Afternoon

Can anyone point me in the direction of examples of fires that occurred at warehouses following hot work?

I have plenty of examples from manufacturing industry, but even a search of the internet is letting me down on this one!

Thanks

Lucy

Thank you that's great background information.

I'm after specific examples if there are any out there.

Thank you - I found that one but the examples are a bit old and they don't appear to be directly related to hot work.

I thought it was just my ignorance that was causing me so much trouble in finding relevant examples, but I am surprised because I know quite a few warehouses where the insurers have insisted that the control of hot work is a hot topic because there are so many fires in such circumstances.

Any good?

http://www.ifsecglobal.c...fire-caused-by-hot-work/

Lucy this is a link to a real fire in USA, a long time ago but relevant to your request.

https://history.gmherita...dustrial_Fire_in_History

In 1991 I started work as Fire Prevention Officer at the AC Delco factory in Kirkby, General Motors are the owners.

Following the fire GM employed Industrial Risk Insurers (IRI) who required a high level of fire protection measures. This included wet pipe sprinklers everywhere, including electric sub stations, (we had four inside the factory), a Fire Prevention Officer, Security Officer full time employed at every location, and an inspection by the insurer every year.

The factory had fire hydrants on a ring main around the buildings and even on the roof, with fire fighting hoses at every hydrant. A team of volunteer fire fighters, I had 28 from all trades including the production line men and women.

Whenever one of the 28 sprinkler systems was going our of commission for works I had to request permission from IRI and have alternative fire watch in place.

I had a proper Hot Work Permit syatem in place and there was always a fireman standing by.

In the warehouse I purchased Fire Retardent sheeting to cover stock that couldn't be moved, and that worked, a few times it became damaged by sparks.

I say all that to reinforce what I say about fire safety in warehouses being good and may be the reason it is hard to find what you are looking for.

We did have the occasional for however, but not in the warehouse.

I have worked with linked to retail and distribution for many years and Im not aware of any fires due to hot works. Primark and ASOS have both lost large DC's but not with hot works. You may struggle here.

As David says, the inception hazards are quite low in a warehouse whilst the fire spread risk is pretty substantial. Most insurers usually assume a 100% loss of a warehouse unless fully sprinklered.

The shortage of cases is partly due to the limited need for hot works in a warehouse environment. I normally only see two types.

1) The warehouse owner does car repairs on his own car in a corner of the warehouse. If that involves hot works, as an insurer surveyor, I would normally decline the business unless it was a metal goods warehouse.

2) Friction grinding sparks. Caused by racking contractors cutting out stubborn bolts on the floor plates. Insurers regard this as hot work but the public and press may not since it does not involve a naked flame. Either way, it needs controlling via hot work permit.