We often warn customers and custodians of hazardous materials of the worst-case scenarios. Seldomly are those fears ever realized. Another close call with complete chaos and utter ruin was reported in Connecticut last month when a battery fire at a power plant nearly resulted in an environmental crisis.
Without warning or even the hint of smoldering and impending doom, 20 large batteries caught fire, spilling corrosive acid onto the plant’s floor. By the time firefighters and a hazmat response team had arrived on the scene, a large black poisonous ominous cloud had enveloped the bleak New England skyline.
The routine response became dire when crews were confronted with a frozen water hydrant, compounding the efforts of firefighters. Fearing the blaze might spread to the adjacent township, the resourceful rescue crew ascertained a large industrial chemical fire extinguisher to halt the blaze’s march of destruction.
Just as crews were making quick work of the renegade blaze, another flirtation with catastrophe was quickly imparting its destructive advances on the town’s water supply. As the battery fire began to diminish in intensity, acid from the cells were now encroaching upon the nearby ground water system.
Without questioning their safety, the crews valiantly intercepted the intruding chemical before it could reach the storm drains or water supply. Fortunately, no one was injured.
U.S. Hazmat Rentals fire-rated storage lockers can meet growing storage needs
Battery fires are surprisingly common in industrial settings. While most machinists and technicians don’t give a second thought to these seemingly benign and docile power cells, they are in reality a powder keg primed for explosion.
If batteries are not stored in a climate controlled setting, these tinder boxes can be just as destructive as gasoline, dynamite and accelerants. As emerging technologies continue to rely on lithium-ion batteries for production purposes, the threat of future calamities will only increase in the future.
Rely on U.S. Hazmat Rentals for proper battery storage
You can’t hide from the perils of improper storage. If you don’t take the necessary precautions to treat hazardous materials with the respect, these dormant volcanoes of potential energy can erupt with unprecedented damage.
A fire-rated U.S. Hazmat Rentals storage locker can keep the cap on these powerful cells and other volatile and flammable materials. By isolating and compartmentalizing batteries behind steel paneling, you can focus on the day-to-day operations of running a successful business and not the nagging and pesky “what ifs?”
Spill sump to contain spills
And what if spills or leaks do occur? Our innovative grated spill sump containment system will catch and collect any corrosive materials without affecting your workflow operations. At U.S. Hazmat Rentals, we have you covered inside and out!
