Tuesday, April 21, 2015

HEATER EXPLOSION CAUSES CHEMICAL FIRE AT THE SOUTHERN METAL PROCESSING PLANT IN BAYTOWN, TEXAS





APRIL 21, 2015

BAYTOWN, TEXAS

Firefighters said a blown heater caused a chemical fire at the Southern Metal Processing Plant Monday night.  The address is 4750 West Cedar Bayou Lynchburg Road, Baytown, Texas 77521.

Investigators said two workers were inside the plant when the fire started but are alright. No other injuries or evacuations were reported.

Firefighters said the chemical leaking is Diethylene Glycol.

They said it's a cleaning agent used on filters in the chemical industry.  Here is what SMP states in their web pages:

“Southern Metal Processing Co., established in 1973, is the first independent company involved in filter cleaning as well as related packs, dies and equipment used in the manufacture, processing or recycling of polymer resins, man-made fibers, non woven products and extruded films. Through the experience and general cleaning technology gained from these efforts, we extended our capabilities and capacity to enable us to serve numerous other industry segments. 

These services include but are not limited to cleaning of filters used in hydraulic applications, catalyst recovery, catalyst bed protection, catalyst regeneration as well as other general chemicals filtration, including assembly/disassembly of vessels and other related hardware as required. We also offer cleaning services for tower packing, pumps, valves, piping, flexible hoses, heat exchangers, static mixers, dies, packs, spinnerettes, flame arrestors/demister pads and a variety of other industrial equipment used in various applications and process environments ranging from polymers to petrochemicals, pharmaceuticals, agricultural chemicals, automotives as well as a variety of other process industries.”