A fireman's switch is a specialized

switch In electrical engineering, a switch is an electrical component that can disconnect or connect the conducting path in an electrical circuit, interrupting the electric current or diverting it from one conductor to another. The most common type of ...

that allows firefighters to quickly disconnect power from

high voltage High voltage electricity refers to electrical potential large enough to cause injury or damage. In certain industries, ''high voltage'' refers to voltage above a certain threshold. Equipment and conductors that carry high voltage warrant sp ...

devices that may pose a danger in the event of an emergency. According to the

Institution of Electrical Engineers The Institution of Electrical Engineers (IEE) was a British professional organisation of electronics, electrical, manufacturing, and Information Technology professionals, especially electrical engineers. It began in 1871 as the Society of T ...

, any electrical device operating at over 1,000

Volt The volt (symbol: V) is the unit of electric potential, electric potential difference (voltage), and electromotive force in the International System of Units (SI). It is named after the Italian physicist Alessandro Volta (1745–1827). Defin ...

s AC or 1,500 volts DC, must be equipped with the switch. In order to be a valid device, the switch must meet the following standards: * It must isolate all live conductors. Only one switch should control the entire exterior and a second switch control the interior. * The switch should be red and be fitted with a

nameplate A nameplate identifies and displays a person or product's name. Nameplates are usually shaped as rectangles but are also seen in other shapes, sometimes taking on the shape of someone's written name. Nameplates primarily serve an informat ...

saying "FIREMAN'S SWITCH". * The ON and OFF positions for the switch must be clearly indicated and visible to someone standing on the ground. Additionally the OFF position must be on the top, this is to help prevent accidental movement to the ON position.BS7671:2018 reg 537.4.4 * The switch must be in a clearly visible location, not more than from the ground. For exterior devices, the switch should be adjacent to the controls for the devices. Interior switches should be adjacent to the main entrance to the building.

References

{{Fire fighting Firefighting equipment

See also

References