[Luv2hunteup]

Arauco Particle board plant explosion and fire.

https://www.9and10news.com/2020/01/30/developing-explosion-reported-at-arauco-in-crawford-county/

 

[swampbuck]

Arauco Particle board plant explosion and fire.

https://www.9and10news.com/2020/01/30/developing-explosion-reported-at-arauco-in-crawford-county/

Pretty big boom, it was heard and felt on from north side of higgins to grayling.

Glad everyone is ok

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[Scout 2]

I bet that glue they use is explosive as H$$$. I am glad that all is safe and they got it out as fast as they did

 

[anagranite]

Could be the glue or the source of the hear for the dryer but most likely it was the fine wood dust being ignited by an ignition source. It's a serious issue for any wood working shop.

 

[Scout 2]

With the big tubes that were in a picture I was thinking dust explosion. I saw first hand the results of one of those on my first job out of highschool

 

[sureshot006]

Could be the glue or the source of the hear for the dryer but most likely it was the fine wood dust being ignited by an ignition source. It's a serious issue for any wood working shop.

Yep.

I think the glue is isocyanate based and not really an explosion hazard. The fuel the dryer may use or the dusty environment are far more likely.

 

[Nork]

Isocyanate is applied after the drying process and just before pressing. Having worked at an OSB siding mill I'd say dust explosion.

 

[sureshot006]

Isocyanate is applied after the drying process and just before pressing. Having worked at an OSB siding mill I'd say dust explosion.

MDI? Used to handle it in a previous job.

 

[Gamekeeper]

I guess I'll be curtailing my leisure.

 

[MEL]

Particleboard plant exploded in Canada like 30 years ago. Killed two and blew up about 10,000sq ft of the plant. Was caused by a spark in the ductwork. I guess that stuff blows up like gasoline.

 

[anagranite]

We hardly touch any wood where I work but OSHA requires us to be knowledgeable on the subject. That fact alone let's me know it must be dangerous.

 

[sureshot006]

Happens to graineries. A lot of times a small first explosion causes settled dust from poor housekeeping to form clouds which ignite as well leading to a larger explosion.

 

[Nork]

Dust is a big issue. During the midnight shift we had people getting in lifts and using air wands to blow dust off beams or any other flat surfaces to minimize the explosion potential. When you have an explosion it's not the first one that is large. The first one knocks all the dust off and gets it airborne and if there's an ignition source, the secondary explosion is the big one. I believe that's what happened at the GP plant in Gaylord years ago. I'd be interested to know if this occurred in an outside piece of equipment or inside a building.

 

[sureshot006]

Dust is a big issue. During the midnight shift we had people getting in lifts and using air wands to blow dust off beams or any other flat surfaces to minimize the explosion potential. When you have an explosion it's not the first one that is large. The first one knocks all the dust off and gets it airborne and if there's an ignition source, the secondary explosion is the big one. I believe that's what happened at the GP plant in Gaylord years ago. I'd be interested to know if this occurred in an outside piece of equipment or inside a building.

Yep. I think rule of thumb is 1/16th of an inch thick layer is cause for concern.

 

[Nork]

It's been a few years since I've been in that industry but I think you're correct. We were anal about fire protection systems. Worst fire we had was a contracter's payloader that caught fire. They transported all of the wood waste we didn't use. Hydraulic hose sprung a leak onto a hot muffler. The guy got it out with a fire extinguisher but it reignited. I can still visualize that scene. Fire department came and put the fire out.

 

[Petronius]

The plant has only been open since last April, ARAUCO's first in the U.S.

 

[junkman]

Glad nobody was hurt or killed.Working in industry all my life the worst fate I can imagine is dying on the job.

 

[hungryhollow]

We had a dust explosion at a grain co-op. A witness said there were seven explosions.

 

[hungryhollow]

We had a dust explosion at a grain co-op. A witness said there were seven explosions.

They did little damage except blowing off the overhead truck doors which were closed.

 

[sureshot006]

The plant has only been open since last April, ARAUCO's first in the U.S.

Maybe they didn't verify grounding and bonding before startup.