FENIE warns that deterioration of electrical installations increases the risk of accidents
FENIE, the Spanish National Federation of Electrical, Telecommunications and Air Conditioning Installations, recently held a conference on industrial safety, where its president, Miguel Ángel Gómez, pointed out that ‘more than 40% of buildings in Spain are over 40 years old and lack proper maintenance’. In addition, he indicated that ‘there is a lack of preventive maintenance culture; and non-compliance with the technical regulations associated with conservation and maintenance work has deteriorated the facilities, increasing the risk of accidents’. FENIE is a member of the MATELEC 2024 organising committee.
FENIE recently held a conference on industrial safety, in which its president, Miguel Ángel Gómez, focused on the state of installations in old buildings. According to him, ‘more than 40% of the buildings in Spain are more than 40 years old and lack proper maintenance’, indicating that there is a ‘lack of preventive maintenance culture and non-compliance with the technical regulations associated with conservation and maintenance work have led to the deterioration of the installations, increasing the risk of accidents’.
Among other topics, the debate focused on the importance of the user manual, an essential tool created by FENIE, with the support of the Ministry of Industry, to show users the correct and safe use of electrical installations. The manual provides practical advice and recommendations for the maintenance of these installations, with the aim of reducing risks and promoting compliance with technical regulations.
Use of facilities
During the first round-table discussion, Gabriel Muñoz, managing director of APTB (Professional Association of Fire Technicians), highlighted the relationship between the misuse of electrical installations and recent fires, while Manolo Osuna, vice-president of CEAV (State Confederation of Neighbourhood Associations), emphasised the lack of awareness among neighbours about the obligations linked to electrical installations. Enrique del Valle, President of FENIE's Industry Commission, explained the federation's motivation for developing the handbook and shared details about its content. José Manuel Prieto, deputy director general of the Ministry of Industry, highlighted the support of this ministry in the elaboration of the document, underlining its importance for industrial safety, ‘sometimes cheap is expensive and it is important to have professionals for the handling of the installations’.
The second round-table discussion focused on the maintenance contract and its benefits for the sector and society, with Elena García, head of the Service of the Ministry of Industry, Juan Carlos García, representative of Allianz, Peio Mendia, from the General Council of Associations of Property Administrators and José Antonio Vizcaino, president of the Air Conditioning Commission of FENIE. Participants discussed how the maintenance contract can facilitate compliance with regulatory obligations and thus reduce both maintenance costs and future breakdowns. With regard to proposals to improve the social perception of the maintenance contract, experts supported the application of tax deductions that would benefit owners without adding more bureaucracy.