Forestry Equipment Fire-Risk Guide
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A spark from a skidder’s turbo housing can ignite tinder-dry slash piles and shut down operations in minutes. This guide pinpoints the most common ignition zones on forestry machinery, walks through the regulations that govern on-board fire-suppression, and shows how a correctly sized dual-agent or liquid-agent system keeps both equipment, and the forest, safe.
Top Igition Hot-Spots
Turbo / Manifold
- 70% of fires
- 1000 °F metal beside oily wood dust
Battery / Electrical
- 20% of fires
- Chafed cables & loose posts
Hydraulic Pump Area
- 10% of fires
- Burst hoses spray atomized oil onto hot block
Zone
% of Incidents
Primary Hazard
Turbo / Manifold
70%
1000 °F metal next to oily dust
Battery / Electrical
20%
Chafed cables, loose posts
Hydraulic Pump Area
10%
Burst hoses atomize oil onto hot block
Regional Compliance Snapshot
Requirement
Effective Date
States Affected
Spark-arrester on exhaust (NCFS Rule 02.0605)
In force
NC
NFPA 17 & 17A: semi-annual inspection + 12-yr hydro-test
National
All
OSHA 29 CFR 1910/1926: written fire-protection plan
National Standard
All
NC Spark-arrester – already required on engines ≥ 19 kW.
NFPA 17/17A – national: semi-annual inspections & 12-year cylinder hydro-test.
OSHA 1910/1926 – national: every site needs a written fire-protection plan.
Several insurers and forestry-equipment OEMs now recommend on-board suppression for machines above 75 HP in high-risk timber operations, but North Carolina has not yet issued a formal mandate.
Choosing the Right System
System Type
Best For
Key Advantage
Dual-Agent (dry-chem + liquid)
High-HP skidders & chippers
Instant knock-down and cooling
Liquid-Agent (polymer surfactant)
Dust-heavy harvesters & mulchers
Agent clings to wood fibre; prevents re-flash
Dual-Agent
- Skidders, chippers
- Dry-chem kills flames; liquid cools hot metal
Liquid-Agent
- Harvesters, mulchers
- Polymer agent sticks to dusty surfaces
GreasePoint configures either AFEX or Amerex hardware to match your fleet, horsepower, and regulatory environment.
Maintenance Cheat-Sheet
Task
Frequency
Proof to Keep
Verify gauge is in green zone
Daily
Cab checklist initial
Clean nozzles & hoses
Monthly
Smartphone photo
Weigh cylinders & leak-test detection line
Quarterly
Digital service log
Perform full flow test & recertification
Annaully
PDF certificate
- Daily: ensure pressure gauge in green.
- Monthly: brush nozzles; test manual actuator.
- Quarterly: weigh cylinders; pressure-test detection tubing.
- Annually: perform flow test & recertification
Ready to protect your fleet?
Email us at hello@greasepoint.com or call us at 888-631-7638. We’ll review your equipment list, outline code requirements, and deliver a compliance plan.
GreasePoint is an authorized AFEX distributor for the Mid-Atlantic and the exclusive Amerex heavy-equipment fire-suppression partner for North Carolina.
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