SAFE HYDRAULICS PART THREE: REDUCING FIRE HAZARDS.

Loughborough-based Flotec, a leading supplier of hydraulic and pneumatic solutions to industry, discusses how to reduce the risk of fire hazards caused by hydraulic fluid.

Whilst thankfully rare, hydraulic hose failure can cause hazardous fires.

Fires caused by hydraulic hose failure usually occur when a blown hose or pinhole leak expels hydraulic fluid close to high-temperature surfaces of mechanical components such as engines or generators. The result can be catastrophic.

Oil Mist is often a major contributor to explosions on equipment with hydraulic hosing.

Oil mist can form when high pressure hydraulic fluid is sprayed through a crack in the hose or through a full failure and the hydraulic oil lands on a hot surface, vaporizes and then contacts with a lower temperature.

When the concentration of oil mist increases and reaches the lower explosion limit, explosion may occur when the mist either contacts surfaces over 200°C or interacts with a spark.

There have been several such fires and explosions to machines and vehicles over the past few years.

These incidents are obviously hazardous to life but also incur substantial costs.

Flotec Industrial Limited supports its clients in designing, supplying, and installing the most effective and safe hydraulic hose applications possible.

Flotec offers an extensive range of world class hydraulic hoses for different applications and uses.

When considering the need to safely control hydraulic hose failure, Flotec recommends the LifeGuard sleeve.

LifeGuard sleeves provide containment up to 70 MPa bursts and pinhole leaks up to 35,0 MPa.

• Correlates to ISO 3457 and meets MSHA flame resistance.

• The LifeGuard clamping system allows the fluid to safely escape down the length of the assembly.

• Provides containment up to 10,000 psi burst or pin hole leak.

• Creates a noticeable spill for hose failure detection.

Flotec has installed LifeGuard sleeves to many of its customer assets who want to reduce the risk of fire and explosions where Flotec’s solution is now considered to be standard best-practice.

To find out more about the Flotec’s LifeGuard protection sleeves and entire industrial product range and service provision, call the team on +44 (0) 1509 230 100 or email sales@floteconline.com

Alternatively, head to www.flotecindustrial.co.uk and submit an online enquiry.