Are you aware of the causes of industrial fires and explosions? Here are a few.
One of the many things businesses hate thinking about is a fire hazard in their factories. With a variety of machinery and chemicals around, a fire accident in factories is not unusual. A fire hazard ruins valuable company assets and revenue. Also, fires in factories spread very quickly, and can be life-threatening. In this article, we shall discuss some of the most common causes of industrial fires and explosions.
Let’s dive right in. 
Combustible Spec Dust
Combustible dust is particles that can lead to an eruption if left suspended in the air. These eruptions can destroy valuable company assets and can also be life-threatening. In most cases, factory managers and personnel aren’t aware of the detrimental nature of combustible dust and the magnitude of damage they can cause. Information related to dust-related fire hazards should be communicated to the factory staff to prevent such mishaps.
Flammable Gases and Liquids
Another cause of industrial fires and explosions are flammable gases and liquids. Such fires are disastrous and often take place at chemical plants. Unfortunately, these liquids and gases often go unnoticed, which leads to fatal fire hazards. To prevent such occurrences, factory managers should educate their staff about the flammable nature of such substances.
Hot Work
Regardless of what industry it is, hot work is one of the primary causes of fires in factories. Some factory processes that can lead to a fire include welding, soldering, brazing, burning and torch cutting. Sparks and molten materials in factories can heat up to almost 1,000 degrees and have the ability to travel up to 35 feet and more. In the case of dust fires, hot work is the primary perpetrator. The sparks produced from hot work can easily burn the dust particles in the surrounding.
Faulty Equipment
Another major cause of fire hazards in factories is faulty machines and equipment. The biggest problems in factories are hot work and heating equipment. As a result, electrical consultants make sure the furnaces are installed, operated and tested properly. Furthermore, the moving parts in machines cause friction when they come into contact with one another, which can result in a horrible fire accident. Only through timely inspection and regular maintenance can such fire hazards be avoided.
Electrical Fire Hazards
Last but not least, fire accidents in factories take place because of electrical problems. Let’s take a look at some of the most common examples of electrical fire hazards in factories.
- Static discharge
- Exposed wires
- Extension cords
- Overloading outlets
- Overloaded circuits
To enhance safety in your factory, make sure to have the machinery tested. Doing so will not only prevent fire hazards, but you will also improve work efficiency. Furthermore, you need to invest in the maintenance of your production line machinery as well as the fire alarms. Make sure you have water sprinklers and fire extinguishers installed on your premises.
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