Fire Risks in Businesses
From human negligence to chemical reactions: the most common causes of fire in the wood, paper and chemical industries.
Did you know that one of the main fire risks in businesses is human negligence?
Whether it is a lack of maintenance, misuse of machinery or the complete absence of fire prevention systems, businesses suffer heavy losses from fires, and recovering from these events takes a great deal of effort, time and money.
How do these fire risks start?
They can be caused by problems such as:
- Electrical overload
- Electrical system failure
- Improper use of flammable materials
- Human negligence
Depending on the sector, the most common causes of fire tend to vary somewhat. In this section we will focus on the Wood, Paper and Chemical sectors.
There are different reasons, but fires in the Wood-Paper sector can be caused by:
Friction: Friction between two bodies produces heat and, if this heat is not properly dissipated, it can produce a spark that may lead to a fire.
Excessive heat: It has different sources and, if not controlled, can lead to a serious risk.
Exothermic chemical reactions: These reactions can occur due to the presence of flammable or oxidising chemicals.
Cigarettes/Matches: These small ignition sources may seem harmless, but they pose a significant risk in environments where flammable materials are present.
Hot materials: They can start fires if they come into contact with flammable materials.
In the Chemical sector, they are:
Friction, exothermic chemical reactions and cigarettes/matches, as in the Wood-Paper sector.
Equipment overheating: Equipment can overheat for various reasons, such as mechanical failure, electrical overload or lack of maintenance.
Gas leaks: These gases can build up in confined spaces and form explosive mixtures, which may happen due to leaking valves, connections or pipes, ruptured containers or an accidental release of gas during transfer processes.
Spontaneous combustion: Some materials, especially organic ones, can undergo slow oxidation that generates heat. If this heat is not dissipated, it can reach ignition temperature and cause a fire.
However, it is important to know not only the causes of fires but also their consequences and the kind of losses businesses suffer. These often include:
- Materials
- Infrastructure
- Loss of documents
- Staff mobility
- Reputation
- Productivity
- Customers
- Nature
To avoid these situations, our Sallus and Extinguishing Agent/Retardant solutions help detect and prevent fires in both homes and businesses, so do not wait to face these losses and get a good fire safety system with Hephaesnus.
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