Hydrogen Peroxide Tank Safety

The U.S. Coast Guard has the responsibility for regulating water transport of chemicals in U.S. ports and inland waters. In support of that responsibility, NRL has evaluated the effect of a vigorous fire on a 4,000 gallon aluminum transport container for hydrogen peroxide. Heat transfer calculations show that the bare tank would fail in about five minutes in a fire exposure but that one-inch insulation would protect the tank and contents for at least 30 minutes. Additional calculations, combined with experimental H2O2 decomposition rates, predict that the critical self-heat temperature for one-inch insulation, while lower than that for the bare tank, would be acceptable.