Fire when replacing a hydrogen cylinder

Event

Event ID: 722
Quality: 2
Description: A man was burned when a fire broke out as a hydrogen cylinder was being changed in a governmental research centre. It was reported that the fire was started by a spark from a wrench. The sprinkler system put out the fire within minutes. A four litre (one US gallon) container of hydrochloric acid was broken during the incident, but caused no injuries. Several containers of methanol in the same area were not affected. The building was evacuated. Canberra makes nuclear instruments.
Event Initiating system: Hydrogen System Initiating Event
Classification of the physical effects: Hydrogen Release and Ignition
Nature of the consequences: Fire (No additional details provided)
Macro-region: North America
Country: United States
Date: 19/11/2004
Main component involved?: Cgh2 Cylinder (Valve)
How was it involved?: Rupture & Formation Of A Flammable H2-Air Mixture
Initiating cause: Unknown
Root causes: Unknown (No additional details provided)
Root CAUSE analysis: It was reported that the fire was started by a spark from a wrench.

Application: Laboratory / R&d
Sub-application: unspecified
Hydrogen supply chain stage: Hydrogen Storage (No additional details provided)
All components affected: hydrogen cylinder
Location type: Semiconfined
Operational condition: Normal
Pre-event occurrences: a hydrogen cylinder was being changed

Number of injured persons: 0
Number of fatalities: 0
Post-event summary: A four litre (one US gallon) container of hydrochloric acid was broken during the incident, but caused no injuries. Several containers of methanol in the same area were not affected. The building was evacuated.

Lesson Learnt: It is important to keep any ignition source, such as wrench, away when changing hydrogen cylinder.

Reference & weblink: Online News at<br />
http://www.saunalahti.fi/ility/PI0447.htm