Greater Cleveland has many older apartment buildings however many of them still have fuses. Fuses were the norm prior to circuit breakers being installed in new construction to help wires from overheating and causing electrical fires.
Fuses still work well when properly sized, however, in very old fuse boxes or overtime, the wrong amperage fuse may be installed in a branch circuit. The original Type-T fuses had the same thread size for a 15, 20 or even 30 AMP circuit so the wrong fuse could easily be installed into the fuse box. To eliminate the potential for an error, newer Type-S fuses were designed. Type-S fuses were designed with porcelain threads of different sizes based on their amperage. So, a 15amp fuse could not be installed in a 30amp receptacle. Existing fuse boxes were modified with non-removable adapters so Type-S fuses could be used.
According to John A Weber an electrical engineer at Hartford Steam Boiler, plug fuses and circuit breakers are both capable of performing equivalent overcurrent protection. As a practical matter, circuit breakers are permanently installed and, easily resettable and easier for the property owner to use and understand. The use of breakers eliminates the need to have various spare fuses available for use.
Some underwriters have shied away from insuring apartment buildings with fuses regardless of type. But insurers who understand the marketplace and want to work with property owners of older apartments in Greater Cleveland have created excellent controls when insuring these gems.
The Trusted Choice Insurance agents at Richey-Barrett Insurance have teamed with insurance companies that are eager to assist property owners insure their habitational risks. So, before you renew your policy or if you are just purchasing your first apartment building and need somebody to assist you in purchasing insurance, give us a call.
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