WorkSafeBC BulletinWorkSafeBC recently published a new safety bulletin about reducing the risk of pentane gas fires and explosions.
Expanded polystyrene is a synthetic foam material that has a wide range of uses in many industries. Applications include: insulation in buildings (especially cold storage buildings); piping; concrete formwork; wine tanks; wharf and float manufacturing; and applications on movie sets and amusement parks.

EPS foam releases pentane, a highly flammable gas. If the pentane has not completely off-gassed, and the EPS foam is encased within the structure, the pentane becomes trapped. If an ignition source such as a welding torch or drill cuts into the structure, the pentane can ignite and cause a fire or explosion.