Table 1 — Fire incidents investigated by WHA involving medical equipment4 and incident evaluation |
Location of Incident |
Date of Incident |
Regulator Filter/Piston |
Operation During Incident |
Ignition Mechanisma |
Springfield, Ore.
|
12/27/93 |
SS/Alum |
Flowing (5-7 min)
|
Particle Impact Promoted Ignition |
Greeley, Colo. |
7/13/95 |
SS/Alum |
CVb Just Opened |
Contamination
|
Boone, N.C.
|
10/6/95 |
Bronze/Brass |
Flowing (4-6 min) |
Particle Impact |
Austin, Texas |
6/14/96 |
SS/Alum |
CV Just Opened |
Contamination |
|
Houston, Texas (#1)c
|
6/15/96 |
SS/Alum |
CV Just Opened |
Unknownc |
|
Houston, Texas (#2)c
|
7/15/96 |
SS/Alum |
CV Just Opened |
Heat of Compressiond |
Gurnee, Ill.
|
3/23/97 |
SS/Alum |
CV Just Opened |
Promoted Ignition |
|
Broward County, Fla. |
6/12/98 |
Bronze/Brass |
CV Just Opened |
Particle Impact |
|
Greenville, S.C. |
8/27/98 |
SS/Alum |
CV Just Opened |
Particle Impact Promoted Ignition |
|
Oak Creek, Wis. |
1/21/99 |
SS/Alum |
CV Just Opened |
Promoted Ignition |
|
Reno, Nev.
|
1/25/99 |
Bronze/Brass |
CV Just Opened |
Particle Impact |
a This column lists the ignition mechanisms that were considered to have the
highest probability based on the evidence inspected.
b CV – cylinder valve
c The failure analyses for the two Houston incidents were not performed by WHA. However, WHA personnel inspected the fire-damaged regulators as part of other investigations.
d Although this incident was not investigated by WHA, the only material consumed in the fire was the regulator seat.
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