- Author
- National Bureau of Standards
- Title
- Spontaneous Ignition of Decomposing Nitrate Film.
- Coporate
- National Bureau of Standards, Gaithersburg, MD
- Journal
- Technical News Bulletin (National Bureau of Standards), Vol. 35, No. 10, 153-155, October 1951
- Keywords
- autoignition
- Abstract
- Investigations by the National Bureau of Standards have shown that spontaneous ignition of cellulose nitrate motion picture film can occur when such film is in an advanced stage of decomposition. Prior to this work it was generally believed that nitrate film would not ignite spontaneously at temperatures ordinarily encountered in a film vault. Tests made by A. C. Hutton of the NBS fire protection laboratory and conducted in cooperation with the National Archives have provided the necessary information to prevent reoccurrence of the severe fire losses to film and storage facilities that have been experienced in recent years.