Severity
Incident
Was Hydrogen Released?
Yes
Was There Ignition?
Yes
Ignition Source
Burners in the industrial heater
Incident Date
Dec 31, 1969
Setting
Equipment
- Heating Equipment
- Industrial Heater
Damage and Injuries
Probable Cause
When Incident Was Discovered
Lessons Learned
This incident illustrates how a hydrogen fire which appears to be 'quite small' can actually be only the visible portion of a much larger fire. Observation alone is not a reliable technique for detecting pure hydrogen fires and/or assessing their severity.