Discussion:
On
October 9, 2014, the Argonne Fire Department responded to building 362 room
E-332 for multiple (2) smoke detector activation.
On arrival, the Fire Alarm Office reported a water flow
alarm from the same area. The fire department crew found moderate smoke in the
room with water flowing.
The crew entered the area and room with full personal
protective equipment (PPE) and reported the fire was out and the sprinkler was
going off in the laboratory hood.
Once the fire department crew verified the fire was out,
they shut down the sprinkler in that laboratory hood.
No personnel were injured and fire damage was limited to
equipment in the hood (see photos, below). The research being conducted in the
hood at the time of the fire was to fabricate metal salt containing polymer
precursors for nanofibers, nanotubes and other high aspect ratio materials
using electrospinning.
Analysis:
A fire cause origin investigation team concluded that:
"The first fuel ignited was the solution from the syringes which contained
IPA [isopropyl alcohol].
The cause of the fire was due to one or more of the syringe
plunger seals failing causing solution to leak out of the syringe from the
plunger end and coming in contact with the electrical components within the top
syringe pump."
For more than three years, the researchers have been using
various sizes of plastic disposable syringes with Luer-Lok tip.
Trials with alternative syringes have been performed. They
chose the plastic disposable syringe because of its construction quality, seal
performance and cost. The plastic disposable syringe has been a standard
syringe used for electrospinning by many labs across the country.
Many syringe pumps have pre-loaded parameters for this
syringe type, which adds convenience and reliability for usage.