"us(ed) dry chemical fire extinguishers to avoid ...explosive interaction "

Companies that process molten metal have to be prepared for when a molten metal spill occurs. This includes training, performing drills, proper ppe, etc. Here is a recent incident of a company that had prepared prior to an unfortunate molten metal spill:

 

A molten aluminum spill at (aluminium foundry/die caster) started a small fire igniting on Sunday morning

 

According to the local Fire and Rescue, just after 1:30 a.m., crews responded to a manufacturer (aluminium foundry/die caster), located at (location omitted), for a report that there was a fire near a machine inside the facility.

 

By the time crews arrived, 30 employees, who were near the incident, had already evacuated safely.

 

Upon further investigation, officials found the small fire located on the floor next to an industrial machine and a moderate amount of smoke throughout Plant (number omitted).

 

The small fire was determined to have started due to the machine spilling molten aluminum on the floor resulting in crews extinguishing the fire using dry chemical fire extinguishers to avoid any potential hazard or explosive interaction with applying water to the molten aluminum product.

 

There were no reported injuries.

 

This company did everything correct. When the molten metal spill was found they immediately notified the local fire department and evacuated the building. The local fire department was properly educated on how to address molten metal fires. We have to assume that the aluminium company trained the local fire department on how to properly and safely extinguish molten aluminium and aluminium fine fires. Why? Because the fire department they used Class D “dry chemical fire extinguishers to avoid any potential hazard or explosive interaction with applying water to the molten aluminum product.” Great job!

 

Companies that process aluminum (either molten or solid) should never assume that the local fire department has enough Class D fire extinguisher to handle a fire at your workplace. Why? Because they don’t! This is the number one wrong assumption that aluminum companies make. They realize their mistake when the responding fire department come with one fire Class D extinguisher on the truck.

Question: Does your workplace have enough class d fire extinguishers or class d fire extinguishing agent in stock to handle a large aluminium fire? 

 

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