Fires at composting facilities: causes and conditions
Article Abstract:
It is fairly common for a compost plant to experience a fire, but most fires are not sufficiently frequent or damaging to attract much publicity. Organic materials that are generally composted or recycled contain chemical energy, and can therefore supply fuel for a fire. One of the more common causes of fires is spontaneous combustion, which is hard to recognize and control. Other potential causes of fires at composting facilities including heat from equipment, lightning strikes and sparks from welding activities.
Publication Name: BioCycle
Subject: Environmental services industry
ISSN: 0276-5055
Year: 2000
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Fire destroys Hartford in-vessel composting facility
Article Abstract:
It is believed that the fire which destroyed a $27 million biosolids composting plant in Hartford, CT, in Nov 1999 was caused by spontaneous combustion. This may have resulted from drying of materials due to extended storage. The facility, which used the American Bio Tech system, had 20 fibreglass composting cells, with the composting feedstocks being aerated by 48 air lances, each 16 ft long. At the time of the fire, 16 vessels contained an estimated 30,000 cu yards of material.
Publication Name: BioCycle
Subject: Environmental services industry
ISSN: 0276-5055
Year: 2000
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Fires at composting facilities: handling and extinguishing fires
Article Abstract:
Fires are not uncommon in the composting industry but there are no official guidelines on how to handle them. Operators must rely on common sense and experience. Guidelines on handling and extinguishing fires at composting facilities are presented, focusing on management and prevention.
Publication Name: BioCycle
Subject: Environmental services industry
ISSN: 0276-5055
Year: 2000
User Contributions:
Comment about this article or add new information about this topic:
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