dust collector fire? learn how to stay safe and prevent damages

POST-FIRE INSPECTION PROCEDURES

www.slyinc.com800-334-2957

sales@slyinc.com

LEARN HOW TO STAY SAFE AND PREVENT DAMAGES

DAMAGE INSPECTION

• Tubesheet• Pulse pipes• Hopper• Entryways• Bolted flanges• Compressed air piping

• Housing walls• Downstream

equipment• Rupture panels

(explosion vents)• Overall inspection

TUBESHEET• Check for warped

Tubesheet• Any deviation of more

than ¼” in a 24” span is considered excessive– Place a two-foot-long

straight edge at any location on the tubesheet and if the distance from “high spots” to “low spots” is over ¼”, damage is excessive.

PULSE PIPES• Fire damage in pulse

pipes is rare– Abrasive wear might be

present in older collectors

• Look for damage and replace as needed

HOPPER• Look for accumulation

of debris and molten metal in the bottom of the hopper

• Remove as much as possible

Pyramidal hopper

ENTRYWAYS• Look at– Access doors– Ports– Roof hatches– Other external entry points

• Search for warpage preventing doors and ports from properly sealing

• Straighten or replace excessive damage

BOLTED FLANGES• Check bolted flanges for damage, including brittle,

powdery, or hard textures which can cause cracks, breaks, and gaps– Pay special attention to tubesheet-housing connection

and hopper-housing connection• Methodology– Slide short, flat piece of metal between flanges to check

for gaps– Look for daylight through the flange connections when inside unit

COMPRESSED AIR PIPING• Inspect– Clamps– Hoses– Tubing

• Don’t forget– Wall grommets– Morris pipe clamps– Diaphragm

valve/solenoid valve tubing

• Replace damaged parts as needed

Photo credit: http://3.imimg.com/data3/TJ/AM/MY-9263877/compressed-air-pipe-250x250.jpg

HOUSING WALLS• Search for excessive distortion or permanent

deflection of the housing walls• Warpage creates contact with the installed filter

bags and causes premature wear• Distorted stiffeners lowers allowable design

pressure• Distortion generally cannot be straightened– Replacement may be required

DOWNSTREAM EQIPMENT

• Look at downstream equipment– Pay close attention to

components parts (e.g. the fan)

• Damage most likely confined to debris

• Fan bearings may be affected if exposed to fire or molten debris

RUPTURE PANELS• Check to ensure explosion vents are not damaged

or weakened• Repair or replace as needed

OVERALL INSPECTION• Use common sense• What “doesn’t look

right” to you?• Call us with any

questions or concerns at 800-334-2957

PREVENTION• Scorch damage• Ductwork• Rupture panels (explosion vents)• Witnesses

SCORCH DAMAGE• Look for scorch damage, or discoloration, of

paint• Discoloration high on housing may mean a

fire on filter bags– Determine source of fire (i.e. the “spark”)– Consider grounded filters

• Discoloration low on housing may indicate a hopper fire

DUCTWORK• Look for similar scorch damage, or

discoloration, on paint on the ductwork• May indicate fire started in or before the

ducting and was drawn into baghouse by fan• Isolation or suppression equipment in

ductwork may be warranted

RUPTURE PANELS• If baghouse experienced a fire, but not an

explosion, rupture panels may have malfunctioned• Inspect for damage and replace as needed

Photo credit: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Explosion_vent

WITNESSES• Talk to employees,

maintenance personnel, etc.

• Isolate the starting point of the fire and address suppression and control at that location

POST-FIRE INSPECTION PROCEDURES,REPAIR AND PREVENTION

www.slyinc.com800-334-2957sales@slyinc.com

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