Fire and explosion in food and drink
processing sector addressed in new risk
management webinar programme
Food and drink processing
manufacturers worldwide have the
opportunity to learn how to minimise
the risk of plant fire and explosion, in
the form of a new webinar programme
by international provider of thermal
fluid system support, maintenance and
risk management services, Thermal
Fluid Solutions (TFS). The launch
coincides with the firm’s introduction of
convenient online training for existing
customers, which include 2 Sisters,
Cargill and Moy Park.
TFS’ webinar programme is designed
to help food and drink processing
manufacturers to manage the risk of
fire and explosion associated with the
operation of thermal fluid systems,
helping them to ensure that they run
safely, efficiently, cost-effectively and
with statutory compliance.
Delivered by TFS’ managing director,
Richard Franklin, and TFS America’s
chief executive officer, Marc Gingras,
the webinars will cover topics relating
to risk identification and reduction,
and regulatory compliance. The first
addressed the issue of Covid 19
plant closure and the consequent
opportunities and threats.
The webinars will take place at regular
intervals and are easily accessible to all
- not just existing TFS customers – by
registering via the company’s website,
where a dedicated page provides details
of forthcoming events, along with the
opportunity to review previous sessions.
In a further online development,
customers of TFS’ PACT (Professional
Accreditation Compliance Team) Partner
Programme can now undertake training
online as well as face-to-face during
site visits.
54 FDPP - www.fdpp.co.uk
PACT was developed to enable food
and drink processing manufacturers
to protect their assets and ensure
production reliability while minimising
the risk of fire and explosion.
It includes advice, implementation
and the generation of compliance
paperwork, and retained customers
undertake the annual refresher training
with UK-based Franklin as part of their
work to achieve and maintain statutory
compliance.
As well as offering customers greater
convenience and flexibility as they strive
to achieve and maintain compliance, the
online training is proving particularly
valuable during Covid 19 and the
associated shutdowns and travel
restrictions.
The new training marks the latest stage
in the evolution of PACT, which was
launched last year and subsequently
developed with the addition of an online
portal, via which customers are able
to maintain up-to-date information
on their thermal fluid systems and
legislative compliance.
Fifty four percent of all thermal fluidrelated
fires and explosions are due to
poor system maintenance.* The risk
of fire and explosion relates to the fact
that thermal fluid systems’ operating
temperatures are typically higher than
the closed cup flash point of the thermal
oil within - the minimum temperature
at which, in the presence of a source
of ignition, such as electrical sparks
or pump failure, a fluid’s vapours will
ignite.
By minimising this risk - along with
those of system inefficiency and
breakdown - manufacturers are able to
achieve and maintain compliance with
health and safety legislation such as
ATEX (Atmosphère Explosible), DSEAR
(Dangerous Substances and Explosive
Atmospheres Regulations) and PUWER
(Provision and Use of Work Equipment
Regulations), while protecting their
assets, ensuring operational efficiency
and minimising their insurance
premiums.
Established in 1996 in the UK as Heat
Transfer Systems, TFS opened a US
office in Texas, USA in 2017. Customers
include panel board manufacturers such
as Arauco, Norbord, Georgia-Pacific, LP
Building Solutions and Ikea and food
processing customers 2 Sisters, Cargill
and Moy Park.
For further details, please visit www.
thermalfluidsolutions.com/webinars/
or www.thermalfluidsolutions.com, or
call 44(0)1298 815862 (UK) or 001 864
516 7506 (US).
*FM Global, January 2006, Heat Transfer
by Organic and Synthetic Fluids.