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Process Safety Beacon: High Oxygen Concentrations Can Be Hazardous

Process Safety Beacon

January

2017

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A fire in the Apollo 1 command module killed all three crew members during a launch rehearsal test on Jan. 27, 1967. The atmosphere of the command module was 100% oxygen at 16.7 psia (1.15 bar). Materials that are hard to ignite in air burn rapidly in high- or pure-oxygen environments. The source of ignition was likely a problem in the electrical wiring.

High oxygen concentration has also been a contributing factor in industrial incidents.

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Process Safety Beacon: High Oxygen Concentrations Can Be Hazardous

A fire in the Apollo 1 command module killed all three crew members during a launch rehearsal test on Jan. 27, 1967. The atmosphere of the command module was 100% oxygen at 16.7 psia (1.15 bar). Materials that are hard to ignite in air burn rapidly in high- or pure-oxygen environments. The source of...

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