Conveyor Belt Slip Fire
Definition
An industrial fire caused when a stationary conveyor belt is driven against a rotating roller, generating frictional heat concentrated at the contact point that can ignite the belt material or adjacent combustible dust.
- Cause
- Stationary belt driven against a rotating roller
- Mechanism
- Frictional heat concentrated at contact point
- Ignites
- Belt material or adjacent combustible dust
Common questions
What conditions increase the risk of a conveyor belt slip fire?+
Belt misalignment, worn or seized rollers, and loss of belt tension all increase slippage, which concentrates frictional heating at the point of contact rather than distributing it across the belt.
How is a belt slip fire distinguished from an electrical fault at the same location?+
Physical evidence such as a polished or scorched roller surface and belt material transferred at the contact point points to friction, whereas an electrical fault typically leaves arc beading or melted conductor evidence.
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