The researcher's failure to pull the fire alarm was an oversight of required facility practice. The alarm should have been triggered in consideration of the potential for greater harm to personnel and facilities.

Hot, reacting ammonia borane produces hydrogen as well as other pyrophoric impurities. Reactions should be carried out in inert atmospheres or purged with inert gases. Furthermore, efforts should be made to prevent oxygen from coming in contact with the material while hot.

As a consequence of this incident, an updated procedure was put in place to check critical fittings before each subsequent test and to purge the apparatus with argon in the area surrounding the reactor/fittings.