Croydon Police Station Fire - Good house keeping reminder

[Dangermouse]

I have been mostly absent for a week and don't think anyone has mentioned this story:

http://www.thisiscroydontoday.co.uk/Cro ... story.html

Apparently:
The firing range, which is in the basement, was having some maintenance work completed. The range had been signed over to the contractors and the contractors had cleaned the range and put all the "rubbish" in bin bags.
The contractors then a, started using a disk cutter or b, used a naked flame which then caught the rubbish bags alight and something between a flash over or explosion took place injuring both workers very badly. I understand both contractors are sedated in intensive care so do not wish to make any inappropriate comments.

I had always been told about the dangers of black powder on the range floor but had not realised that modern powder could still be a problem once fired.
This is a reminder to us all to keep our area clean, and keep to good house keeping practises,

DM

[ovenpaa]

I did read about it but not the reason why it happened, I put it down to possibly aerosols or gas containers.

[Dave 101]

I have heard you should never hoover up dropped powder because sucking it up a plastic tube could cause it to ignite by static . Weather thats true or not I dont know , personaly I brush my bench down with a decoraters dusting brush and feed it to the pot plants .

Dave

[Porcupine]

I think you'd need a great deal of powder to risk serious injury. Here is 50 rounds of 9mm worth of powder being burnt:

[Blackstuff]

I think you'd need a great deal of powder to risk serious injury. Here is 50 rounds of 9mm worth of powder being burnt:

It's strange how different makes of powder can burn. I pulled around 50rds of Magtech 9mm last year and burnt off the powder, expecting a similar result to that shown in the video, but instead it formed a 3-4ft high, 3" wide column that burned for 2-3 seconds :G Really caught me off guard!

[Dangermouse]

I have swept up on the range and have always been amazed at the amount of powder that gets collected, and that is only what we can be bothered to do, basically we are sweeping up the brass, it is not a military operation getting into every nook and cranny.

I wonder if the powder / burnt powder can take on the characteristics of custard powder dust once burnt and with the right mix of air.

The range in question has / had a good amount of wooden batons along the walls. These would have been very dry as their is no moisture in the basement. They would have had years of residue in them. One way or another it took everyone by surprise at the speed and ferocity.

DM