Fire Risk Management
Experience should be used for prevention, not as a lesson. Isolated events seldom lead to a fire, but more often, the combination of several events.
Dafo Vehicle Fire Protection is based on an in-depth knowledge of fire hazards and fire risks for buses, trucks, and mobile equipment. Our personnel has an extensive background in vehicles, fire risks, fire investigations, and risk mitigation. With the ever-changing environmental requirements, the introduction of lower-cost lighter materials can significantly impact the risk of fires. In many cases, the risks are associated with premature failure and the aging of components, negatively impacting design and operational costs.
Connecting the dots
Operational Characteristics
Understanding the operational characteristics is one of the most critical steps of a comprehensive risk assessment and is often overlooked. Each of these can impact premature failure, which can have a cost impact and increase the risk of fire and passenger safety.
• Vehicle (size,type, fuel)
• Passengers Capacity (Standing/Seated)
• Means of Egress
• Mode (City, Intercity, Tour/Coach)
• Duty Cycle (Hrs/day)
• Environment (Climate, Exposure)
• Maintenance (Intervals and “Risk of Fire” training
Hazard Analysis
The goal of the ”Hazard” analysis is to identify known areas in which a fire could ignite or which could spread. The information determines failure modes, fire spread, and other impacts.
• Geometry
• Ventilation (openings/airflow)
• Temperature (design and peak potentials)
• Clutter/Density of Components
• Firewalls/Fire Resistance methods
• Fire Detection and Suppression
Risk Assessment
Known issues that have resulted in thermal events and feedback from the OEM’s and operators are crucial to ensure a thorough assessment. Risks are categorized and ranked based on cause, severity, and recommended best practices.
• Arching/shorting risks
• Heat Sources (Ignition potential, aging of material)
• Mistake Proofing (maintenance actions)
• Mechanical Damage (e.g., abrasion)
• Vibration
• Fire Detection and Suppression
Recommended Best Practices
• Design
• Quality Assurance
• Maintenance
• Documentation
• Training
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