Industrial Burner Safety Procedures

Industrial burners or furnaces are subject to constant danger. This requires due diligence on the part of workers and managers to engage in safe practices, maintenance and employee supervision. Protocols will differ depending on whether the furnace is oxy-fueled or air-fired.

Identification

• The principle danger inherent to industrial burners is that they operate as a combustion system. In many of these systems, oxygen of various forms and levels of enrichment are fed throughout the burner, causing an explosion hazard. Safety protocols are thus critical for protecting workers and machinery.

Considerations

• Workers must constantly monitor the flame level present in the burner or furnace. They must clear piping and other mechanisms of corrosive or excess materials that can ignite erratically. Additionally, workers must avoid allowing explosive mixtures of air, gas and material from entering the furnace or dangerous confluences of enriched air resting outside it.

Features

• One of the most necessary safety practices for industrial furnaces and burners is called "purging." This process is conducted regularly before the burner fire is lit. This allows for unwanted materials or debris to be expelled, thus avoiding instances of unwanted combustion. The purging is executed using either air or gas, depending on the type of burner. Frequently used gases include nitrogen and or "blower air."