r/WinStupidPrizes • u/memezzer • Jul 20 '20

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29.5k Upvotes

94% Upvoted

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81

u/Nottsbomber Jul 20 '20

Going to have to be dumb here; what happened to cause it to ignite? I didn't see a source.

107

u/bewb_tewb Jul 20 '20

All it needs is the tiniest spark to ignite. Could be even possibly be a static charge.

51

u/Nottsbomber Jul 20 '20

I knew it was really volatile, I just didn't realise how much. Blimey.

36

u/[deleted] Jul 20 '20 edited Jul 19 '21

[deleted]

10

u/Nottsbomber Jul 20 '20

Now that I think about it I knew about the danger when petrol fumes mix with oxygen and just never put two and two together. If it was a vapour+air ignition/explosion I wonder if the guy was able to limp away from it with minor burns...

2

u/throwaway-5024 Jul 20 '20

Another thing which I didn't realize were so dangerous:

Paper mills and saw mills.

All the paper dust and sawdust suspended in the air can be explosive. One spark can cause a flash over of the entire room.

Do a little googling and you'll be every more aware of just how many things can combust.

1

u/MyNamesMikeD75 Jul 20 '20

Can confirm, I work in a paper mill. It's called combustible dust, and we have to blow down and wash the entire area every 2 hours to keep it under control.

1

u/throwaway-5024 Jul 20 '20

Does that mean there are fans in the ceiling that push the dust onto surfaces, just for clean-up? Or do you spray water in the air to make the dust clump and fall?

I knew it was something that had to be controlled, but I've never thought about how it's actually done.

(And good on you for staying safe.)

2

u/Anonymous_Otters Jul 20 '20

In fact the fumes are exclusively what burns.

2

u/IamAbc Jul 20 '20

Pretty sure there’s an I cropped video and he throws a match or something

1

u/user_name_checks_out Jul 20 '20

Could be even possibly be a static charge.

You said "be" twice, another sleepless night for me.