Comparative Fire Risk Study of PCB Transformers

Abstract
A risk assessment comparing the acute effects of mineral oil and PCB‐askarel dielectric fluids in two transformer sites was performed. The first site has the installation characteristics for a PCB‐askarel‐filled transformer with sprinkler fire protection. A risk comparison is made between two types of transformers (PCB‐askarel‐filled and mineral oil‐filled) for this site. The second site (a vault) has the installation characteristics for a mineral oil‐filled transformer, and a risk comparison is made in a fashion similar to the first site. Risk is expressed in terms of frequencies of one or more acute injuries or fatalities per transformer year.