Seismic Breaker

Electrical Fires Caused by Earthquakes

It is said that about 60% of fires caused by earthquakes are due to electrical issues, such as fires from electrical equipment due to shaking and fires that occur when power is restored after a blackout.

One of the measures to prevent these fires is the "Seismic Breaker".

What is a seismic breaker?

The "earthquake breaker" is a device that automatically shuts off electricity, such as breakers and outlets, when it detects shaking above a set value during an earthquake. Installing an earthquake breaker is an effective means of preventing electrical fires in situations where you are not at home or do not have the time to turn off the breaker and evacuate.

Types of Earthquake Breakers

Distribution Board Type (Built-in)

A sensor built into the distribution board detects shaking, cuts the breaker, and interrupts the electricity supply. (Cost: approximately 50,000 to 80,000 yen)

Subpanel Type (Retrofit)

This type externally attaches the seismic sensor function to the distribution board; the sensor detects shaking and cuts the breaker to shut off electricity. (Cost: approximately 20,000 yen)

Outlet Type

A sensor built into the outlet detects shaking and cuts off electricity from the outlet. (Cost: approximately 5,000 to 20,000 yen)

Simple Type

The breaker is switched off to cut the electricity by the operation of a spring or the dropping of a weight. (Cost: approximately 2,000 to 4,000 yen)

Points to Consider When Installing Earthquake Breakers

When installing earthquake breakers, it is necessary to also implement measures to ensure that sudden power outages do not cause problems.

• If you have medical equipment directly related to sustaining life, please equip it with batteries or other means to cope with power outages.
• To ensure lighting at night, keep lighting devices such as footlights or flashlights that operate during power outages on hand.
• When restoring power, please check in advance that there are no gas leaks and confirm the safety of electrical appliances.
• If you smell something burnt after the power is restored, immediately turn off the breaker, conduct a safety check again, and if the cause is unknown, it is necessary to refrain from using electricity.
• Regularly check the operational performance and replace parts as needed.