Two part paint burns down school

[Richard Jones]

Here on Long Island last week, an elementary school burned down overnight. Turns out that over Winter Break, the gym floor was refinished. The contractor used a two part paint for the border lines and improperly stored the used containers and other waste materials together. Heat was generated and the place went up in flames. The media hasn't identified the brand or type of paint used, other than to say it was a two-part system. A word of warning to all of us using epoxies, resins and paints.

[johngsandusky]

Wow. Thanks Rich. I knew the school burned, I just didnt know why.

[Michael D. Storey]

Thanx Bud

[willmarsh3]

Even small batches of 2 part epoxy can get really hot. I mixed a batch of 2 part west (about an ounce) on a hot day (about 90F) and started applying it. Before mixing the epoxy sat in the warm car all day so it was close to 90F to begin with. Over a 5 minute period it heated up to the point where it was too hot to touch. The lesson learned was keep it cool before mixing. It's not difficult to extrapolate what would happen with a larger batch under these conditions.

[Don Kurylko]

WEST Epoxy has a warning on their website, or one of the news letters, about the combustibility of hardeners when disposed of improperly in trash containers or spilled onto sawdust, shavings, etc.

Don’t forget to dispose of oily rags or paper towels properly too. They are highly prone to spontaneous combustion.