By Michelle Froese
The United States Department of Labor, Occupational Safety, and Health Administration recommends the installation of fire detection and control in all wind turbines. However, this is only a suggestion and not yet mandated into law.
“Certainly some municipalities in North America have instated bylaws requiring fire detection and control in industrial wind turbines,” said Mark Johnston, a Renewable Energy Fire-prevention Specialist with Bulldog Turbine Systems. “But there are no set regulations for fire suppression, other than NFPA 850’s recommended practice.”
NFPA 850 is the National Fire Protection Association’s recommended practice for protection of electric generating plants and high-voltage direct current converter stations. Chapter 10 identifies hazards and protections for wind-power facilities.
Without set laws, wind-farm owners must independently develop their own fire-emergency plans. Most wind turbines do not routinely have fire-detection and control systems installed by OEMs because, according to Johnston, this option is simply not ordered or required by the end user.
“Some OEM’s provide a fire extinguisher in the turbine but, in most cases, a technician is responsible for carrying a portable, 2.5-lb extinguisher in their tool bag—along with all of their other safety equipment such as ropes, rigging, and the tools required for the work they’ll perform up-tower,” he said.
He admits that turbine fires are fairly rare events, but when conditions are right, a simple spark can lead to irreparable damage and fatalities. “With such a high cost in term of loss and long shutdowns, you would think every wind farm would contain fire protection and life safety protocols,” said Johnston. “But they don’t.”
Some concerns with installing fire-detection and suppression systems in wind turbines include cost, false alarms, guaranteed fire prevention, electrical equipment damage, and worker and environmental safety.