Safety Warning: Stored pressure aerosol cans can explode!
Maintenance Essentials has received a report of an exploding stored pressure aerosol can used for the general inspection, testing and maintenance of fire safety systems and equipment. An analysis of the exploding aerosol can indicates it was exposed to heat (in the passenger compartment of a motor vehicle) in excess of its published safe storage temperature.
After conducting a "Root Cause Analysis" we have prepared and attached an important "Safety Bulletin" that includes recommendations for the safe storage and handling of stored pressure aerosol cans.
Stored pressure aerosol cans are widely used in industry to a variety or purposes. Within the fire protection industry, aerosol cans are used to store lubricants, cleaning fluids & gasses, sunscreen, etc. This bulletin highlights the issue of exploding aerosol cans where such cans are exposed to temperatures (such as those found in a motor vehicle), damage or stress that may cause an aerosol can to explode. Due to the expansion and contraction of the aerosol can (leading to stress), even aerosol cans which are below their safe storage temperature may be vulnerable to explosion.
A review of the safety handling and storage or aerosol cans indicates that there are a variety of risks which can lead to an explosion. As a result, the following recommendations have been developed to eliminate and reduce the risk of and explosion and harm to personnel;
- Read and follow the safety instructions printed on the aerosol can.
- Always store aerosol cans in a cool, secure, well ventilated location outside the passenger compartment of a motor vehicle.
- Safety dispose of any aerosol can that may have been repeatedly exposed to excessive
- temperatures.
- Safely dispose of any aerosol can that shows any sign of stress or damage.
For more information, please read the attached Safety Bulletin, telephone 03 8588 2900 or email us via our contact form.
