Spontaneous ignition fires: is your plant susceptible?

Abstract

Spontaneous ignition fires pose an unpredictable threat that textile rental operators may overlook in their safety planning. The possibility that a fire can start spontaneously in clean linen or towels may seem remote, but fire experts say the phenomenon is quite real. The lethal combination is hot, damp, oxygenated, and cotton--conditions that are present in laundries every day. Yet, fires can be prevented if companies educate their employees, adhere to dryer manufacturers' recommendations, and exercise safety vigilance.