Your Guide to Fire-Resistant Hydraulic Fluids

Running an industrial shop comes with high demands—budgets, employees, productivity, and safety. One critical factor that can impact all these areas? The right hydraulic fluid. The wrong fluid can put your equipment, employees, and productivity at risk. Choosing a fire-resistant hydraulic fluid can help mitigate potential hazards and keep operations running smoothly

And it’s much easier on the bottom line.

In high-heat, high-pressure environments, traditional mineral-based hydraulic fluids ignite easily, increasing the risk of fires. Fire-resistant hydraulic fluids help prevent this risk by resisting ignition, even if the fluid comes into contact with a hot surface. This enhances operational safety, minimizes environmental impact, and may even reduce insurance premiums.

On the other hand, the wrong fluids can be a recipe for disaster that affects virtually everything:

• Equipment: potentially millions in lost equipment and structural damage.
• Employees: injuries from smoke inhalation to severe burns.
• Productivity: downtime waiting for new equipment and repairs to your shop.
• Environment: smoke and chemical runoff. 

Unlike mineral-based hydraulic fluids, non-flammable hydraulic fluids prevent fires from erupting if, for example, a hose springs a leak and fluid hits a hot surface. This makes them a must-have for industrial safety in any high-temperature environment. 

The gold standard for fire-resistant fluids is the Factory Mutual (FM) Approvals Certification. FM Approved hydraulic fluids undergo rigorous testing to meet global safety standards. Certified fluids have demonstrated superior fire resistance and performance, making them a reliable choice for industrial applications.

Using an FM-certified, non-flammable hydraulic fluid can lead to other benefits. In a case study from FM Approvals, a high-production independent forge shop more than doubled pump life after switching to FM-certified, non-water-containing fire-resistant fluids, resulting in substantial savings in replacement parts, labor, and downtime.

Quaker Houghton is the global leader in industrial process fluids. As an industry-leading fire-resistant hydraulic fluid manufacturer, most of Quaker Houghton’s fire-resistant fluids are FM Certified. In addition to top-level fire-resistant characteristics, they all feature:  

• Excellent shear stability 
• Best-in-class oxidation resistance 
• Reduced environmental impact 
• Excellent lubrication 
• Extended life   

Standard mineral-based hydraulic fluids can ignite easily. For example, fluid leaking onto hot metal could easily catch fire. This isn’t the case with fire-flame retardant hydraulic oils, which makes them a must-have in any high-temperature environment. 

The following chart outlines examples of which fire-resistant hydraulic fluids work with which applications.
 

(Click here to see a printable version.) 

When you have much to protect, working with a powerhouse makes sense. Quaker Houghton leads the pack as a fire-resistant hydraulic fluid manufacturer. Our fire-resistant hydraulic fluid types exceed industry standards, are endorsed by major OEMs, and most are FM Certified.  

Quaker Houghton’s HFA products outperform competitive products in stability, bio-resistance, and corrosion prevention. The range includes HYDROLUBRIC® and QUINTOLUBRIC®.  

 As you can see in the chart above, HFA products are recommended for the following applications: 

• Longwall shields 
• Hot rolling 
• Pickling 
• Cold rolling 
• Tin rolling

Quaker Houghton’s water glycol fire-resistant hydraulic fluid range—HOUGHTO-SAFE®—offers excellent corrosion protection, lubrication, thermal stability, and low heat release.  

Our HFC products meet the requirements of various fire-resistant industry standards, and many are FM Certified.

HFC products are recommended for the following applications: 

• Casting 
• Diecasting 
• Iron casting 
• Pickling 
• Tempering 
• Marine/offshore

Quaker Houghton’s HFDu hydraulic fluids range—QUINTOLUBRIC®—is formulated from synthetic and natural polyol esters. It’s designed to replace anti-wear, mineral-oil-based hydraulic fluids and provide excellent shear and thermal stability, as well as outstanding seal compatibility.  
 Our HFDu products meet the requirements of various Fire Resistant ISO standards, and many are FM Certified. 
 QUINTOLUBRIC® fire-resistant hydraulic fluids consistently beat competitors on fluid life length for synthetic and natural ester.  
 HFDu products are recommended for the following applications: 

• Casting 
• Diecasting 
• Forming and forging 
• Iron casting 
• Hot rolling 
  Pickling 
• Cold rolling 
• Tin rolling 
• Tempering 
• Galvanizing 
• Mobile equipment 
• Belt take-up hydraulics 
• Hydraulics couplings 
• Power generation 
• Marine/offshore 
• Tunneling 

While these fluids enhance safety, it’s essential to consider potential trade-offs:

• Material compatibility – Some require specific seals and hoses for your machinery.
• Higher cost – Initial investment may be higher, but long-term savings outweigh the costs.
• Fluid management – Water-based options may require more frequent monitoring.

Your shop is under constant pressure to perform. An FM-certified fire-resistant hydraulic fluid reduces the risk of catastrophic equipment loss, injuries, downtime, and environmental impact. Additional benefits of FM-certified fluids include:

• Increased equipment lifespan
• Lower power consumption
• Improved employee safety
• Reduced environmental footprint

When you have much to protect, working with a powerhouse makes sense. Quaker Houghton leads the pack as a fire-resistant hydraulic fluid manufacturer. Our fire-resistant hydraulic fluid types exceed industry standards, are endorsed by major OEMs, and most are FM Certified.  

For more than five decades, our fluids have been helping customers keep employees safe while saving on the Total Costs of Ownership (TCO). We help you tackle your shop’s unique working environment and challenges so you can meet your goals.

Explore our fire-resistant hydraulic fluids.

Hydraulic Fluid Case Study: Preventing Disaster in a Coal Mine

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Is hydraulic oil flammable?

Yes, traditional mineral-based hydraulic oils are flammable, but fire-resistant hydraulic fluids are designed to resist ignition.

Can hydraulic fluid catch fire?

Yes, if exposed to high temperatures, mineral-based hydraulic fluids can ignite. Fire-resistant alternatives significantly reduce this risk.

Is tractor hydraulic fluid flammable?

Most standard tractor hydraulic fluids are mineral-based and flammable. Fire-resistant alternatives are available for high-risk environments.

Do hydraulic tools use fire-resistant fluid?

Some do, depending on the application and risk level.

Is aircraft hydraulic fluid flammable?

Aircraft hydraulic fluids are typically fire-resistant due to the high safety standards required in aviation.

For more information, visit our Knowledge Hub.