AMMONIA GAS ESCAPES

Press, Volume XCIV, Issue 28080, 22 September 1956, Page 10

AMMONIA GAS ESCAPES

BREWERY BUILDINGS EVACUATED Production and distribution came to’ l a halt at the Christchurch brewery of New Zealand Breweries. Ltd., early yesterday afternoon. The main buildings, including the office, were evacuated as ammonia fumes from a burst tube in the cooling room spread throughout the buildings. One man was overcome by the gas and taken to the Christchurch Public Hospital, but was discharged after outpatient treatment. I A tube carrying ammonia to the cooling process in the brewery burst under pressure just before 2 pm. Workers on the cooling process got out of the way quickly, and word spread throughout the brewery quickly that the ammonia was escaping. A, Respirators were used by men who went into the building to locate and endeavour to isolate the trouble, but the company has to rely on fresh air to blow away the fumes. -It is expected that it will be late today before the buildings will be clear. The strong, eye-smarting fumes could be detected along Antigua and St. Asaph streets for most of the afternoon. Friday is not a busy day at the brewery, most of the orders for week having been fulfilled, and a spokesman for the company said that the incident, which he described a» not unusual among large refrigeration plants, would not interfere with normal production.