Final answer:
Besides circuit breakers and disconnect switches, GFCI outlets, a three-wire system, smoke detectors, and proper structural safety features must be accessible and properly installed to meet safety standards. Additionally, specialized circuit breakers with insulating gas and other devices, such as isolation transformers, also contribute to electrical safety. These measures are often codified in building codes to protect inhabitants.
Step-by-step explanation:
Electrical Safety and Accessibility
In addition to circuit breakers and disconnect switches, several key components must be accessible and properly installed to enforce safety standards. These include the ground fault circuit interrupter (GFCI), typically found in areas prone to moisture such as bathrooms and kitchens, and appliances must be connected to a three-wire system to prevent hazards. This system involves live/hot, neutral, and earth/ground wires, with grounding of the neutral wire and the case of the appliance. Furthermore, smoke detectors and proper structural safety features like working ventilation, heating systems, and structurally safe construction are essential. Large circuit breakers used in power-distribution systems may employ insulating gas and jets of gas to blow out sparks that can occur when interrupting high-voltage electricity, which is especially important because sparks can ionize the air and allow current to continue.
Other devices like the isolation transformer, which insulates the device being powered from the original source, also play a role in preventing shocks. Many of these safety systems and devices utilize induction for their basic function, ensuring that the electricity usage does not pose a risk to inhabitants or equipment. Moreover, in many MDCs (More Developed Countries), building codes specify these and other requirements, acknowledging the cost but prioritizing the safety of inhabitants.