New silo fire guideline available
A silo fire may start as a small and hidden fire but may develop into a long-lasting and potentially dangerous incident. Dust explosions and ruptures of the silo are some of the potential consequences if not handled with care.
A short guideline with 13 measures and 4 warnings has been published to assist and facilitate the work during the emergency phase of a silo fire.
Silo fires can be long-lasting and potentially dangerous. RISE’s handbook and guideline (English and Swedish/Norwegian) may support owners and fire services during the incident. Photo: Gunnar Stattin/Tidningen Ångermanland, with permission.
Storage safety of biomass is important for agriculture, process industry, food industry, the waste sector, and other arenas with storage of large quantities of solid biomass. Animal foods, straw, wood pellets and chips, organic waste, and more can self-ignite given the right conditions.
Silos are efficient for storage, but also have several challenges in case of a fire.
Handbook and guideline
Key knowledge from experienced RISE personnel is presented by Henry Persson (now retired from RISE) in the handbook “Silo Fires,” or “Brand i silo” in Swedish. Based on this, in 2023 we published a short guideline which summarizes 13 measures and decisions needed in connection with a suspected or confirmed silo fire and 4 warnings on what to avoid.
Storage safety of biomass is important, since animal foods, wood pellets etc can self-ignite given the right conditions. Photo: RISE Research Institutes of Sweden, with permission.
This guideline is made to assist and facilitate the work during the emergency phase of a silo fire.
Ragni Fjellgaard Mikalsen
ragni.mikalsen@risefr.no
For more information, visit www.ri.se/en.
