A leading developer and supplier of highly efficient materials for flame arrestors is driving continuous innovation across a diverse range of applications to ensure the prevention of fires and explosions.

Porvair Filtration Group has been supplying materials for regulated flame arrestor devices, which allow gas to pass through but stop combustion that can lead to a larger fire or explosion, for a wide variety of applications and industries for more than 30 years.

Flame arrestors absorb the heat from a flame in order to get below the gas auto-ignition temperature, meaning that the flame cannot survive and will be extinguished.

Porvair - recently honoured with the Queen’s Award for Enterprise in International Trade - manufactures sintered porous powder stainless steel and bronze, and sintered metal mesh, used widely in flame arresting applications.

These applications are especially diverse and include fuel storage vents, fuel gas pipe lines, and electrical equipment used in explosive environments.

For loudspeakers in particular, Porvair has designed a bespoke product that achieves the required flame arresting approvals whilst minimising sound attenuation in the speaker.

The company’s wide range of material options means that it can define the optimum solution for each flame arresting problem. Its products are customer-specific and have passed the regulatory requirement by such authorities as Underwriters Laboratories (UL), and the British Approval Service for Electrical Equipment in Flammable Atmospheres (BASEEFA).

Porvair’s General Manager, Roy Rigby said, “We believe that our innovative flame arrestor range represents a significant step forward for industry safety. The potential for fires or explosions remains present as long as mitigating safeguards are not as effective as they could be, so the deployment of bespoke flame arrestors means that the risk is significantly reduced.”

“Our understanding of the applications and belief that every product needs a unique solution means that we are a strong partner in the support and development of a bespoke product.“

Porvair – which has supplied the process industry with performance-driven filtration equipment for over three decades – manufactures in both the UK and USA and has an extensive network of sales offices and distribution channels throughout the world.