Energy Ministry prepares regulation requiring GPAS usage to prevent fires

Jakarta - The Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources (ESDM) is preparing a regulation so that the public uses GPAS (residual current protective devices) such as RCBOs (residual current breaker with overcurrent protection) in order to prevent fires caused by short circuits.

“So there will be a conversion later. Here is an RCBO, this RCBO will replace the MCB, yes,” said Deputy Minister of ESDM Yuliot when met at the ESDM Ministry Office on Friday.

Fires caused by short circuits in office areas, markets, and people’s homes have attracted the attention of the ESDM Ministry.

Therefore, to prevent fires caused by short circuits, the ESDM Ministry is preparing a ministerial regulation regarding the conversion of MCBs.

Cited from the official ESDM Ministry website, GPAS is also known as RCD (residual current device) or RCPD (residual current protective device), or GFCI (ground fault circuit interrupter, used in the United States).

The ESDM Ministerial Regulation on the Application of GPAS in Low Voltage Electricity Utilization Installations will become the legal basis for the mandatory application of GPAS.

The mandatory GPAS measure can be implemented in stages to protect the public from electrical hazards.

In addition, product innovation is expected to be more adaptive, as well as providing technical education for technical personnel and installers.

With strong regulation and the support of all parties, the application of GPAS is expected to reduce the number of electrical accidents, prevent fires, and provide a sense of security for electricity users throughout Indonesia.