After several years of color-tuning, Pittsburgh startup HazardGuard Safety Wire has launched a unique consumer product that will help protect homes against the deadly problem of electrical cord fires.
An estimated 450 electrical fires occur every day and 800 deaths happen each year, according to the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission. The patented thermochromic polymer, which was invented by Fayette County coal miner John Ryeczek, attaches or wraps around household cords and turns from green to orange when a hot spike in temperature is detected.
The colored cords could help to eliminate hundred of deaths a year, says Walt Ogrodnik, CEO. "Even with so many wireless products out there, there's many electrical wires used today between gaming devices, space heaters, fans. There's quite a market for this."
HazardGuard developed the technology more than two years ago, but the initial design proved too expensive to make on a large scale. Ryeczek, who has spent eight years filing for product patents, redesigned the product as a clip or tie, substantially lowering the price and making it more affordable.
Called "Chameleon" clips and wraps, a set of six currently sells on the company's Web site for $6.99.
The company hopes to initially offer the product nationally through hardware stores. After that, Ogrodnik says it's onto big industry, which uses a more expensive thermal sensor system to do the job. There's really nothing affordable on the market for consumers or industrial use, he says.
Writer: Debra Diamond Smit
Source: Walt Ogrodnik, HazardGuard Safety Wire