If your machine is using an oil based coolant it is likely that the machines cabinet will become full of an oily mist vapour and for machines this also means the fitment of a mist extraction system which must also have special protection.

The reason for this is that in the event of a fire there is a high risk that this oily vapour inside the machine will ignite and will result in an explosion inside of the machines cabinet.

The resulting force is extreme and the force will always seek the easiest means of escape from within the cabinet and in the case that the machine is equipped with a mist extraction unit, the blast will direct flames straight into the mist extraction system which will itself in any case be sucking the now ignited vapour into itself.

This would result in an immediate fire within the mist extraction unit which itself will always be covered in oil. The mist extraction units are nearly always situated at height meaning that trying to fight the resulting fire is extremely difficult. In the case of centralised mist extraction it becomes even more dangerous because the flames will travel throughout the ducting system and the fire will quickly spread and become almost impossible to contain.

Kraft & Bauer UK addresses this problem by providing a range of automatic mist extraction flaps that automatically seal and cut off the means of escape of flames into the ducting. These are manufactured in various diameters to suit a wide range of ducting pipework.

Usually a heat detector is sited close to the mist extraction vent within the machine as this is the area where heat will quickly build up in the event of a fire. That combined with the main means of fire detection, either a UV or an IR sensor, signals to the FB 703/704 main control that there is a fire.

The Kraft and Bauer control unit then releases either Co2or Argon Gas into the machine to extinguish the fire and at the same time sends a signal to the mist extraction flap to close and thus prevent the blast and flames from escaping through the ducting system and into the mist extraction unit.

It is very important indeed that if your machines are fitted with mist extraction that these safety flaps are fitted to protect against fire risks