COMBUSTIBLE METALS

NEARLY ALL METALS WILL BURN IN AIR UNDER CERTAIN CIRCUMSTANCES.

CERTAIN METALS ARE REFERRED TO AS COMBUSTIBLE METALS DUE TO EASE OF IGNITION OF THIN SECTIONS OR FINE PARTICLES.

PARTICLE SIZE, SHAPE, QUANTITY, AND ALLOY ARE IMPORTANT FACTORS IN ASSESSING THE COMBUSTIBILITY OF METALS.

HOT OR BURNING METALS MAY REACT VIOLENTLY UPON CONTACT WITH OTHER MATERIALS, SUCH AS SOME FIRE EXTINGUISHING AGENTS.  CLASS "D" FIRE EXTINGUISHERS OR SAND APPLIES.

TEMPERATURES IN BURNING METALS GENERALLY ARE MUCH HIGHER THAN FLAMMABLE LIQUID FIRES.

ALL METALS DO NOT BURN THE SAME WAY.

IF YOU KNOW THE PREMISES YOU ARE TO INSPECT CONTAINERS, PROCESSES INVOLVING METALS, YOU SHOULD DETERMINE THE BURNING CHARACTERISTICS OF THE MATERIAL PRIOR TO THE INSPECTION.

BECOME FAMILIAR WITH PROCESS HAZARDS, STORAGE, TRASNPORTATION, AND FIRE EXTINGHUISHMENT METHODS.

           
INDEX Heat

FPT 102 - Fire Prevention and Inspection // Instructor: Kevin M. Kolb        Slide #2