Sponsored content.
In the territories of many electric utilities, wildfires loom as an increasing threat, becoming larger and more frequent, necessitating proactive solutions.
In this episode of the Factor This podcast, host Paul Gerke taps into the brain of a leading expert, Craig Clements of San Jose State University, to discuss the evolving threat wildfires pose to utility infrastructure and explore how a rigorously tested product, Hexion’s ArmorBuilt, could stand as an effective means of protecting vital equipment.
“We’ve been seeing an increase in large, devastating, catastrophic wildfires, particularly in the western U.S. and California, in just the past few years,” said Clements. “As the climate keeps changing in the next couple of decades, we should expect even more intense fires.”
“There’s a need to protect communities, and frankly, save lives, and that’s something that’s a deep-rooted commitment inside of Hexion,” said Steve Willoughby, Hexion’s senior director of building materials. “So our team got together and said: what can we do to solve this problem?”
The smart technology solution they came up with is called the ArmorBuilt Wildfire Shield, and Hexion asserts it takes utility fire safety to a new level. When confronted with a fire’s heat, a protective mesh activates by puffing up to protect a utility pole and prevent catastrophic failure.
“Imagine almost an airbag for a utility pole,” pontificated Willoughby, that shields the pole from temperatures up to 2100 degrees Fahrenheit.
“That’s a very strong barrier,” he added. “And as Dr. Clements mentioned, during field testing, we’ve seen great results.”
