ACETYLENE CYLINDER EXPLODES.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 19762, 13 April 1926, Page 10

ACETYLENE CYLINDER EXPLODES.

PROGRESSIVE DECOMPOSITION SUGGESTED.

FGR THE R 1N V E STIC AT I ON.

(From Odk Own Correspondent.) WELLINGTON, April .12. The explosion of an acetylene cylinder at the Wellington foundry of Messrs J. j. Niven and Co. in January last has been the subject of investigation by the officers of the Explosives Department, under instructions from the Government. To-day the Hon. R. F. Bollard (Minister of Infernal Affairs'! stated that he 1 .d received from the Chief Inspector of Explosives and his expert staff comprehensive reports on the subject, and these were being forwarded to the British Home Office for consideration. The reports stated that from the evidence available the probable cause of the explosion was that progressive decomposition of the acetylene occurred in the cylinder. "The unusualness of an. explosion of the kind,” said Mr Bollard, “made a very thorough investigation all the move important. The evidence available after the accident showed that the most probable cause of the explosion was that progressive decomposition of the acetylene occurred in the cylinder, and the pressure thus created was sufficient to burst the latter. The subsequent fire was caused by the projection of the highly inflammable kapok and acetone contained in the cylinder. Careful inquiries were made at the station where the cylinder was filled, and everything was found to be in order. Analyses were also made of the materials used at the station. The Explosives Department has no record of any previous accident involving the same conditions, and the departmental officers are unable to assign a definite cause for the occurrence.”

Mr Bollard added that the cylinders for acetylene were not manufactured in this country, nor was the filling/of the kapok carried out here. It was, therefore, impossible to make further investigations in Aew Zealand, and the reports were being referred to the British Home Office with a request that further investigations be made to determine what precautions were necessary to prevent a recurrence of such accidents.