Frommelt Products Corp has launched a series of safety initiatives to address the threat of loading dock fires. It has also expanded the availability of its exclusive Firefighter technology to a range of Frommelt dock seal products.
Since July 2001, Frommelt has documented more than 80 dock seal fire incidents at United States industrial and commercial plants. The incidents stem from a fire hazard involving dock seals and semitrailer marker lights. Fires occur when hot-running semitrailer lights are compressed against any make or model of compression-style foam dock seals, often creating a serious safety threat that can result in extensive damage to buildings, trailers, and trailer contents. Frommelt also said the number of company-reported fires has grown steadily since 1998.
The company reports that the number of undocumented fires caused by this phenomenon is likely to be substantially higher than company-reported incidents. It estimates more than 200,000 US dock positions are at risk for such fires.
Frommelt officials have initiated discussions with the National Fire Protection Association regarding the need to explore the problem. The company has also begun to increase awareness of dock seal fires and availability of a system that addresses the hazard.
The firm has increased efforts to manufacture, market, and distribute Frommelt Firefighter heat-dissipating technology. It can prevent ignition of seals that occurs when they come into contact with hot-burning semitrailer marker lights. The company now offers:
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Free inspections of compression-style foam dock seals to detect signs of trailer marker light damage.
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An Insulator Dock Sealing System with the Firefighter head pad.
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Insulator dock seal side pads made with Firefighter technology.
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Insulator head curtains made with Firefighter technology.
Frommelt products with Firefighter technology feature a triple layer of heat-dissipating and reflective foil. The temperature a marker light can generate is limited to less than 400° F, virtually eliminating the danger it presents.
