Fire and Explosion Hazards Handbook
This book is a compendium of chemical specific fire and chemical reactivity data and information.
More than 1000 chemicals have been researched and organized into a reference handbook for fire
specialists, chemical handling specialists, and plant safety engineers. The specific information
provided for chemicals includes the flammability characteristics, recommended fire extinguishing
practices, fire extinguishing agents not to be used, behavior in fires, burning characteristics,
chemical reactivity with regard to water and common materials, incompatible chemical mixtures,
containment and neutralization methods for spills. This reference book has been designed as a data
bank for the hazardous materials handling specialist and industrial safety managers dealing with
large chemical inventories. It is intended to be used by fire and loss prevention specialists and as
a basis for developing procedures for safe storing and handling of chemicals. The authors have
included an extensive physical properties section on chemicals, with information most pertinent to
fire response situations.
The intent of the volume is to provide easily understood information that can assist in the proper
management and handling of chemicals, as well as providing basic information and guidance that
can aid first responders to a hazardous materials incident involving spills and fires. There are
numerous data bases and publications on hazardous materials. Depending on the nature and extent
of the reader’s chemical handling, management and or level of responsibilities for chemicals and
worker safety issues, these other references, including electronic data bases may have to be
consulted. Additionally, authoritative organizations such as the NFPA, ACGIH, OSHA, NIOSH,
IARC, UNDP, USDOT and others, as well as local and company specific safety practices should
be heavily consulted when dealing With fire safety issues. Chemical specific tire safety information
is provided along with an explanation of important terms used throughout the handbook along with
detailed explanation on the organization of materials and how to apply them. The reader is provided
detailed explanation of these terms and the limitations of data that have been organized. A
substantial Glossary of Terms is also provided in the handbook for the reader’s convenience. The
data and information was derived from reviews of company specific material safety data sheets
(MSDS)
