Safety and fire risks drive the cost of infrastructure insurance. By improving safety and reducing the risk of fire, dry-type transformers can reduce insurance costs for property developers and other projects.
The Class F1 fire protection that is typical among dry-type units means that fire detection and suppression systems are often not required. This can save users the cost of installing these systems, and also bring down actual insurance premiums.
A Class F1 fire rating indicates not only that equipment is flame-retardant, but that it is self-extinguishing. It will also not emit hazardous emissions when affected by fire in the proximity. Among the factors behind these safety levels is that dry-type transformers are cooled by air, rather than by oil.
Insurance companies usually insist that oil-cooled transformers have their oil regularly checked and tested to manage risk. Dry-type transformers do not have this risk, and generally require much less maintenance.
