Rocky Flats Plant Fire, 1969 cont'd

ACCIDENT CASE STUDIES

DOE-HDBK-1081-94

Spontaneous Heating and Pyrophoricity

Buildings 776-777 were essentially one large room with interconnected glovebox

trains with basically no fire breaks or fire walls. This setup allowed for rapid, large-

area spread of fire and radioactive contamination.

These lessons learned from the 1969 fire have led to a number of current-day, continuing

safety improvements including the following equipment modifications and procedural

revisions:

A central, computerized alarm system has been installed.

A sprinkler/water system has been put in place.

Gloveboxes with inert atmospheres, heat detectors, and minimal Benelex and

Plexiglas shielding are used.

Water-filled double walls have been constructed.

Firewater dams on doors are in place.

Removal of flammable material from gloveboxes is done regularly.

Briquettes are stored in metal containers with tight lids.

Containers are placed on metal racks with heat detectors.

Canning of briquettes is done in an inert atmosphere or vacuum for unattended

(overnight or longer) storage.

Pyrophoricity

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