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2016 ANNUAL REPORT
13
Working Toward A Zero Safety Incident Industry:
The aluminum
industry, through the work of the Association’s safety programs, has
made considerable progress in improving employee safety in recent
years. While the overall trendline for safety incidents, particularly major
incidents, has trended
downward over the past
decade, there is still
much work to be done.
This year, the revised and
enhanced 4th Edition of
the
Guidelines for Handling
Molten Aluminum
added
30 percent new content to
aid the industry in reducing
potential hazards. The
release was coupled with
two regional Casthouse
Safety Workshops where
nearly 200 industry
employees were trained
on best practices.
ALUMINUM WIRING
IN AMERICA’S BUILDINGS
Since 1987 the U.S. National Electrical
Code requires the use of AA-8xxx series
electrical-grade aluminum alloys for
most building wire applications such as
service entrance cables, feeders and
branch circuits (Section 310.106(B)).
AA-8xxx series
electrical grade
alloys have been
available and
installed in
buildings for more
than 4 decades.
Aluminum wiring provides a cost-effective,
lightweight & reliable solution for commercial,
industrial and residential buildings.
Alloys
Used
Aluminum is used in electrical systems
such as wire, busbar, connections, armor,
conduit, and transformer windings.
Aluminum alloys used in electrical
equipment include: 1350, 5154, 6061,
8xxx series (8030, 8176) and more.
U.S.
Code
Industry
standards for
dual-rated
(Copper/Aluminum)
terminations and
connections ensure that
devices are rated for use
with aluminum wire.
Dual
Rated
SAPA
Tackling Aluminum
Wiring Misconceptions:
The Association’s Electrical Divi i n
produced a number of materials
in 2016 to dispel long-standing
myths in the marketplace about
the safe and effective use of
aluminum wire and cable. The
Division developed an infographic
detailing the benefits of aluminum
wiring in buildings—emphasizing
how it has been used safely for
more than 40 years. A separate
video shows that, despite miscon-
ceptions in the building and
construction world, electricians
can terminate aluminum conduc-
tors ju t as quickly and easily as
copper conductors.
Advancing Aluminum
541
ALUMINUM ALLOYS
REGISTERED
today compared to 75 in 1954
The Aluminum Association is the ANSI-accredited standards setting body for the domestic aluminum industry.