Document 2RZL6YBDrr4NvMwQeZxngJLQb

MONSANTO CHEMIC,-m COMPANY Location: Date : Subject : Texas City, Texas CC: December 16, 1959 Foam Chamber Inspection and Testing E. H. Jones R. W. Rotzler V. F. Zlmmermann H. M. Keating J. j To R. W. Nlsbet As you directed recently, we are In the process of ini _ _ of the foam chambers in the plant as a result of recent failures of a chamber In an AN tank. We have completed the inspection of the AN and methanol tanks. These tanks are protected by chambers using Moeller Tubes and Transalem Closures. We will begin In specting styrene tanks in December. These tanks are protected by foam chambers with glass closures. On November 20 we tested the foam chamber on 20T45-2. We were able to pump sufficient foam In the tank to provide adequate fire protection, but the foam chamber did not operate as it should have. The Moeller Tube was binding In the cradle due to its loose roll and the closure opened In such a way to obstruct the roll-out of the tube. National Foam Systems representatives In spected the chamber, and discussed our testing. Mr. Holmes of National Foam Systems (West Chester) called me on November 25 to give their opinion of this failure. He stated that the failure was due to the Jamming of the tube In the cradle and recommended that we check each tube to make certain that It was rolled prop erly (meaning that it did not bind on the sides of the cradle). On December 14 we rerolled the tube and tested the chamber on 20T45-2 again. The test was successful. We were under the Impres sion that tubes as rolled and as sent from National Foam were ready for Installation. We know now that this was an erroneous assumption and all future Installations will be carefully Inspected Our ability to test chambers is very limited since our tanks are normally In service and testing Is quite expensive, as It must be done with foam. It is unfortunate that we were not aware of Im portance of the tube roll prior to our recent Inspection, but I feel that In the Interest of fire protection *re should re-lnspect each of the chambers In the methanol and AN areas. CLG:It SC 16654 C. L. Gilmore LAM023923 ~rt: <r^C /*.uJ. t M * ta p, . **,</ Is* ~C%_ f. c~e sy<. V7~T. po /*-s\ S'j f / Co C-^C L 5 ^j/Vls/l // P~V{?Ta^ '***3 LAM023922