Roughly 100 Canberra homes remain in danger of fire from faulty Infinity wiring, ACCC warns

Nearly one third of defective Infinity brand wiring sold in the ACT from 2010 to 2013 has not been found and fixed, ACCC figures show. The wiring, 104 kilometres of which was installed in Canberra, has been linked to fires in other states and similar faults have caused deaths overseas.

While there has been a risk to homes since the national recall began in August 2013, ACCC deputy chair Delia Rickard said the danger is heightening with some of the wire likely starting to break.

"This is incredibly concerning because the problem with this cable is that the sheathing was substandard and from now is probably becoming very brittle and if disturbed could cause electrocution or a house fire," she said.

"We are asking anyone who had electrical work done in the ACT between 2010 and 2013 to get a licensed electrician in to check whether they have any of the Infinity cable."

She said the supplier will pay for the repairs and the electrical check, which costs between $200 and $300, if the cable is found to be faulty.

"We have been speaking to suppliers around Australia and on the whole most are doing the right thing in tracking it down and identifying it," she said.

"But it is a very difficult job when there are no thorough records of where everything is, so we are saying to any electrician who is doing any work, if they find the wire first of all take care but also report it to the home owner so they can organise proper rectification."

The cabling is most at risk of becoming under stress near heat sources and roof access areas and may lead to electric shock or a fire if disturbed by home owners or tradesman.

While it was possible some suppliers were keeping their head in the sand as to save time and money, or for fear of prosecution over unlicensed electrical work, Ms Rickard said there was no time for complacency.

In February, four people died in Malaysia from electric shock from a cable with a substandard sheathing similar to the Infinity wiring.

Suppliers, installers and property owners may be liable to pay compensation for injury or property damage caused by the faulty cable.

With only 72 per cent of Infinity cabling successfully remediated in the ACT, the territory is trailing behind most other jurisdictions.

In Queensland, 96 per cent has been fixed, as well as 80 per cent in Victoria, 70 per cent in South Australia and 100 per cent in Tasmania, Western Australia and the Northern Territory.