Why proper fire protection in incineration plants is vital
In the world of incineration plants, safety and reliability are not options, but absolute necessities. These plants work under extreme conditions every day, and even the smallest defects can have catastrophic consequences – from destroying the plant itself to endangering human lives. ‘This is why the right fire protection, especially with high-quality doors and hatches, is absolutely vital,’ states Karsten Vogt, Managing Director of Langen Feuerungsbau in Duisburg and manufacturer of special fire-resistant doors for incinerators, furnaces and power plants.
The invisible dangers of thermal utilisation: explosions and extreme heat
In waste incineration plants and power stations, materials are incinerated at extremely high temperatures. This is also known as thermal utilisation. This thermal utilisation process generates not only enormous amounts of heat, but also gases and dust, which under certain circumstances can be highly explosive. A door that is not properly sealed, a defective weld seam or an inadequately insulated manhole can quickly become the spark for an explosion during thermal utilisation.
‘The risk of explosions during thermal utilisation is real and must never be underestimated. The pressure waves and the energy released can cause immense damage to the infrastructure and, above all, put the personnel who work in these facilities at great risk. Added to this is the constant threat of extreme heat. An uncontrolled fire in an incineration plant can spread rapidly and reduce entire areas to rubble and ash,’ says Managing Director Anja Vogt, who runs Langen Feuerungsbau together with Karsten Vogt.
Langen Feuerungsbau’s answer: quality that saves lives
This is exactly where Langen Feuerungsbau comes in. For many years, the Duisburg-based company and its experienced team have been developing and manufacturing special doors, manholes and inspection hatches that meet precisely the extreme requirements of thermal utilisation. ‘We know that there can be no compromises when it comes to fire protection. Which is why our products are the result of extensive research, precise construction and the highest quality materials,’ says Karsten Vogt.
- Explosion doors: Specially developed to give way in a controlled manner in the event of an explosion and thus relieve the pressure. This protects the structure of the plant and minimises the risk to personnel.
- Access doors and manholes: these allow safe access for maintenance work, but are also designed and insulated in such a way that they can be relied upon to trap heat and prevent flames from escaping.
- Display doors and hatches: these allow visual monitoring of the combustion process and thermal utilisation without jeopardising the integrity of the system.
‘Where we at Langen Feuerungsbau excel in particular is with our own design department and in-house steel construction. For our customers worldwide, this means that not only can we choose from an extensive portfolio of standard doors, we can also develop and manufacture customised solutions to the exact specifications of our industrial customers. Thanks to the customised combination of material and insulation components, our doors are designed for a wide range of temperature ranges and fields of application – for power plants, waste incineration plants for thermal recycling, or for other industrial processes.
Fire protection is an investment in the future
The right fire protection is more than just a legal requirement; it is an investment in the safety of employees, the protection of the plant and the continuity of production. Our customers therefore rely on solutions that can withstand extreme stress and, in an emergency, save lives.
"We at Langen Feuerungsbau are proud to be able to play our part in increasing safety in the industrial and energy sectors worldwide. Because one thing is clear to us: in fire protection, quality is vital," says Anja Vogt.