BRE IP11/08 PDF

PURPOSE OF THE TESTS

Spontaneous combustion is known to occur in a wide variety of materials given the right conditions. Pulverised coal, hops and dried sewage sludge are well known as having the potential for self-heating leading to combustion, but there are many other industrial examples and a comprehensive list is given by Kayser and Boyars. The principal concern is the recognition of the risks, the prediction of situations where spontaneous fires may occur and the identification of simple precautions to prevent such fires.

An extensive review of the problems of spontaneous combustion is already available. The purpose of this Paper is to describe the test methods used to characterise the material and provide information on safe handling and storage conditions.

The methods to be described and the associated theory apply to finely divided material, such as dusts, granules and pellets, normally thought to be fairly stable. The tests are carried out in the laboratory and allow for reliable extrapolation to potentially hazardous practical situations.