7 Killed in explosion at SCB Park Plaza in Bangkok

[webfact]

7 Killed in Explosion at SCB Park
By Teeranai Charuvastra
Staff Reporter


Rescue workers Sunday night at SCB Park Plaza in Bangkok.

BANGKOK — At least seven people were killed Sunday night when a large hydrogen tank exploded in a basement at the SCB Park Plaza near Ratchayothin intersection.

Rescue personnel are at the scene where at least a dozen others were injured in the blast which went off at about 10pm on Sunday night at the complex in the capital’s Chatuchak district.

Full story: http://www.khaosodenglish.com/detail.php?newsid=1457886032&typecate=06&section=


-- Khaosod English 2016-03-14

UPDATE:-- Latest reports from Thai media say that at least 10 people were killed in the explosion. Four others remain in a critical condition in hospital.

[stoneyboy]

I know there are several uses for hydrogen including it being used as a coolant etc but what would it's purpose be in this instance.

[z42]

So I take it now that gas canisters are something that become exponentially lethal when under the supervision of Thai agents... Recently the boat and now this barely a week later... SMH... Condolences to all those poor people who were killed / injured here, very sad

[steven100]

strange this exploded at 10.00pm .... was someone working on it at that time ?

there needs to be more safety adopted around gas cylinders and the likes .....

it's not rocket science but it is rocket fuel !!

[trogers]

Seems the Thai papers are reporting the death from suffocation and not explosion.

Not explosion of hydrogen tanks, but leaks from tank(s) of the Halon system is the cause of death.

[webfact]

Ten dead and fifteen injured in a chemical accident at SCB Park building



BANGKOK: -- Ten workers died of suffocation and fifteen others injured in a dangerous chemical accident at the basement of the SCB Park building on Sunday night, said the Erawan emergency center.

Meanwhile, Siam Commercial Bank said there was no fire at the SCB Park building as earlier reported but a huge amount of smoke which emitted out of the basement of the building was caused by chemical reaction after workers of a contractor accidentally struck the chemical-based fire extinguishing system as they were moving carpet into the building.

The thick blanket of smokes prevented the workers from getting out of the B2 basement because there is a special exit and the workers might not be familiar with the exit.

Source: http://englishnews.thaipbs.or.th/content/154875


-- Thai PBS 2016-03-14

[metisdead]

An offensive post has been removed as well as a post of a Burmese trolling nature.

[MaxLee]

Another CHECK in the chapter FACESafety Thailand......

[Wilsonandson]

R.I.P My thoughts go out to the families of the deceased.

[hansnl]

In fact nearly every household or business has a potential bomb inside in the form of a cooking gas tank.

Never mind the stocks of shops selling the gas or the modes if transport.

[ChanJay]

Sorry to read some pretty disgusting posts.......... I just feel sorry for all the victims and the people that lost their loved ones.

[noitom]

Condolences to the families. Hopefully this wasn't part of a coordinated terror attack also striking Turkey and Cote d'Iviore

[Thongkorn]

What happens to the pressure release valve. Makes me think this was negligence at best. Sad for the family's concerned if that's the case. If it was struck as is told then it must have been with some force.

Edited March 14, 2016 by Thongkorn

[harrycallahan]

In IT server rooms fire suppression is achieved by filling the room with an inert gas which displaces the oxygen - the hardware remains functional. Guess it's one of those systems.

[Balance]

Seems the Thai papers are reporting the death from suffocation and not explosion.

Not explosion of hydrogen tanks, but leaks from tank(s) of the Halon system is the cause of death.

Hydrogen has nothing to do with Halon fire suppression systems, and Halon itself is inert.

"Halon is a liquefied, compressed gas that stops the spread of fire by chemically disrupting combustion. Halon 1211 (a liquid streaming agent) and Halon 1301 (a gaseous flooding agent) leave no residue and are remarkably safe for human exposure. Halon is rated for class "B" (flammable liquids) and "C" (electrical fires), but it is also effective on class "A" (common combustibles) fires. Halon 1211 and Halon 1301 are low-toxicity, chemically stable compounds that, as long as they remain contained in cylinders, are easily recyclable".

Perhaps there will be technical investigation?

[steven100]

caused by chemical reaction after workers of a contractor accidentally struck the chemical-based fire extinguishing system as they were moving carpet into the building.

The thick blanket of smokes prevented the workers from getting out of the B2 basement because there is a special exit and the workers might not be familiar with the exit.

So it appears as the carpet was being installed they struck a fitting that released the gas / smoke and as they were not familiar with the locations of the emergency exits, their escape was hampered.

It's a good reminder that even when working in a confined space such as a huge basement, make a visual of all exits before working.

Edited March 14, 2016 by steven100

[chrisinth]

Seems the Thai papers are reporting the death from suffocation and not explosion.

Not explosion of hydrogen tanks, but leaks from tank(s) of the Halon system is the cause of death.

I would agree with that, the second report said that the 'drench' system was activated when someone accidentally hit the controls with a carpet? Normally you would have at least a pin securing the operating handle or the activation buttons behind a screen to prevent such accidents. The first shot, when activated, will take all the oxygen out of the zone killing any potential fire. Anybody in the area needs to get out PDQ in the event of activation as there will be nothing to breathe.

That still doesn't explain the smoke that was reported. These systems, halon/BCF/BTM, etc. don't produce smoke unless there was a fire initially, which the reports are denying.

Have they identified which tower it was, East or West?

Edit: It could also have been damage to the piping of the system, but would doubt that could cause people to pass out through slow release.

Edited March 14, 2016 by chrisinth

[tom21]

it looks like the whole set up was wrong. the victims would not have known what was happening till it was too late

[DoctorG]

Too much speculation at this early stage. Wild theories abound as usual.

[empireboy]

My sincere condolences to the families and loved ones of the lost. What a sad sad day!

[DGS1244]

When a Halon system is activated the cloud of gas that comes out looks just like smoke and hangs around for a few minutes. Providing the depleted air still contains at least 12% oxygen then you can survive if the oxygen density goes less then you have a problem. Sounds like that someone did not design the system correctly or isolate it whilst the 'workers' were present, a normal procedure.

[masuk]

Seems the Thai papers are reporting the death from suffocation and not explosion.

Not explosion of hydrogen tanks, but leaks from tank(s) of the Halon system is the cause of death.

It certainly sounds like that. To have a tank of hydrogen (read Hindenberg disaster) would be akin to having a bomb in the basement.

Maybe the journalists are not too informed in regard to flammable, explosive and toxic gases.

[English 1]

Safety Standards in Thailand are non existent.

Cut corners all the time to save money.

RIP to the lost lives.

Edited March 14, 2016 by metisdead
Bold font removed, again. Please stop using bold font when posting.

[sabaii69]

Halon is a good fire extinguishing agent mainly used for electronics. It is not particularly dangerous when expelled and does not 'smother' a fire, but interrupts it's chain reaction. Just trying to stop the crazy ignorant statements here. Thirty years firefighting in US and abroad.

[TallGuyJohninBKK]

The chemical involved here seems to be a matter of speculation.

But based on the ThaiPBS report above, what doesn't appear to be in question is that the trigger for this was careless workers and/or an unsafely configured system in the building. Either way, it was carelessness that once again claims lives in Thailand.

[smedly]

Seems the Thai papers are reporting the death from suffocation and not explosion.

Not explosion of hydrogen tanks, but leaks from tank(s) of the Halon system is the cause of death.

Hydrogen has nothing to do with Halon fire suppression systems, and Halon itself is inert.

"Halon is a liquefied, compressed gas that stops the spread of fire by chemically disrupting combustion. Halon 1211 (a liquid streaming agent) and Halon 1301 (a gaseous flooding agent) leave no residue and are remarkably safe for human exposure. Halon is rated for class "B" (flammable liquids) and "C" (electrical fires), but it is also effective on class "A" (common combustibles) fires. Halon 1211 and Halon 1301 are low-toxicity, chemically stable compounds that, as long as they remain contained in cylinders, are easily recyclable".

Perhaps there will be technical investigation?

I thing the problem here is when you have so much Halon it displaces the oxygen and therefore people in an enclosed space will not be able to breath.

This accident sounds to me like either poor maintenance or poor a installation both of which equally highlight the very poor safety standards in Thailand, safety costs a lot of money, spending it on safety is well down the list if on it at all, have a think about it the next time you're using public transport or using a lift or using one of the local budget airlines

RIP to the people that lost their lives

[carlyai]

In IT server rooms fire suppression is achieved by filling the room with an inert gas which displaces the oxygen - the hardware remains functional. Guess it's

one of those systems.[/quote

Wish i had one of those systems in in the it room i looked after.

Some drugged fueled people broke in and let off a powder extinguisher into the server. On checking, these extinguishers are powered salt.Had to replace all the servers and hardware.

[kennw]

In IT server rooms fire suppression is achieved by filling the room with an inert gas which displaces the oxygen - the hardware remains functional. Guess it's one of those systems.

A friend said Thai language report indicates the fire suppression system was activated and doors automatically locked, released by finger print activation unfortunately no one with authorization was there so it seems they were asphyxiated .

[otherstuff1957]

Seems the Thai papers are reporting the death from suffocation and not explosion.

Not explosion of hydrogen tanks, but leaks from tank(s) of the Halon system is the cause of death.

It certainly sounds like that. To have a tank of hydrogen (read Hindenberg disaster) would be akin to having a bomb in the basement.

Maybe the journalists are not too informed in regard to flammable, explosive and toxic gases.

I have noticed that the reporters at both the BP and the Nation tend to be shockingly uninformed about science, climate, engineering, mathematics, biology, mass transit.... It seems as though they just concentrated on learning English to the exclusion of every other subject!

[webfact]

Eight died and seven injured in chemical accident at SCB building



Eight were killed and seven injured in a chemical accident at SCB Park Building, according to SCB announcement.

Source: http://englishnews.thaipbs.or.th/content/154885


-- Thai PBS 2016-03-14