CHAPTER XII. 



Fire and Water Hazard of Cyanamid. 



The combustibility of Cyanamid and its susceptibility to 

 damage by fire and water have been thoroughly investigated 

 by the Underwriters' Laboratories of Chicago, 111. The fol- 

 lowing results were obtained through the courtesy of Mr. 

 A. H. Nuckolls, Chemical Engineer, of the Underwriters' 

 Laboratories, and are a part of the report prepared for the 

 information of fire insurance companies : 



"The object of the investigation was to determine the nature 

 of recommendations to be made relative to issuance of an 

 opinion upon the fire hazard of the product. This report 

 does not deal with the hazards of mixtures of this product 

 with other fertilizers." 



"Test for Flammable Gases. — Tests for flammable gases were 

 conducted by placing about 5 pounds of the product in a 

 large bottle, about 6 inches internal diameter by 16 inches in 

 height, and adding an excess of water. The bottle was pro- 

 vided with a loose fitting stopper to which wires were attached 

 for producing an electric spark inside of the bottle. The 

 spark was produced at intervals of about 15 minutes at the 

 beginning of the test. The bottle was allowed to stand for 

 10 days, the spark being produced about every 3 to 4 hours 

 except during the night. The test was repeated employing 

 a gas testing flame instead of the electric spark and also 

 varying the proportions of gas and air. 



"No analysis of the gas evolved was conducted. . . . 

 Mixtures of air with gases evolved when test samples were 

 treated with water did not ignite or burn when brought into 

 contact with electric spark and gas flame." 



"Spontaneous Heating Tests. — Acceleration Test. — This test 

 was conducted by means of an apparatus consisting essentially 

 of a wire gauze cylinder about 15^ inches in diameter and 

 6 inches long, which is surrounded by a double- jacketed 



