Filters and Silos are key components in the woodworking process. A fire or dust explosion can have devastating consequences, for example lengthy down time, machinery damage and loss of revenue. Then there’s the worst case scenario – loss of life.
Machinery can create ignition sources and there’s a large risk they will travel along your production line and into the filter. Once inside the filter, combined with wood dust and oxygen, you have the perfect recipe for a fire or dust explosion. The risk in a silo is even greater when the material is stored in layers and can take several days to extinguish due to the large volumes of material stored.
Typical causes of fire/dust explosions in filters and silos:
- Friction
- Machinery breakdown
- Foreign bodies
- Electrical problems
- Human error
Firefly design protection systems according to the characteristics of the material as well as the way the process is designed. In order for a fire or a dust explosion to occur, the ignition source needs to have a certain temperature and energy.
Filter protection
In order to protect a filter, Firefly delivers detectors that can indicate sparks and hot particles with a temperature over 400°C. An extinguishing zone is normally installed to eliminate these dangerous particles.
Silo protection
In order to protect a silo, Firefly delivers detectors that can indicate
sparks and hot particles with a temperature over 250°C. As with a filter, an extinguishing zone is installed to eliminate these dangerous particles.
Firefly’s tailor-made system solutions for the woodworking industry effectively minimise the risks for fire or dust explosion in filters and
silos.