Foundries, smelting plants, steel works and process facilities — where heat protection is not optional.
Most heat protection products are rated for the temperatures found in engine bays or electrical cabinets. Industrial environments — foundries, smelting plants, steel mills, glass works and heavy process facilities — operate at temperatures that would destroy conventional sleeving in seconds.
Molten metal splash, radiant heat from open furnaces, aggressive chemical atmospheres and constant abrasion from moving equipment make these the most demanding conditions firesleeve faces. S Riley Fabrications firesleeve is designed specifically for environments like these — rated to 260°C continuous operation and capable of withstanding molten metal splash at 1200°C.
Where unprotected hydraulic hoses, wiring looms and cables fail within weeks, firesleeve extends service life, reduces unplanned downtime and keeps workers safer on the plant floor. Made in Burnley. Supplied to specification.
Standard heat protection fails at foundry temperatures. Firesleeve is engineered for them — the only meaningful protection where molten metal is present.
Foundries use hydraulic systems extensively — for ladle tilting mechanisms, casting machines, presses and mould carriers. Hose runs pass close to furnaces and tapping points where molten metal splash is a routine hazard, not an edge case.
A hydraulic hose failure in a foundry environment can spray oil onto molten metal or open flame, with catastrophic consequences. Firesleeve over hydraulic hose runs provides a primary barrier against both the heat that degrades the hose and the ignition risk if it fails.
Steel production and non-ferrous smelting generate sustained radiant heat at levels that overwhelm standard cable and hose protection. Electric arc furnaces, basic oxygen furnaces and continuous casting lines all require cables and hoses to run in close proximity to sources operating above 1000°C.
Firesleeve is specified in these environments as the standard protection for hydraulic and electrical circuits — reducing replacement frequency and improving uptime across production shifts.
Thermocouple cables, control wiring and sensor looms running to and from industrial furnaces and kilns must withstand both the ambient heat of the installation and the risk of brief but intense heat events during charging, tapping or emergency conditions.
Firesleeve provides the thermal insulation that keeps these cables in service between maintenance intervals — reducing the frequency of sensor failures and control outages that disrupt production.
Glass furnaces and ceramic kilns operate at temperatures comparable to metal smelting. Hydraulic equipment used in pressing, moulding and forming machinery operates in close proximity to furnace openings where radiant heat is extreme and occasional glass splash is a risk.
Firesleeve over hydraulic hoses and electrical cables on forming machinery extends service life significantly — reducing maintenance shutdowns that interrupt continuous production processes.
On plant floors where pipework, steam lines and process vessels operate at high temperatures, unprotected surfaces are a serious burn risk to workers. Firesleeve fitted over exposed hot pipework and hose runs reduces surface temperature at the point of contact — a straightforward measure that improves safety without process modification.
Chemical and petrochemical process facilities combine high temperatures with aggressive chemical atmospheres — acids, alkalis, solvents and hydrocarbons that attack unprotected hoses and cables. Firesleeve's inert silicone surface resists most industrial chemicals, keeping the sleeve and the components it protects performing across long maintenance intervals.
The performance properties that define firesleeve in heavy industrial use.
We supply direct to plant engineers, maintenance managers and procurement teams at foundries, steel works, process plants and industrial facilities across the UK. Standard Firesleeve is available from 4mm to 203mm internal diameter, supplied in 15-metre coils or cut lengths to suit plant maintenance schedules.
For existing installations where hoses cannot be taken out of service, our Hook & Loop Retrofit sleeve wraps around in place — making it practical for planned maintenance windows without process shutdown. Contact our sales team with your application details for sizing, pricing and lead times.
Tell us the process environment, operating temperatures and hose or cable dimensions. We'll confirm the right product and come back with pricing and availability.