Machinery fires

[Cheesehead]

Out of interest after talking to a relative who nearly lost their combine this year to a fire and with a number of combine fires making the local papers this summer I was wondering if any of the manufacturers or those with expensive equipment had ever thought of install automatic fire suppressant systems on them like https://fogmaker.uk so that they're snuffed out before they can do a more damage and cut down on repair/replacement/insurance premium costs.

 

[Sussex Martin]

There are some excellent automatic extinguisher systems about and i am surprised that insurance companies don't insist on them being fitted to combines and other machines that are prone to fires.

 

[Cheesehead]

That's what I was thinking as well as the manufacturers not working with the companies to do bespoke systems either as standard or as an option.

I know in the US having them fitted to at risk machinery can lower the insurance premium

 

[Pheasant Surprise]

I know its a terrible thing to say, but sometimes its better to walk away and let it burn, rather than having a partially burnt machine that will never be the same as a new one iyswim.

 

[JWL]

Most of the old nails I used to drive you would dream they'd catch fire but they didn't. I've only ever had one start, the straw chopper clutch on an old New Holland 8080 seized up one night, the damned thing went out by itself. A lot of fires are down to poor maintenance or electrical so a lot of them avoidable

 

[Farmer Roy]

Err, we get a lot of fires, obviously our harvest conditions can be very hot & dry at times

Every header ( combine ) owner has a large air compressor for blowing down machines everyday, especially around the danger areas of engine bay etc, which greatly reduces the risk

However, we also get a lot of fires starting from static electricity. I've seen spot fires on vertical body work, caused by a combination of static, dust & environmental conditions

I've also known of people who've melted holes through plastic fuel tanks due to these smouldering static fires, not realising until they re fuel & diesel starts running out

Some crops are worse than others with static & dust fires, chickpeas & sunflowers being the worst - their dust seems particulary susceptible. Thankfully, there is very little stubble from these crops, so not much chance of the field catching fire from embers dropping on the ground. I know people drag chains to try & earth out the machines, but doesn't seem to help.

As for fire suppression, doubt if that would be practical in static fires which can occur anywhere, but would seem to make sense around engine bay etc

I think sheer expense is the issue, & the problem can be managed with vigilance, maintenance & machine cleanliness.

I only use harvest contractors, so don't own a header ( combine ) myself, but at the end of the day, there isn't THAT much money in running these machines, there isn't a bottomless pot of money to keep spending . . .

Machines are always blown down every day, even multiple times a day if needed, everyone carries fire extinguishers & there is always a fire cart parked near where they are working. Plus, everyone is always conscious of any smoke or smell etc. We also like to maintain bare areas or safe areas where machines can be parked, to avoid any fire risk to the machine or the crop / stubble

 

[Frankzy]

Wait what?
Forestry machines have had sprinkler systems equipped as standard for more than 25 years and they still won't even provide it as an option on combines?

 

[ollie989898]

You can get certified fire suppression equipment fitted to virtually anything but it costs money and has to be maintained annually like anything else.

I bet it would be unheard of to run a lot of quarry or specialist plant without these systems because of their immense cost and long lead times with replacement.

 

[Dead Rabbits]

Roy said it well, used to do or see pretty much all those things. Take every shield off and blow it down EVERY night. And don't hire smokers to run your machines, they usually can't smell smoke.

When I used to drive machines we blew down, greased and fueled each night so that we could make sure no smoldering fires flared up after shut down. Also greasing at night allowed you to check some of the bearings for heat.

Those static fires are trippy, they make no sense and when combined with 50+ mph winds they can really go.

We all breathed a sigh of relief when JD went back to steel fuel tanks.

 

[nick...]

I'm sure manufacturers don't fit fire suppression stuff as it woukd up the cost and farmers woukd not like that.every combine burnt out is another sale so they probably don't bother with fire suppression.bit like Japanese motorbikes that did and still get nicked.manufacturers are not bothered as it's another sale.
Nick...

 

[essexpete]

I know its a terrible thing to say, but sometimes its better to walk away and let it burn, rather than having a partially burnt machine that will never be the same as a new one iyswim.

Reminds me of an old Tipper driver I know who ran his own mixer in the 70s. A really unreliable Guy (A make of truck for those under 50). He was working on one of the local refinery sites and decided to leave an oily rag on the exhaust pipe. It was well on the way to a burn before the in house refinery fire team stopped him and put it out. The truck turned from a heap of sh1t into a partially burnt heap of sh1t.

 

[roscoe erf]

There are some excellent automatic extinguisher systems about and i am surprised that insurance companies don't insist on them being fitted to combines and other machines that are prone to fires.

said with no vested interest ever

 

[Sussex Martin]

said with no vested interest ever

Actually no, not my area of expertise and not a service that we offer

 

[milkloss]

Surely fires started by hot bearings etc wouldn't be stopped by onboard fire suppression anyway. They need cooling down with water to prevent reignition.

 

[2wheels]

I'm sure manufacturers don't fit fire suppression stuff as it woukd up the cost and farmers woukd not like that.every combine burnt out is another sale so they probably don't bother with fire suppression.bit like Japanese motorbikes that did and still get nicked.manufacturers are not bothered as it's another sale.
Nick...

i think bmw bikes are the most nicked, nick.

 

[holywell farmer]

Surely fires started by hot bearings etc wouldn't be stopped by onboard fire suppression anyway. They need cooling down with water to prevent reignition.

Fit at least 2 fire extinguishers in the cab then at least give yourself a chance of saving the machine if something does catch

 

[MrNoo]

Be nice enough if it ever got dry enough to have enough dust to cause a fire, summers are not what they used to be!

 

[nick...]

i think bmw bikes are the most nicked, nick.

They maybe now but about 15 years ago it was all Japanese sports bikes that ended up being broken and parts sold for production racing
Nick...

 

[Sparkplug]

Wait what?
Forestry machines have had sprinkler systems equipped as standard for more than 25 years and they still won't even provide it as an option on combines?

Keeps the production line moving !- just imagine how many fire there are per season around the world - sniff all those out - they are going to have to reduce manufacturing capacity.

 

[Hesstondriver]

in the printing industry- printing presses (ones using UV light any way) are virtually uninsurable if a CO2 system is not fitted - this has been an industry standard for years. yes it is expensive circa 5%of cost of machine , but hit the button and lots of noise and clouds of co2 later - no fire! ive seen one used in anger on a press fire. in this case a £1200 refill cost saved a 2 million machine, and was up and running again in a couple of hours. blood scary mind - fills the room with the stuff !