In cities across the U.S., a new threat is quietly compromising public safety and water infrastructure: fire hazards inside backflow and utility enclosures.
Increasingly, enclosures are being misused as makeshift shelters. Some enclosures — not Safe-T-Cover's — are lined with flammable spray-in insulation. It only takes a small fire to turn one of these structures into a dangerous, confined inferno.
The consequences mean lives are arbitrarily put at risk and the integrity of water systems is compromised. And property damage climbs into the tens of thousands of dollars. At Safe-T-Cover, we’ve seen enough and we’ve engineered a safer alternative.
The Problem: Unsafe Materials, Unsafe Outcomes
Traditional aluminum enclosures, while durable and weather-resistant, often aren’t equipped to handle fire exposure. Many use spray-in foam insulation or standard polyisocyanurate (polyiso) panels that don't offer fire resistance. Specifically, though these materials may have a high ignition temperature, they are not designed to resist the spread of fire.
While Safe-T-Cover doesn't use spray-in foams, some manufacturers do and some of these foams are actively flammable.
The growing use of enclosures as emergency shelters only compounds the issue. With people seeking warmth or protection inside these spaces, the chance of an accidental fire increases dramatically. Fires endanger lives, destroy equipment, disrupt water service and can spread to nearby structures.
The Safe-T-Cover Solution: Fire Rated Enclosures
To address this threat head-on, we’ve introduced a new line of FIRE RATED enclosures. These enclosures are engineered specifically to prevent fire ignition and spread, providing critical protection for high-risk applications and vulnerable installations.
Our FIRE RATED models are manufactured with Foil Class A, NFPA 285-compliant insulation panels on walls. This panel system combines a closed-cell Class A polyisocyanurate foam core with dual 15-mil glass fiber-reinforced foil facers, creating a barrier that resists ignition and slows fire spread. The entire fire protection enclosure interior is constructed with either aluminum or fire rated surface materials to withstand emergency situations.
What Sets Fire Rated Enclosures Apart?
You shouldn’t have to sacrifice performance for safety. That’s why Safe-T-Cover’s FIRE RATED line delivers the same reliability, strength and modular flexibility as our standard enclosures, but with the added benefit of certified fire protection.
Key features include:
- NFPA 285-rated insulation panels
- Fully fire-resistant interior surfaces
- Available for any standard or custom size enclosure
- Designated with a "-FR" suffix for easy identification and specification
Whether you're housing a backflow preventer, pump system, control valve or any other critical utility, you can now do so with confidence that the enclosure is designed, built and tested to reduce fire spread and protect waterworks assets from heat, smoke and flames.
Applications That Demand Fire Protection
Some aluminum enclosure installations carry higher inherent risks — think urban areas, public parks, campuses or spaces where people frequently gather or seek shelter. In these environments, fire resistance is essential.
Common applications for fire rated enclosures include:
- High-traffic public spaces with above-ground water infrastructure
- City water systems located in vulnerable or remote locations
- Critical backflow prevention equipment in urban developments
- Industrial or commercial zones with heightened fire safety standards
In these contexts, standard enclosures may fall short. The addition of fire rated materials ensures you're meeting both safety regulations and ethical responsibilities to protect lives and infrastructure.
Why It Matters for Backflow Protection
We have long championed the shift to above-ground enclosures for backflow prevention because these enclosures eliminate confined space hazards, reduce flooding risks and promote equipment accessibility. But even above-ground systems need added layers of safety in the face of emerging threats. Fire rated enclosures are that next step in proactive protection.
As municipalities adopt more stringent standards for equipment safety, specifying a fire rated enclosure ensures your project is future-proof and sets a higher bar for public protection.
With the "-FR" suffix clearly denoting fire rated construction, engineers and specifiers can easily identify and request these enhanced models. Every FIRE RATED enclosure still includes Safe-T-Cover’s hallmark features: rugged marine-grade aluminum, modular design and assembly, climate control compatibility and complete design customization.
In short: you get all the benefits of our standard enclosures, with the added assurance that your structure is equipped to handle flames and fire-related hazards.
Ready To Raise the Bar on Safety?
It’s time to rethink what protection enclosures should have. Weatherproofing is no longer enough. In a changing environment, enclosures must be resistant to more than just the elements; they must be ready for emergencies.
Don’t wait until an accident forces a change in design practices. Take a proactive approach and protect your people, property and public water systems with fire rated solutions from Safe-T-Cover.
Contact us today to learn more about fire rated enclosures and get a quote on a custom solution built for your site.
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