MEC&F Expert Engineers : LABORATORY HOOD FIRE ACTIVATES SPRINKLER SYSTEM

Monday, March 16, 2015

LABORATORY HOOD FIRE ACTIVATES SPRINKLER SYSTEM




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.