During the Autumn season, fire incidences are at its lowest. However, fires relating to cooking are at its peak, and heating-related structure fires start to increase during these months. This time of the year, there are a lot of big holidays that are celebrated, which increase big holiday dinners gatherings. Not to mention, the weather is cool, so there is an increase in heating equipment being used.
According to the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA), fire is the culprit behind almost 40 percent of all industrial property loss, and is the highest cause of commercial property damage. Fire departments in the U.S. responded to an estimated average of 37,910 fires at industrial or manufacturing properties, with $1.2 billion in direct property damage. With industrial fires causing such an issue, what are the top three services that will help prevent workplace fires?
Many manufacturing and production companies create large amounts of dust during the manufacturing process, which is often just considered a nuisance and not cleaned thoroughly. These dusts can cause an explosion hazard however, even when they come from materials that are usually not flammable, such as aluminum.
Even if basic housekeeping is performed in the facility this dust can remain airborne or collect on high surfaces, which allows for a combustible dust cloud to form. There have been multiple huge industrial explosions caused by these dust clouds igniting, and OSHA now looks for and gives citations for these dust accumulations. Having this dust professionally cleaned with explosion proof equipment is the only safe and approved way to prevent workplace fires.
Vibrations in the facility can shake built up loose dust, dirt, grease, and other materials commonly found on the high surfaces, which could contaminate the production below. Chunks of this debris can enter the ventilation and clog up the HVAC system. This creates poor indoor air quality, which according to the EPA is a leading environmental threat and cause of airborne sickness. Not to mention, some dusts can become a fire hazard when built up on high surface areas. Numerous explosions have occurred when built up dust created an explosive dust cloud.
Regular rafter and ceiling cleaning removes dust, dirt, grease, and other materials commonly found on the high surfaces of manufacturing and production facilities. This will help keep your facility’s work environment clean and safe, while also preventing dust explosion hazards.
Dust can stay in the air for days, depending on its size, and over time will be brought into the ventilation ductwork as air flows through the building. The dust will begin to settle in sections of the ventilation where there is anything that might begin to snag the dust flowing past. This can lead to significant accumulations of potentially explosive dust, even if the rest of the building appears clean and safe.
According to NFPA 654, cleaning is needed immediately “whenever a dust layer of 1/32- inch thickness accumulates over a surface area of at least 5% of the floor area of the facility or any given room.” The same rule applies when it comes to cleaning a facility’s ductwork.
Commercial duct cleaning can help your business save money on energy by allowing your facility’s ventilation system to run more efficiently, and help reduce the risk of fires in the ductwork — especially in manufacturing facilities where combustible dust is present. It also helps improve indoor air quality by removing dirt, dust and debris from your HVAC system. This includes cleaning the grilles and registers, which helps to keep particles out of the ambient air.
Do you have an industrial cleaning plan to help prevent workplace fires? Contact Us Here or call us at 888-845-3952 to find out how Hughes Environmental can help can help you keep your industrial work environment clean and safe.