Since day one Burghgraef van Tiel has been active in the prevention of fires in the agriculture sector. Preventing a fire is essential, especially in this sector, because a fire in a barn almost always immediately results in the death of animals due to the flue gases or fire.
Unfortunately, the ‘Building Decree’ is not aimed at preventing fire, but rather at limiting damage to the environment. Building according to the ‘Building Decree’ does not automatically mean you are building a safe stable. We developed training specifically for this sector, in which the main risk sources are described and how the risks can be limited.
Burghgraef van Tiel has recently been involved in the fire safety action plan for livestock barns and has also been approached by the Safety Board to give our opinion on this sector. Recently, the report was published in which the main message is that if you want to reduce the number of fires, the ignition sources will have to be limited. In addition, more research will have to be done into the cause of a fire.
Burghgraef van Tiel works closely with NLOI in this area. An independent research company that is not linked to an insurer. We always try to convert the damage information obtained as a result of the damage into prevention, so that in future we can prevent this damage at other companies.
Thousands of companies active
Thousands of companies are active in the agricultural sector. The largest part is devoted to animal husbandry and breeding, followed by crop and plant cultivation. In recent years there has been a noticeable decrease in the number of companies in the sector, often with increases in scale per company. The agricultural sector can be broadly classified into two main activities:
- Livestock and breeding enterprises
- Crop and plant cultivation companies.
Animal husbandry and breeding
- Cattle farming with dairies
- Beef farms
- Poultry farms
- Goat and sheep farms
- Horse and pony farms
- Other small animal farms
- Fishing
Crop and plant cultivation
- Agriculture
- Glass and horticulture
- Bedding and pot plants
- Flower bulb companies
- Fruit farms
- Mushroom and mushroom farms
- Trees and perennial farms
Hot air heaters
At many agricultural companies the barns are unheated. Hot air heaters are often used as additional heating, often oil fired. There are risks associated with their use, because they are often very dirty, allowing dust to be blown along and fly around like burning sparks.
Climate changes
It is expected that in the future more damage will occur as a result of heavy rain, hailstorms or storms. New commercial buildings are being built lighter and lighter. In case of new constructions heavier versions of supporting structures should be considered. This way it should be better prepared for heavier weather.
Assess risks
When assessing the insurable risks in the agricultural sector, a wide variety of matters are considered.
The main parts are:
- Building regulations
- Tanks and soil investigation
- Asbestos
- Hot air heaters
- Fire-hazardous work
- Vacancy
- Climate changes
- Pest control
The above parts apply to the entire agricultural sector. In addition, there are a number of risk factors that are specific to the type of industry.
Our services
You can contact us for a thorough risk analysis. This is an important first step in your risk management process. After all, if you know what the risks are, you can anticipate and intervene before it is too late.
You can also use our construction supervision if you are not involved in the new construction or renovation process on a daily basis. We will guide you throughout the entire building process.