Thermal Monitoring for Biomass & Wood Chip Storage
Preventing fires before they start across forestry, processing, transport, and energy production.
Woodchip, pellets, bark, and sawdust are now stored at large scale across the UK, in timber yards, sawmills, CHP plants, district heating facilities, and major ports. These materials carry a well-known fire risk: spontaneous combustion developing deep inside stockpiles with no visible warning.
Thermascan provides continuous, early-warning thermal monitoring using FLIR fixed cameras, installed and configured by our in-house thermographers. The system shows hidden heat build-up long before combustion temperature is reached, giving operators the time they need to intervene safely.
The Fire Risk in Biomass & Wood Storage
Spontaneous combustion is driven by microbial activity and oxidation inside stored wood fuels. Heat accumulates slowly at first, then accelerates rapidly, often between manual inspections.
Common consequences across the sector include:
Timber yards & sawmills: production disruption, stock loss, equipment damage
Biomass CHP plants: unplanned shutdowns, heat supply interruptions, costly cleanup
Ports & logistics operators: cargo rejection, vessel fire risk, operational delays
District heating & municipal energy sites: supply continuity risks, regulatory pressure
By the time smoke or steam is visible, the hotspot is already well-developed and far harder to control. This is why continuous, automated monitoring is increasingly expected by insurers and regulatory bodies.
How Thermascan Monitoring Works
Thermascan installs fixed FLIR thermal cameras at locations tailored to your site layout, fuel types, and storage method. The system operates continuously, without relying on staff availability or manual checks.
How detection happens:
Continuous scanning of stockpiles, bays, silos, and storage areas
Automated hotspot detection at 50–60°C, well below combustion temperature
Instant alerts via SMS, email, and/or integration with existing alarm systems
A thermal image is automatically captured to show the exact location of the hotspot
Temperature thresholds are set during commissioning based on your specific fuel, storage volume, and operational risk profile.
What Thermal Imaging Delivers
| Reliable Early Detection | Provides a real intervention window, hours, not minutes, before temperatures reach dangerous levels. |
| Continuous 24/7 Monitoring | Automated scanning independent of staff workload, shift patterns, or manual inspection routines. |
| Clear Documentation | Every alert includes a thermal image and temperature data, creating a record for operational oversight and insurance compliance. |
| Flexible Integration | Works alongside site alarms, monitoring software, and existing safety systems. |
| Remote Visibility | Operations teams and managers can access temperature data and alerts securely. |
Applications Across the Wood & Biomass Lifecycle
Forestry & Primary Wood Processing
Monitoring bark, sawdust, and residue stockpiles
Early detection in drying and storage areas
Sawmills & Timber Yards
Oversight of high-risk storage bays and handling zones
Support for insurer-required fire prevention measures
Biomass CHP & Renewable Energy Plants
Protection of fuel stores integral to heat and power production
Reduced risk of supply interruptions and emergency shutdowns
Ports, Terminals & Transport Operators
Pre-loading and post-loading checks for bulk woodchip cargo
Continuous monitoring of temporary storage areas
District Heating & Municipal Energy Facilities
Ensuring a stable, safe fuel supply for community heating networks
Why Thermascan?
| Built on Proven FLIR Thermal Imaging Technology | Installed & Commissioned by Thermascan’s Own Thermographers | Decades of Field Experience |
|---|---|---|
| FLIR is one of the world’s most recognised names in thermal imaging. Thermascan’s systems are based on these dependable, industrial-grade cameras. | No external contractors; your system is configured by specialists with deep experience in thermal monitoring. | Thermascan has been delivering thermal monitoring solutions across UK industrial environments for many years, with a strong history in early-warning detection. |
Find out more about Fire Detection
Fire Detection for Businesses
Detect fire risks early with precision thermal imaging solutions
Arrange a Site Assessment
A Thermascan thermographer can visit your site to:
Review your storage areas and risk points
Recommend the most effective camera positions
Discuss alarm thresholds and integration options
Contact us to book your assessment or request more information.
FAQs
-
Stored wood fuels generate heat through natural microbial and oxidation processes. In large piles the heat cannot escape, causing internal hotspots that are not visible from the outside.
-
By continuously monitoring pile surfaces with fixed FLIR thermal cameras, the system identifies rising temperatures long before they become dangerous, giving operators time to intervene safely.
-
It reduces reliance on manual checks by providing continuous coverage, helping detect developments that would otherwise occur between scheduled inspections.
-
Yes. The FLIR cameras used by Thermascan are suited to exposed sites such as yards, terminals, and port storage areas.
-
Alerts are issued automatically as soon as a preset temperature threshold is exceeded and include a thermal image showing the hotspot’s location.
-
Yes. Multiple fixed cameras can be positioned across large sites to provide full coverage of bays, silos, open piles or conveyor-fed fuel stores.