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Industrial fire protection for filter systems

Stop ignition sources and help prevent filter fires—before sparks turn into a fire

Wherever combustible dusts and other flammable residues from production processes are collected, there is a risk of fire. Sparks and embers can enter filter systems through extraction ducts and trigger fires there. But ignition sources can also develop within the filter system itself—even after production has stopped.

With the GreCon PROTECTOR FILTER, we help protect filter systems against a range of fire hazards. Our modular fire protection system combines intelligent spark detection, automatic spark suppression, and early fire detection into a coordinated protection concept. This helps reduce fire risks, protect your systems, and prevent costly production downtime.

  • Detect and automatically extinguish ignition sources before they reach the filter
  • Detect emerging filter fires at an early stage, both during operation and when the system is shut down
  • Tailor protective measures to the specific plant and production process

Risks and challenges

Why filter systems are particularly at risk of fire

Industrial filtration systems frequently combine combustible dusts, oxygen, and potential ignition sources. Production processes that generate large quantities of combustible particles—for example, in the engineered wood, paper, food, or metal industries—are particularly at risk.

The fire risk is not limited to the separated material. Dust deposits in piping, filter hoppers, and on filter media can also lead to ignition. In addition, the filter media themselves can contribute to the fire load. Under certain conditions, explosive dust-air mixtures can also form.

Effective fire protection must therefore take various hazards into account.

Fires in filter media during operation

If a fire breaks out in the filter media, it is often not immediately visible from the outside. The continuous airflow can dilute or carry away the initial signs of fire. Without suitable monitoring, valuable time for an early response is lost.

Smoldering fires and spontaneous combustion during shutdowns

Even when production has stopped, there is a risk of fire. Under certain conditions, dust deposits and accumulations of material can heat up spontaneously and trigger ignition. Smoldering fires are particularly dangerous, as they can go undetected for a long time inside the filter system and spread gradually.

Sparks and embers from the production process

During mechanical processing, friction, foreign objects, or high process temperatures can create sparks and glowing particles. The airflow carries them through the extraction ducts toward the filter. If they come into contact with flammable deposits or filter media there, a fire may develop.

GreCon PROTECTOR FILTER: Industrial fire protection that intervenes at an early stage

A reliable fire protection concept for filter systems begins upstream of the filter and also takes into account potential ignition sources within the system.

GreCon PROTECTOR FILTER combines intelligent detection, centralized signal processing, and automatic protective measures to achieve this. The components work together as a coordinated system: they detect hazards, process the signals, and initiate the appropriate responses.

This allows different protection areas to be safeguarded—from the raw gas pipeline through the interior of the filter to the clean gas side, both during production and when the plant is shut down.

Detecting ignition sources and signs of fire at an early stage

The SCOUT detectors monitor the critical areas of the filtration process.

In the raw gas pipeline, spark detectors detect sparks and embers before they reach the filter system. Additional detectors on the clean gas side can indicate emerging fires on the filter media during operation.

Temperature detectors can be installed inside the filter for early fire detection during shutdowns. They monitor critical temperature trends, even when there is no airflow.

Process signals. Control protective measures locally.

GreCon MISSION CONTROL consolidates the information from the connected detectors, monitors the fire protection system, and coordinates the specified protective measures.

The GreCon RANGER handles decentralized signal processing directly near the detection and suppression components. It processes signals on-site and controls the necessary responses within milliseconds. This shortens signal paths and reduces the amount of cabling required.

Together, MISSION CONTROL and RANGER form an intelligent, distributed system architecture that can be flexibly adapted to different plant structures.

Extinguish ignition sources. Limit the spread of fire.

HUNTER extinguishing components respond to detected ignition sources. In the raw gas pipeline, they can automatically extinguish sparks and embers before they reach the filter.

If critical conditions are detected within the filter system, GreCon PROTECTOR FILTER can trigger further protective measures, such as shutting down fans, closing dampers, or activating a filter extinguishing system.

The measures implemented depend on the system and the agreed protection concept.

GreCon PROTECTOR system concept with detection, control, and extinguishing
Before the filter, within the filter, after the filter: the PROTECTOR components help safeguard every protection area of a filter system.

Filter protection tailored to your process

Filter systems vary in design, size, airflow, and the materials they handle—and so do their fire risks. An effective protection concept must take these specific characteristics into account.

With GreCon PROTECTOR FILTER, we combine the appropriate detection, control, and protection components into a system tailored to your plant. The modular architecture enables flexible solutions for both new and existing filter systems.

1

Analyzing risks

We review materials, possible ignition sources, and the plant layout, taking into account fire risks both during operation and when the plant is shut down.

2

Combining protective measures

We tailor spark detection, automatic spark suppression, and other protective measures to your plant, creating an end-to-end fire protection concept.

3

Integrating and supporting

We integrate GreCon PROTECTOR FILTER into your plant and expand the system as needed. Regular service and maintenance help keep it ready for operation over the long term.

Experience you can rely on

For over 50 years, we have been developing solutions for preventive industrial fire protection. Our systems help protect production lines across a wide range of industries and under demanding operating conditions.

This expertise goes into every new protection concept. With GreCon PROTECTOR, we combine decades of experience with an intelligent, modular system architecture—for reliable fire protection tailored to the requirements of your production process.

200,000+
protected production lines worldwide
75,000
tailor-made protection plans
50+
years of experience in industrial fire protection
Milliseconds
from spark detection to extinguishing

Filter protection in practice

Detector on pipe

Siegfried Jacob Metallwerke

Filter protection at high process temperatures

The melting processes at Siegfried Jacob Metallwerke generate high temperatures. Sparks can be carried by the exhaust airflow into downstream filter systems, where they can trigger fires. …

Case Study
Several chutes fitted with GreCon detectors

Kröger Druck

Stopping sparks before they reach the filter

During the further processing of printed materials, shives or friction can generate sparks. These are carried toward the filter system along with the extracted material. …

Case Study

Fire protection for filter systems: Frequently asked questions

Yes. GreCon PROTECTOR FILTER has a modular design and can be adapted to different plant configurations.

The detectors, extinguishing components, and control functions required depend on the existing filter, the process conditions, and the safety equipment already in place.

Even after a system has been shut down, dust deposits or filter media can ignite.

Temperature sensors inside the filter make it possible to monitor critical temperature trends, regardless of the current airflow. If hazards are detected, GreCon PROTECTOR FILTER can trigger alarms and activate automatic protective measures.

One option is spark detection on the clean air side. If the filter media are intact, no sparks should occur there. If sparks are nevertheless detected, this may indicate a fire in the filter media.

GreCon PROTECTOR FILTER processes the relevant signals and triggers the designated protective measures.

An upstream spark suppression system helps reduce the risk of detected ignition sources entering the filter system. However, fires can also break out inside the filter, for example due to spontaneous combustion of deposits.

For this reason, additional monitoring of the filter interior and the clean gas side may be advisable. GreCon PROTECTOR FILTER makes it possible to combine these protective functions within a coordinated system.

GreCon PROTECTOR FILTER detects sparks and embers as early as the raw gas pipeline. The SCOUT detectors report detected ignition sources to MISSION CONTROL, which automatically activates the corresponding HUNTER extinguishing components.

This allows ignition sources to be extinguished before they reach the filter system.

Sparks and embers are produced, for example, by mechanical processing, friction, foreign objects, or thermal processes. The airflow from the extraction system carries them toward the filter, where they can ignite flammable materials.

Filtration systems remove dust and particles from industrial production processes. If these materials are combustible, they can be ignited by sparks, embers, or other ignition sources. Deposits and combustible filter media also contribute to the fire load.

Under certain conditions, explosive dust-air mixtures may also form.

Silo and filter plant at an industrial site
Combustible dust, oxygen, ignition sources: filter systems often contain all the elements that contribute to fires.

Protect your filtration system before a fire brings production to a halt.

Find the right fire protection solution with GreCon PROTECTOR FILTER. Talk to our experts about the risks in your production process and the appropriate protective measures.