Should Your Machine Shop

Invest in Fire Suppression?

Agenda
Introductions
Panel Discussion
Q&A
 MODERATOR & PANELISTS

Aaron Haynes Jamie Luke Mike Campo Jeff Gagnon

Senior Market Service/Application Midwest Regional Manager Vice President
Segment Manager Engineer Sr. Key Accounts Mgr.
Manufacturing CNC / Manufacturing
Applications
 QUESTION:

1. Why do fires start in machines?

3 THINGS NEEDED FOR A FIRE

In a CNC machine running oil,

you have two of the three.

Add enough heat, friction or a

spark and a fire will ignite.
 QUESTION:

2. What are fire risk factors and

common causes of fires in
machine shops?
RISK FACTORS & CAUSES
● Operator error
● Using oil-based coolants
● Broken, misplaced, or dull tools
● First time running a new job
● Addition of high-pressure coolant system
● Too much oil mist in the machine
● Broken or clogged mist collector
● High speed spindles
● Vacation time, new associate, training, etc.

10+ fires a week at machine shops

 QUESTION:

3. What are the different fire

protection options?
AVAILABLE SOLUTIONS
FIRE SUPPRESSION SYSTEM
(Automatically operated, localized)

EXTINGUISHERS
(Manually operated)

SPRINKLERS
(No localized protection,
can cause damage)
 QUESTION:

4. What are the best

suppression agents to use?
Clean Agent Comparison
Chemours 3M
CO2
FM-200™ Novec™ 1230
Safe in occupied spaces Yes Yes Sometimes

Residue after discharge No No No

Potential to damage equipment No No No

Amount of agent needed / cylinder size Smallest Middle Largest

Cost of agent Middle Highest Lowest

Ozone Depletion Potential (ODP) None None None

Global Warming Potential (GWP) 3500 1 1

Atmospheric Lifetime (years) 36.5 0.014 None

 QUESTION:

5. What added benefits do

machine shops get when
adding fire suppression?
● Safely run unattended

● Avoid major downtime, repairs, or replacement of machine

● Reduce cashflow concerns awaiting insurance payout

● Protects lucrative contracts

● Protect shop’s personnel

● Possible insurance rate reductions

 WEIGHING THE COST ≈ $1.9M - $2.9M

$250,000 4-8 weeks $16,000

Average CNC Average Downtime
Downtime Cost/Shift $336,000
(Assume 3 shifts, Cost/Week
Machine Cost in Fire Event
High end shop)

Other potential costs employee injury, loss of shop

 Question:

6. What is the installation

process?
Q&A