Published with permission from Vero Insurance New Zealand.
It might surprise you to know that fires caused by spontaneous ignition involving laundry are relatively common. It’s possible for fires to start by spontaneous ignition in any business or household that does laundry.
Spontaneous ignition is caused by a chemical process called oxidation which occurs when a substance combines with oxygen. Oxidation creates heat, and if the heat can’t be removed (for example, by air flow) the temperature of the substance continues to increase until it reaches its ignition temperature and catches fire.
Oxidation can occur naturally among warm or damp fabrics during the laundering process. There are a few common factors that can increase the chance of spontaneous ignition.
- Cotton fabrics that are coated or contaminated with vegetable oils, including cleaning rags, dish cloths, towels and aprons
- Warm or damp linen being stored in a warm area
- Exposure to heat sources like hot pipes or tumble dryers
- Lack of ventilation for compressed or folded laundry
- Exposure to direct sunlight
- Detergents that contain oxidising chemicals
Tips to prevent spontaneous ignition
The fire risk associated with laundry operations can be reduced if you follow a few simple precautions to reduce the chance of spontaneous ignition.
1. Wash soiled items on the right setting
Cold water washes don’t always remove all the oils, fats or detergent from aprons, tea towels and dishrags. Adjust your wash temperatures and detergent for the optimum removal of any oil and fat contamination, and rinse your laundry before drying.
2. Maintain equipment correctly
Laundry equipment on your premises (home or business) should be installed, maintained and operated as recommended by the manufacturer. It’s a good idea to regularly check any thermostat controls and clean and check lint filters daily.
3. Ensure air exhaust pipes are free of obstruction
Lack of ventilation increases the risk of spontaneous ignition, so ensure tumble dryer air exhaust vents are free of any obstruction or blockage.
4. Keep soiled laundry away from heat sources
Don’t store soiled laundry near heat sources like tumble dryers or in direct sunlight. It’s also a good idea to wash things as soon as possible.
5. Line dry high risk items
Foam rubber, waterproof textiles, plastic shower caps, rubber backed items or clothes, mop heads and anything that has been contaminated with vegetable oils should ideally be line dried – the temperature of a dryer may cause these items to ignite.
6. Only tumble dry while someone is on the premises
If possible, it’s best to only tumble dry laundry while someone is present, and will have time to empty the dryer as soon as it’s finished. Leaving dryers or hot laundry unattended means if a fire does start, it might be some time before you catch it.
7. Let items cool down
Ensure that when you are using a dryer, you don’t skip the cooling part of its cycle. Once the dryer is finished, it’s best to empty it immediately and spread out the laundry into small piles to allow it to air out and cool. Dry laundry left in a plastic container or cart will retain heat, so metal, open mesh, baskets are a good alternative.
What if a fire does start?
Where there is a risk of spontaneous ignition, you should make sure you have a fire extinguisher on hand. It’s useful to get specialist advice on the size, number and location of fire extinguishers for a business, but dry powder fire extinguishers with the appropriate rating should be the minimum.
By Stephen Henkin