FIRE SAFETY

Industrial environments are, more than others, subject to the danger of even sudden fires. The reason for this higher risk is generally to be found in the company's activity itself: a good part of the production processes in fact uses, in some way, substances that are inherently combustible - or that generate gases, fumes, or dusts that are themselves combustible. A process that is a typical example of this situation is welding.

In addition to this, the fact that some substances that are not inherently dangerous can become so simply by increasing their concentration in the air should not be underestimated.

Naturally, industrial environments where there is a risk of fire are normally equipped with appropriate fire extinguishing safety systems; however, this is often not a sufficient precaution to completely avert the danger. The presence of an aspiration system that constantly conveys dangerous substances away from the environments in use is, in fact, very important, capturing them as close as possible to the source and quickly disposing of them to the purification and filtration systems that will neutralize them.

This, however, shifts the problem: at several points in the filtration system, in fact - and especially in the filters themselves, where the substances in question accumulate - a very high risk of fire exists, and this must be managed, especially considering that the strong airflow that flows through these types of systems could prove to be a terrible vehicle for the spread of flames if they were to ignite.

There are essentially two types of products for the fire safety of dust removal systems.

• The first consists of temperature sensors that are installed along the pipes, hoppers, and in other critical positions: these constantly monitor the system and can thus signal a safety system of the first signs of a fire so as to activate water, CO2, nitrogen, or other types of extinguishing systems.

• The second consists of special cyclonic devices called "spark separators". A spark separator is a section of the forced air path through the pipes, in which a screw trap is inserted. This – without the need for moving or electrical parts – puts the flow itself into a cyclonic motion, bringing the larger and heavier particulate particles – the same ones that can carry a spark – downwards, where they are eliminated.

For this type of product it is essential to underline, even more than elsewhere, the fundamental importance of maintenance.

If the spark separator, in fact, having no circuits or moving parts is essentially eternal, the sensors must necessarily be checked at periodic intervals by a competent technician, so as to maintain their high sensitivity and be able to provide a danger warning with sufficient timeliness.