The latest trends and news on protecting your facilities and enclosures from a devastating fire. Stay up to date with Firetrace. Subscribe today!
July 5, 2023
Fires are organized into classes that describe either their primary cause or the type of material that burns. The unique danger posed by a Class C fire, by definition, involves energized electrical equipment—more specifically, “appliances and wiring in which the use of a non-conductive extinguishing agent prevents injury from electrical shock.”
June 26, 2023
Oxygen, heat, fuel—that’s all a fire needs to burn. Electrical rooms can pose a fire hazard because they have all these ingredients in abundance. Electric currents create the heat, especially those flowing through damaged cords or wires because that current can escape. Dust, paper, and any other supplies used can act as the fuel.
June 9, 2023
Power transformers are critical—and expensive—parts of the power grid. These devices convert electricity to higher (or lower) voltages so it can be used appropriately. Transformers are generally classified by the cooling systems that allow them to dissipate heat as they run. Some use oil as an insulator and coolant, while others use gas or even dry powders. But all types require transformer fire protection.
June 6, 2023
Wind turbine installations are set to soar in regions such as South America, India, the Caribbean, and Africa. Projects in such regions are often characterized by hot climates, a focus on limiting costs, and turbines located in remote areas meaning addressing fire risk is essential. There are a number of emerging wind markets around the world where turbine installations are expected to increase dramatically.
May 30, 2023
A clean agent fire suppression system is the best option for those looking to safeguard electrical panels. Clean agents are gaseous fire suppressants that leave no residue and do not conduct electricity—the winning combination for electrical panel protection.
May 30, 2023
In addition to keeping the building occupants safe, most codes require electrical fire protection of some kind. When it comes to electrical cabinet fire protection, organizations like the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) have laid out guidelines for contractors and occupants alike. Learn about some essential building codes for electrical fire safety, and how an electrical room is laid out to promote a safer work environment for everyone.
May 26, 2023
There’s no way around it: transformer fires are highly dangerous, and they can be very expensive. And although they don’t occur frequently, it only takes one catastrophic event to put lives, property, and businesses at great risk. That’s why effective fire suppression systems are so important. With that in mind, how do you protect a transformer from fire? We will briefly explore the essentials of transformer fire protection—including key causes and best practices for preventing transformer fires.
May 11, 2023
Transformers are essential to safely provide power to businesses, infrastructure, and neighborhoods. A transformer is designed to reduce the voltage before it enters the structure or panel, because power lines transmit energy at a very high voltage. The possibility of electrical fires and short circuits are diminished since transformers are made to offer voltage stability and overload tolerance.
November 2, 2022
Among the types of electrical fires, electrical panel fires can be some of the most concerning and damaging. The National Fire Protection Association reports that fires involving electrical malfunctions or failures contribute to the most deaths and property damage each year, especially from November to February, when the weather becomes colder. Electrical panels and their associated circuit breakers become a fire hazard when they aren’t well-maintained, when they aren’t installed correctly, or when they just plain wear out. As the center of the building’s electrical system, the more an electrical panel is damaged by a fire, the greater the downtime, need for repair and risk to people who are on the premises.
November 16, 2021
By 2030, 205GW of new offshore wind capacity is expected to be added globally, according to the Global Wind Energy Council (GWEC). Though this growth is essential for the energy transition, it presents new and heightened challenges to the industry. From getting the energy to shore, the sea-bound commute for operations and maintenance (O&M) teams, or preventing and rapidly responding to a turbine fire in order to reduce the financial, environmental, and reputational impacts, the offshore wind industry has a new set of challenges that it must rise to.
November 1, 2021
Fires in both on and offshore wind turbines can have a devastating impact on developers, investors, and all advocates for clean energy. Whether it’s the reputational damage caused by a visible and photographable incident or the immediate environmental risks like the potential spread of wildfires, it’s clear that the sector must take fire risk seriously.
October 6, 2021
A container yard is a busy place. In August of 2021, the Port Authority of Los Angeles released numbers showing that over 900,000 containers were handled in that month alone, bringing the yearly tally to just over 6 million containers. Container handlers, such as cranes and reach stackers, are critical to meeting these types of productivity demands for ports everywhere. However, unpredictable equipment fires happen frequently, significantly impacting productivity.
