Fire risk management in industrial facilities handling highly flammable materials is a constant challenge.
In this success story, VisionTIR’s thermography-based system FireTIR proved its effectiveness in a high-risk environment: a warehouse storing alternative solid fuels at a cement plant in Alabama, United States.
The challenge: maximum protection against fire risk
The alternative solid fuels stored at this plant have a high calorific value, which significantly increases the risk of spontaneous ignition.
For this reason, our client required a fully autonomous fire detection system capable not only of detecting hot spots, but also of activating cooling or fire suppression systems without human intervention.
The solution: FireTIR system with automatic fire suppression
To address this challenge, VisionTIR installed its FireTIR solution, which included:
- LWIR thermal cameras (382×288 pixels) with a wide field of view (80º x 54º).
- Intelligent video analysis software, allowing for alarm event tracking and review.
- Integration with robotic water cannons, capable of automatically cooling or extinguishing critical areas upon detecting a temperature rise.
The solution was tailored to the client’s specific needs through customized zone configuration and alarm thresholds.
In addition, FireTIR was integrated with the plant’s control system to coordinate the actions of the overhead crane in the event of thermal incidents.
Results: effective prevention and zero false alarms
Since its installation in January 2022, the FireTIR system has successfully managed multiple hotspot events and fire outbreaks automatically and effectively, without any recorded false alarms or unnecessary activation of the water cannon suppression system.
“We had several hotspot and fire events. All were successfully managed thanks to the automatic activation of the water cannons.”
– Plant Technical Manager
Conclusion
This success story demonstrates how fire detection using thermal imaging cameras combined with automated suppression systems can provide a critical layer of safety in high-risk industrial environments.
FireTIR not only enhances facility protection but also reduces human intervention, prevents material damage, and ensures operational continuity.
Are you concerned about improving fire safety in your industrial plant?
Contact our team to receive technical and commercial assistance on the latest fire early warning technology based on thermography.
