What Is an Industrial Fire and Its Common Causes in Atlanta?

What is an industrial fire? It’s not your garden-variety house blaze. Knowing how to keep your industrial premises safe from fire is crucial, so you must know what causes these devastating fires.

As one of Atlanta’s trusted fire sprinkler companies, Cliff’s Fire Extinguisher Company is here to break down the most prevalent culprits of industrial fires and straightforward ways to prevent them.

What Is an Industrial Fire?

As the name suggests, industrial fires are fires that occur in industrial settings, like warehouses, factories, and power plants. These fires may also involve explosions and happen frequently in buildings that contain combustible or flammable materials. 

This particular disaster can damage machinery, which impacts business productivity. In some cases, industrial fires can injure employees or even result in deaths.

What Causes Industrial Fires in Atlanta?

To keep your business safe from the dangers of industrial fires, it's important to know what causes them. 

Combustible Dust

Dust may seem harmless, but one spark can trigger a fire when it accumulates. Any fine particulate byproducts of manufacturing processes can create this volatile dust, including:

• Sawdust in furniture factories
• Metal particles in machine shops
• Flour in bakeries
• Coal dust in energy production facilities

Scheduled cleaning is your best defense against dust. Improving ventilation and employing dust collection systems can also help dust mitigation. 

Hot Work

Hot work is a term that covers any process that can produce sparks and heat, making it a prime contender for igniting a fire. Atlanta’s growing automotive manufacturing industry involves hot work activities such as welding and grinding.

Proper training and safety procedures are essential for preventing a fire in these scenarios. Frequent breaks, allowing equipment to cool down, and maintaining a clean work environment free of flammable materials can also lower the risk.

Electrical Hazards

Electrical hazards remain major causes of industrial fires, including:

• Loose or frayed wires
• Overloaded circuits 
• Static discharge

Simple preventive measures such as regular electrical inspections, prompt replacement of damaged wiring, and adherence to electrical code reduce this fire hazard.

Overheated Machinery

An outdated or faulty piece of equipment can overheat or create sparks that ignite a fire if they come into contact with flammable materials. Regular equipment checks and prompt repairs protect your Atlanta-based company from property damage and workplace injuries.

Flammable Liquids and Gases

Naturally volatile substances can kindle a blaze with astonishing speed and ferocity, such as:

• Gasoline
• Propane
• Acetone
• Alcohols

Always exercise extreme caution when dealing with these substances by following proper containment and usage protocols.

Keep Your Business Safe With Atlanta’s Go-To Extinguisher Company

Many establishments throughout Atlanta and North Georgia trust Cliff’s Fire Extinguisher Company with their fire safety and industrial fire suppression needs. Contact the experienced team for tailor-fit solutions or more insight into questions like, "What is an industrial fire?"