[NHCOLL-L:1302] RE: Spirit Collections, Fires & Explosions

[Simmons, John E]

I am not aware of any recent reports of fires in alcohol collections,
although there are some historic fires (e.g., the loss of the California
Academy of Sciences Collection following the 1905 earthquake).  However,
curiosity did get the better of me one dull summer day so I took a jar at
random from the shelf in our collection, put the alcohol into a similar jar
without specimens, took it out back, and lit it afire.  It burned quite
well, but without smoke and with barely visible flame.  Very hot fire, too.

You might check the Factory Mutual catalog and/or web page.  As I recall,
they had a article or two about containers and alcohol fires, but I believe
they were rather expensive to purchase unless you were a member.

--John

John E. Simmons
Collection Manager, Natural History Museum
and
Coordinator, Historical Administration and Museum Studies Program
University of Kansas
Dyche Hall
1345 Jayhawk Boulevard
Lawrence, Kansas 66045-7561
Phone 785-864-4508
FAX 785-864-5335
jsimmons at ku.edu


-----Original Message-----
From: Robin McPhee [mailto:RobinM at TEPAPA.GOVT.NZ]
Sent: Monday, October 29, 2001 2:06 PM
To: nhcoll-l at lists.yale.edu
Subject: [NHCOLL-L:1301] Spirit Collections, Fires & Explosions 


Hi All,

Does anybody know of any incidences of alcohol fires or explosions in museum
spirit collections or labs? 
Are there any written reports or investigations available about the causes
and results of any incidences?

I'm sorting out some issues with health & safety in our spirit collection
facility and labs.  I've found lots of info & specs. for the theoretical
risks and potential hazards of working with isopropanol and ethanol.  I'd
like to put this information in to a practical context, so it would be
helpful to learn from what has previously occurred. I.e. How many fires have
there been in spirit collections, What have been there causes, what have
been the results, etc.  

As far as I'm aware no alcohol fires or explosions have been reported at
this museum, and our current alcohol collection management practises reflect
this, along with the stories of previous workers who often smoked while
handling alcohol & specimens and never reported any (fire) problems. There
are also stories of buckets of alcohol preservative being put outside and
having lighted matches thrown in, in an attempt to test the flammability of
the alcohol solution.


Cheers & Thanks  
Robin McPhee
Technical Officer, EEZ Fishes Project,
Fish Section
Museum of New Zealand, Te Papa
169 Tory Street
P.O. Box 467
Wellington, New Zealand.
Phone DDI 64 4 381 7308
Fax 64 4 381 7310
e-mail robinm at tepapa.govt.nz  




  

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