Early Fire Detection in Recycling: Minimizing Risks and Effectively Containing Damage

• Hazard Source 1: The Lithium-Ion Battery (Thermal Runaway): E-bikes, smartphones, cordless screwdrivers – end-of-life batteries end up in recycling streams in vast quantities. During the recycling process (shredding, compacting, sorting), they are subjected to extreme mechanical stress. The result: an internal short circuit triggers the feared thermal runaway. Within seconds, the cell overheats, releases highly flammable gases, and ignites explosively. For on-site personnel, a manual response is usually impossible.

• Hazard Source 2: Invisible Smoldering Hotspots in Material Stockpiles: During waste storage, biological processes or self-heating cause latent heat generation inside large stockpiles. These smoldering hotspots are completely invisible from the outside. As soon as oxygen reaches these areas – for instance, when material is moved with a wheel loader or due to drafts – he embers instantly ignite into an uncontrollable, fully developed fire.

Safeguard your recycling plant effectively. Download the full application report “Early Fire Detection in the Recycling Industry: The Behrendt Project” – complete with detailed system diagrams and technical parameters – as a PDF.

Both hazards share one common trait: they announce themselves through surface thermal changes – long before smoke or open flames develop. This is where DIAS Infrared’s intelligent monitoring solutions come in.

Intelligent Thermal Detection with the PYROVIEW 380L FDS System

The core of our solution is the high-precision PYROVIEW 380L FDS thermal imaging camera. Strategically positioned, it monitors the sorting plant, conveyor lines, and adjacent storage areas simultaneously and seamlessly.

• Unaffected by Dust & Smoke: Unlike traditional optical smoke detectors or standard cameras, our infrared system measures thermal radiation across the entire area. Dust, vapors, and fluctuating ambient lighting in the facility do not compromise measurement accuracy.
• Smart Alarm Thresholds: Temperature evaluation is area-based. Monitoring zones are parametrized precisely to suit the specific facility, ruling out false alarms caused by routine operational heat (e.g., warm machinery engines).

When milliseconds count, human hesitation cannot be allowed to delay fire protection. Our system triggers a precisely timed, fully automated safety chain:

1. Detection & Early Alarm: The infrared sensors detect a threshold violation. An optical and acoustic warning is instantly issued to on-site personnel.
2. Safe Evacuation: A defined evacuation window elapses to direct people safely out of the hazard area.
3. Targeted Fire Suppression Without Delay: Once the timer expires, the fire monitor automatically retrieves the exact coordinates of the fire hotspot directly from the DIAS camera. Without manual intervention, the fire is fought with pinpoint accuracy using water or foam. Fire spread is curtailed before neighboring recycling bays sustain damage.

Let’s evaluate together how automated infrared monitoring can be integrated into your operation.

No one can completely prevent fires in the recycling industry. However, the installation at Behrendt Recycling proves that detecting fires early means you don’t just manage damage after the fact – you intervene when the chances of containment are highest. It is the most cost-effective and secure method to minimize major fires, protect employees, and maintain business continuity.

Don’t wait for an undetected hotspot to become a major fire. Leverage our expertise for a realistic risk assessment of your facility.