current positions on aluminum branch circuit wiring safety and discuss what if anything should be done now. (The US
Consumer Product Safety Commission was invited to be on the Panel. Date was changed to accommodate Director’s
schedule, but thus far has declined to participate.)
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HOW: 5:30 p.m. Special half price burgers; please come early to order table service and socialize. Presentation begins at 6:15 p.m. followed by Q&A
No science background required, only interest!
Free and open to the public Registration requested www.arlingtonvirginiausa.com/bsta
ABOUT THE TOPIC: In the early 1970s concerns were raised about the fire safety of aluminum house wiring, commonly known in the electrical industry as “branch circuit wiring”. At the time, aluminum house wiring was a
relatively new product, the usage of which was growing rapidly. The US Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) conducted investigations, held a series of public hearings, sponsored scientific research and made a preliminary determination that aluminum house wiring posed a fire hazard. Today there is a history of aluminum house wiring in 2 million homes operating for 40 years that
needs to be recognized; and the safety hazard issue needs to be reexamined and clarified in light of product's actual long-term field performance. Peter Pollak, PE will moderate a panel discussion to review their current positions
on aluminum branch circuit wiring safety and discuss what if anything should be done now.
