Fire and explosion risks in printing

Printing involves flammable materials which create significant fire and explosion risks. This page identifies some printing specific risks, outlines what you need to do and where you can find out more information. This page is temporary until the Printers Guide review is complete.

Particular risks in printing include:

• Fires in Infrared Dryers and UV curing units due to paper
• Explosions in dryers due to blanket wash solvent levels
• Fire and explosion in flexographic and gravure printing due to flammable inks

What you need to do

Assess fire and explosion risks from dangerous substances used/produced in your workplace. Provide control measures to eliminate or reduce risk e.g.:

• Avoid Low flashpoint solvents e.g. MEK- substitute with high flashpoint solvents
• Substitute solvent based products for water based ones if possible
• Provide LEV at printing units and adequate ventilation in workroom
• Reduce solvent vapour by automated delivery systems/ good housekeeping 
• Control room temperatures
• Monitor solvent vapour levels to <25% Lower explosion Limit (LEL)  

Minimise risk of fire and spread of fire e.g.:  

• Segregate printing, storage and other areas
• Mix solvent based inks in dedicated fire resisting room
• Avoid static generation e.g. limit liquid flow speeds, anti static additives & footwear
• Use Explosion-protected Electrical/Mechanical Equipment for potential flammable atmospheres
• Provide fire resisting, conductive, bonded and earthed plant
• Provide Fire detection and extinguishing systems e.g. Co2 – manual and automatic
• Provide dampers to isolate solvent recovery units in event of fire

Arrange to deal with accidents and emergencies and provide information, instruction and training to employees. Also classify places where explosive atmospheres may occur into zones and mark the zones where necessary.

Design Dryers to BS EN 1539:2000. Earlier dryers should have:

• Safety features; shut off valves, ignition systems, flame failure devices, purging
• Explosion relief
• LEV Monitoring- ensure air flow maintained to keep solvent <25%
• Annual check of solvent vapour levels within dryer

Find out more

• HSE: Controlling fire and explosion risks in the workplace
• HMSO - Dangerous Substances and Explosive Atmospheres Regulations 2002 (DSEAR)
• Workplace fire safety