FIRE EXPOSURE TESTS OF POLYETHYLENE AND FIFTY-FIVE GALLON STEEL DRUMS LOADED WITH FLAMMABLE LIQUIDS. PHASE I

Tests were conducted to compare the performance (resistance) of steel and polyethylene drums to fire exposure both singly and in arrays using JP-4 (aviation fuel) and Acetone as flammable liquid cargoes. The internal pressure, internal temperature, external temperature, time to failure and method of failure were recorded for each drum type tested. Polyethylene drums failed by melting, burning or softening and then discharging their liquid cargoes under load pressure. Steel drums failed due to increased temperature of the steel and increased internal pressure causing the double rolled seam at top or bottom to unroll resulting in catastrophic failure of the drum by jetting and/or explosion. (Author)

• Supplemental Notes:
  • Errata sheet inserted.
• Corporate Authors:

  Coast Guard

  Office of Research and Development
  Washington, DC  United States 
• Authors:
  • Richards, R C
  • White, K T
• Publication Date: 1976-9

Media Info

• Pagination: 149 p.

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Acetates; Aviation fuels; Cargo handling; Cargo ships; Containers; Ethylene resins; Explosions; Failure; Fire prevention; Fires; Flammability; Hazardous materials; Hazards; Liquids; Melting; Plastics; Safety; Solvents; Steel; Test procedures; Transportation; Water transportation
• Uncontrolled Terms: Fire hazards; Internal pressure; Polyethylene
• Old TRIS Terms: Acetones; Hazardous materials transportation
• Subject Areas: Safety and Human Factors; Transportation (General);

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00167011
• Record Type: Publication
• Source Agency: National Technical Information Service
• Report/Paper Numbers: CGR/DC-16/76, USCG-D-116-76
• Files: NTIS
• Created Date: Oct 29 2002 12:00AM