Press and Events

ST. LOUIS, MO. – For the sixth year in a row, the Electrical Connection is upgrading electrical installations in low income homes in St. Louis for the Rebuilding Together campaign – but this time with greater urgency. That’s because a first-ever study recently issued by the Fire Protection Research Foundation (FPRF) shed light on the heightened susceptibility of aging homes to electrical fires spawned by outdated and/or improperly installed electrical infrastructure.

This month, approximately 130 union electricians and electrical contractors with the Electrical Connection are making 51 homes safer for disadvantaged St. Louisans. Work began Saturday, May 2, 2009. In donating more than $70,000 in services and materials, volunteers are performing electrical upgrades and inspecting the overall safety of electrical systems. The Electrical Connection is a partnership of the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW) Local One and the St. Louis Chapter, National Electrical Contractors Association (NECA). The effort is being coordinated by the non-profit Rebuilding Together St. Louis, which annually marshals volunteers to rehabilitate the homes of low-income people.

First Ever Study Of Electrical Systems in Aging Homes
The Rebuild Together campaign comes in the wake of a first-ever national study that examined the wiring behind the walls of aging homes in America. Previous studies have shown the frequency of electrical fires has been high in homes more than 40 years old. The 2008 FPRF study examined 30 U.S. homes ranging in age from 25 to 90 years old to document potentially hazardous conditions. (see: www.homewiringsafety.com).

While the study revealed that real dangers can often remain hidden, it found that the majority of those hazards were caused by improper installation and maintenance and a failure to meet proven safety provisions found in the National Electrical Code (NEC).

“We see this time and time again – homeowners doing electrical upgrades themselves or hiring ‘fly by night’ operators to do the work with no regard to safe and clean installations,” explains Stephen P. Schoemehl, IBEW Local One business manager. “The result is a hidden danger that can cause a fire. It’s astounding that homeowners will live with safety problems, knowing full well that when they sell the home, it will have to be inspected for NEC compliance and fail every time.”

The Electrical Safety Foundation International (ESFI) reports that electrical problems lead to nearly 55,000 home fires every year that cause 500 deaths, injure more than 1,400 people and create $1.4 billion in property damage. (http://esfi.org/files/u1/tional_Electrical_Safety_Month_press_release.pdf)

“While we are helping low-income St. Louisans live in safer environments, anyone living in a home 25 years or older needs to really think about safe and proper electrical installations if an upgrade is needed,” said Douglas R. Martin, executive vice president of the St. Louis Chapter, NECA.

According to ESFI, the potential risk of home electrical fires has escalated as both the life expectancy and the energy consumption of the average home have increased in recent years. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, half of all homes in the United States were built before 1973, before the introduction of many of today’s common household appliances and electronic devices.
“As each year goes by, Americans are using more energy in their homes,” said Brett Brenner, ESFI president. “Many homes and electrical systems in the U.S. are simply being overburdened, leading to fires, deaths, and injuries.” (http://esfi.org/content/homes-age-risk-electrical-fire-increases)

Participating in the Rebuilding Together St. Louis effort were IBEW Local One electricians from union electrical contractors Aschinger Electric Co., Beach Electric Co., Bell Electrical Contractors, Benson Electric Co., Branson Electric Co., Butler Electrical Contracting Co., Byrne Electric Co., Inc., DeSoto Ozark Electric, Diversified Electrical, Guarantee Electrical Co., J. Bathe Electric, Kaemmerlen Electric, Kaiser Electric, Kay-Bee Electric Co., Lynn’s Electric LLC, M.R. Bathe Electric, National Electric Contracting Co., Inc., Northwest Electric Co., Inc., PayneCrest Electric, Sachs Electric Co., Schaeffer Electric Co., Inc., Schneider Electric Co., Sentinel Electric, Systemaire, Inc., Total Electric, Inc. and Trinity Quality Electric, Inc.

The Electrical Connection donates time and materials for a number of community initiatives. In 2008, it donated more than $190,000 in material and services to safely wire a record 27 homes for Habitat for Humanity St. Louis. Also, for 12 consecutive years, members of the group have volunteered services to St. Louis city’s “National Night Out” anti-crime program
For electrical safety tips, go to www.electricalconnection.org.

Editor’s notes: The Electrical Connection makes its offices at 5735 Elizabeth in South St. Louis, Mo. (63110).
Aschinger Electric Co. is located in Fenton, Mo. (63026).
Beach Electric Co. is located in St. Louis, Mo. (63133).
Bell Electrical Contractors is located in St. Louis, Mo. (63043).
Benson Electric Co. is located in Shrewsbury, Mo. (63119).
Branson Electric Co. is located in Wildwood, Mo. (63038).
Butler Electrical Contracting Co. is located in Eureka, Mo. (63025).
Byrne Electric Co., Inc. is located in St. Louis, Mo. (63125).
DeSoto Ozark Electric is located in DeSoto, Mo. (63020).
Diversified Electrical is located in St. Peters, Mo. (63376).
Guarantee Electrical Co. is located in St. Louis, Mo. (63116).
J. Bathe Electric is located in St. Charles, Mo. (63304).
Kaemmerlen Electric is located in St. Louis, Mo. (63103).
Kaiser Electric is located in Fenton, Mo. (63026).
Kay-Bee Electric Co. is located in Florissant, Mo. (63031).
Lynn’s Electric LLC is located in Brentwood, Mo. (63144).
M.R. Bathe Electric is located in O’Fallon, Mo. (63366).
National Electric Contracting Co., Inc. is located in St. Louis, Mo. (63103).
Northwest Electric Co., Inc. is located in St. Louis, Mo. (63126).
PayneCrest Electric, Sachs Electric Co. is located in St. Louis, Mo. (63132).
Schaeffer Electric Co., Inc. is located in St. Louis, Mo. (63123).
Schneider Electric Co. is located in St. Louis, Mo. (63136).
Sentinel Electric is located in Arnold, Mo. (63010).
Systemaire, Inc. is located in Earth City, Mo. (63045).
Total Electric, Inc. is located in Farmington, Mo. (63640).
Trinity Quality Electric, Inc. is located in Glencoe, Mo. (63038).



Left to right, Steve McCray of Bell Electrical Contractors and Tom Price of Sachs Electric Co. properly install a new lighting fixture as part of the Electrical Connection’s $70,000 donation in services and material to upgrade electrical systems at 51 homes for Rebuilding Together St. Louis.