Message-ID: <6B631E29F8C549E3B9AE34185EFD7675@BillDesktop> From: "Bill Schuette" <wschuette1@frontier.com> Subject: Re: Safe storage of fire grenades Date: Tue, 4 Oct 2016 15:58:58 -0500
Katie,
This is what we did. WARNING: It may not be the best solution for you,
or anyone else, and may not be recommended as a safe method to dispose
of this material.
We have the same grenades in our collection. After going through a long
procedure (some suggested getting a HASMAT team to deactivate them!), I
finally removed the carbon tetrachloride myself.
I carefully drilled a hole through the plaster in the top (be careful
not to break the glass), poured the contents into a glass jar, poured
water into the grenade, and emptied that also into the glass jar, and
sealed the top with a cap. Use rubber gloves, and do the job outdoors.
Stay upwind when you do this. I packed it securely in a box, labeled it,
and took it to the hazardous materials recycling event we have here in
Sauk County several times a year.
Hope this helps.
Bill
From: Katie Kirby
Sent: Monday, October 03, 2016 9:16 PM
To: localhistory@listserve.uwec.edu
Subject: Safe storage of fire grenades
Hi all,
Do any of you have fire grenades in your collections? How do you ensure
the safety of your visitors and staff, especially if you do not know if
the contents inside is just salt water or oxygen-sucking carbon
tetrachloride?
We have two on display in a not-so-safe location in a non-winterized
building (do they even freeze?). I would like to keep them in the
collection, but I'm considering deaccessioning them if I cannot find a
safe solution.
Please advise!
Thanks, Katie