Multi-pronged Measures To Prevent Fire Hazards

Sustained high temperatures in midsummer coincide with peak power consumption for industrial and commercial sectors. As the backbone of power transmission, bus ducts operate under long-term heavy loads, triggering concentrated hazards such as excessive temperature rise, overheated joints and insulation aging. These defects can easily ignite electrical fires and result in severe safety losses for factories, energy storage power stations and data centers. Only by controlling risks from three dimensions - product selection, construction & installation, and daily operation & maintenance - can we seize the key fire prevention points in summer and guarantee the safe and stable operation of bus duct systems.

Four core root causes lead to bus duct fires in summer:

1.Ambient high heat exacerbates equipment heating. Surging power loads subject bus ducts to prolonged overload, rapidly raising conductor temperatures and accelerating carbonization and failure of insulating materials.

2.Bolts at connection points including elbows, joints and tap-off boxes are not tightened to specified torque. Oxidation of contact surfaces sharply boosts contact resistance, forming localized overheating hotspots.

3.Dust and moisture accumulate on-site to block heat dissipation channels. Sealing failure in outdoor and basement installations allows moisture ingress, causing insulation breakdown and short-circuit fires.

4.Non-standard inferior products fail to meet flame retardancy requirements and lack real-time temperature monitoring & early warning functions, delaying fault detection and missing optimal disposal windows.

Source control serves as the first line of defense against fire risks. For project selection, bus ducts shall strictly comply with IEC 61439-6 standards, featuring pure copper conductors, low-temperature-rise flame-retardant insulation and an ingress protection rating of IP55 or higher. A current-carrying capacity margin of over 20% shall be reserved, and the summer load factor shall be limited within 80%. Integrated precision machining is required for directional accessories such as combined elbows and expansion joints. A full set of temperature rise and short-circuit withstand tests shall be completed before factory delivery to eliminate inherent defects including uneven contact surfaces and sealing imperfections. Intelligent bus ducts equipped with built-in wireless temperature measurement modules are prioritized to enable automatic over-temperature alarms.

Standardized construction can drastically reduce fire risks in later operation. Torque wrenches shall be used to calibrate the tightening torque of joint bolts during installation, with conductive grease evenly coated to mitigate oxidation-induced heat generation. A 300 mm thick firestop barrier shall be installed at floor wall penetrations to block vertical fire spread. Combustibles such as cartons and cables are prohibited from being stacked around bus ducts, with ample heat dissipation space reserved. Ventilation units shall be fitted in enclosed equipment rooms to avoid heat accumulation. Unauthorized addition of non-original tap-off boxes or modification of bus duct interfaces is strictly forbidden, as non-standard accessories tend to trigger poor contact.

Routine inspection and maintenance constitute the core summer fire prevention measure. Infrared thermographic inspections shall be conducted weekly during high-temperature periods, focusing on heat-prone positions like joints and tap-off boxes. Immediate shutdown and rectification are mandatory if the local temperature difference exceeds 50°C. Regular purging of dust accumulated on enclosures, inspection of damaged sealing strips and re-testing of insulation resistance are required. Dedicated staff shall monitor the temperature control early warning system 24/7. Power cut and troubleshooting shall be carried out immediately upon abnormalities including abnormal noise, burnt odor and repeated tripping. Meanwhile, emergency response plans shall be refined, dedicated electrical fire extinguishers shall be equipped, and regular fire disposal drills shall be organized for operation and maintenance personnel.