A researcher was conducting an experiment that involved sawdust being heated at pressure using hydrogen gas in an laboratory-scale autoclave.The gas leaked from the autoclave during the experiment and ignited, causing injuries to the scientist (cuts, bruises and facial burns).The explosion caused extensive damage to the building, propelling debris more than 20 metres into a garden area.

The explosion was caused by the ignition of hydrogen during reaction with sodium metal. The Chemistry Department routinely dried solvents using metallic sodium. This leaves an excess of sodium metal, which need to be disposed. This is done by oxidizing it by a reaction with a toluene solution of isopropyl alcohol (IPA), prior to disposal. The by-products of this reaction are hydrogen gas and heat. The operation was performed by a PhD student, who had already executed it before. He left the reaction for approximately four hours in the fume cupboard.