Fire pre­ven­ti­on

Filters pose a significant fire load due to the accumulation of combustible materials. In industries that handle fine particles or easily flammable substances, filters act as central collection points for such materials. Hot particles, spontaneous ignition, or overheated components can be enough to start a fire.

A major issue is that filter fires are difficult to detect in their early stages, and often a considerable amount of time passes before fire-fighting measures can begin.

In industrial processes such as modern planing lines, unintended material blockages pose another fire hazard. These blockages can result from mechanical obstructions, material clumping, excessive material feed or structural issues.

The resulting heat buildup, especially in the presence of combustible materials, can quickly lead to a fire.

Fire risks are particularly evident in systems that operate at high temperatures, such as belt dryers or drying ovens. In these environments, even the smallest smouldering nests – often caused by overdried material – can release hot particles.

Carried along by the airflow, these particles are among the most common causes of industrial fires.

Smouldering nests are material agglomerations that gradually heat up due to external heat sources or self-ignition – for example, as a result of chemical reactions. These processes cause the affected materials to smoulder over a longer period of time without producing open flames.

Smouldering nests are typically characterised by relatively low temperatures. The material cluster glows from the inside while remaining black on the outside – invisible to the human eye.

What makes smouldering nests particularly dangerous is their ability to smoulder for minutes and remain a potential source of ignition within the process. They can rupture when exposed to air flow, releasing sparks and triggering a much larger fire event. The insidious nature of these ignition sources makes them especially treacherous.

Foreign objects are unwanted materials or contaminants that enter a system during the production process. They can consist of a variety of substances, including metal shavings, stones or nails. Their presence may result from disruptions in material flow or external contamination.

Foreign objects pose a significant risk to production facilities. When they come into contact with moving machine parts such as conveyor belts, fans or mills, they can generate sparks – potentially triggering fires or explosions.

Common causes of sparks include activities such as welding and grinding, malfunctions in electrical equipment, or mechanical operations. Sparks result from the high energy released when metals or other materials collide or due to electrical discharges.

Sparks are particularly dangerous because they can ignite easily flammable materials such as gases, vapours or dust. Even small sparks can be enough to trigger a chain reaction that leads to a fire or explosion.

Technical faults are malfunctions or failures of machines and equipment that occur during operation. Such defects can arise from mechanical wear, inadequate maintenance, or improper operation. Some of the most common technical faults that pose a fire risk include overheating, electrical short circuits, and the failure of safety-critical components.

These faults are especially dangerous because they often go unnoticed and can develop gradually. An electrical short circuit can generate sparks that ignite combustible materials, while overheated machine parts can easily set nearby flammable substances on fire.

Overdrying occurs when materials – particularly those with high moisture content such as wood or textiles – are exposed to intense heat sources for extended periods. Excessive drying can make these materials brittle and highly flammable. This often happens during industrial processes or due to improper use of drying equipment.

The danger of overdrying lies in the fact that, while the material may appear dry on the outside, continuous heat exposure can turn it into a potential fire hazard from within. When such overdried materials come into contact with ignition sources like sparks or smouldering nests, they can easily catch fire.

The resulting consequences are often severe. Fires caused by overdrying can lead to devastating damage to equipment and entire production facilities. Moreover, human lives are always at risk.

Duct fires represent a frequently underestimated risk – especially in production facilities where exhaust systems carry smoke and flammable substances such as oils and fats. In the metalworking industry, for example, carbon or graphite deposits can accumulate inside ducts. If sparks reach these deposits, smouldering nests can easily form and develop into duct fires.

Such fires are often detected too late. They typically become noticeable only through soot emissions or visible discolouration of the ductwork. By that point, containment is limited to cooling the exterior of the ducts, and it is usually too late to prevent the fire from spreading to other production areas. Effective detection and extinguishing solutions inside the ductwork are therefore essential to minimise damage.

Dust explosions also represent a significant safety risk. In industrial environments where crushing and transport processes release fine dust from materials such as wood, metal, or food, the potential hazard is particularly high. Dust can accumulate in the air and form explosive atmospheres.

Just a single spark or a small flame is often enough to trigger a major explosion. The resulting pressure wave can cause extensive damage and even provoke secondary explosions from additional dust deposits.