The Rural Voice, 2019-03, Page 66New, wireless sensors are
being placed in livestock
barns to test for gasses that
corrode wiring which can lead to
barn fires. It’s hoped by monitoring
the barn gasses the number of
devastating barn fires can be reduced.
The pilot project run by the
Ontario Ministry of Agriculture of
Food is underway but is still open to
more farmers opening their barns for
the installation of the sensors during
this first phase of the project: data
collection.
OMAFRA Environmental
Specialist, Jacqui Empson Laporte,
has been sharing information about
the project and identifies the Big 3
gasses in barns that cause problems:
1. Methane: This is an explosive
gas that is lighter than air. It can
cause an asphyxiation risk.
2. Hydrogen Sulphide: This gas is
toxic at even very low
concentrations. Heavier than air, it is
also flammable. When in the
presence of moisture, hydrogen
sulphide transforms to sulphuric acid
which corrodes barn structures and
electrical systems.
3. Ammonia: This toxic gas is also
lighter than air.
Other air quality concerns inside
barns include carbon dioxide which
is heavier than air and poses an
asphyxiation risk. Relative humidity
is another worry as it supports the
growth of bacteria and increases
corrosion of the building structure.
Combining humidity and hydrogen
sulphide multiplies the problem.
Barn gasses are a contentious
issue right now, says Jacqui. “When
a barn fire hits the media, questions
get asked on what the industry is
doing to do about it,” she said at the
Shakespeare Swine Seminar held last
year in September. “We are judged
on the fires that happen, not the ones
we prevent.”
Improving air quality enhances
animal welfare and production and
can increase the longevity of barn
electrical systems. Plus, it reduces
the risk of barn fire due to explosive
gas concentrations.
The first defense against elevated
barn gasses is barn ventilation,
explained Jacqui. The problem is that
many farmers base their ventilation
on temperature but temperature is not
a surrogate measurement for barn gas
concentrations. Most barn ventilation
systems could be optimized by
measuring barn gas concentration at
high frequency (15-30 minutes)
through the production cycle.
The first step, then, in this barn
gas monitoring pilot project is to
collect production, ventilation and
barn gas concentration data in a
variety of livestock barns. Stage 2
will involve understanding barn gas
variation and risk throughout the
production cycle. Stage 3 will
determine ventilation system
adjustments required to improve
production and mitigate risk. Finally,
Stage 4 will require review for the
impact of any changes.
“We really need to understand
how efficiently fans are running and
62 The Rural Voice
Leading Edge
New sensors test for barn gasses
A new pilot project tests for gasses which are generally
the culprit when barn wires corrode and cause barn fires
By Lisa B. Pot
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