The lead smelter regularly had hostile fires and explosions in their dust collector crucible unit. These events were detrimental to the environment and worker health and safety.
The traditional approach for this kind of issue called for the installation of a spark detecting and fire extinguishing system, which amounted to 1,4 M$. This kind of expenditure for such a system was unjustifiable by management.
STS Canada's specialists were thus called upon to take matters into their hands and design a customized system. STS's strategy was first to investigate the causes of these fires and explosion to find and deal with the source of the problem. After careful analysis, STS recommended a flame retardant injection system to make the products nonflammable.
The system is compliant with CNESST (Québec) and NFPA regulations for worker safety. The project was integrated to the smelter's operation in 2009 and has since required no additionnal labor. Since then, two fires have erupted in the crucibles and were properly managed by the fireproofing system. The total cost of this system was 75% of the traditional one aforementioned. Moreover, it has significantly reduced the amount of dust sent out into the environment.
Lead smelter
Crucible fumes management
Dust collector system
Detailed engineering
2008