Acetylene Van Explosion Research

Research was carried out into how ventilation in the rear of enclosed vans affects the build-up of acetylene gas. This provides essential information to those assessing the risk of carrying acetylene in vehicles. This will include employers, managers, supervisors, employees and the self employed involved in the use of acetylene where this might involve carrying bottles in vehicles.
Images and video captured by VPS at the Health and Safety Laboratory, Buxton.
HSE Research - www.hse.gov.uk/fireandexplosio...
HSE Guidance - www.hse.gov.uk/fireandexplosio...
HSL Website - www.hsl.gov.uk/

[@rifraphy]

It was at this moment in welding class that Steve decided to become an art major

[@DcD-xs5ki]

Noooo then he gets rejected

[@becklee5372]

Same here

[@justbud]

Llf

[@WolfWelder69]

Is Steve from Austria?

[@Eurekanation1]

after 2 years of extensive testing we have concluded that blowing up vans with acetylene bottles is FUCKING AWESOME however we recommend further testing to confirm our results

[@Brecconable]

Seconded! But next time use nitro glycerin.

[@johnkelly1083]

I agree. More exciting explosions required.

[@interiot2]

"More research is needed" is at the bottom of every study report. But in this case, more research is DEFINITELY needed.

[@johnnyb8629]

my employer refuses to get us the proper high pressure cylinder racks for our vans and I've asked several times verbally and written. I even sent my boss this video, I just don't understand their risk calculations. They will drill us in minutia over stupid shit like how to not walk off a roof but when I bring up a real hazard it falls on deaf ears. I had a high pressure cylinder event with a CO2 tank, it rolled in just the right way to open the valve enough to deafen both the driver and I as well as displace all the air in the van making it very hard to breath. guy never pulled over so fast in his life. I work for a major hvac company.

[@burnbrae6948]

You do have the right to report your concern to the HSE especially after a near miss like the CO2 bottle. You can do the report anonymously if you are worried about backlash from your employer.

[@johnnyb8629]

@@burnbrae6948 HSE?

[@burnbrae6948]

@@johnnyb8629 Sorry, I thought you were from the UK. If you are in the US, contact OSHA instead.

[@notabot2732]

Call the government safety office or sue

[@foxxcvii7170]

Report it! If you feel unsafe, you have rights!

[@ding0925]

Some Russian body shop will put that thing back together and it will be on a car lot near you soon.

[@houstonhelicoptertours1006]

I fixed worse looking wrecks in my shop

[@starpawsy]

Russian or Asian. Chinese, Philipine. Lots of videos here of those shops doing that.

[@dadawoodslife]

From my welding instructor: "Steps to be taken in the event of an acetylene strike back: big ones, down the road, and when you get there, I'll be waiting".

[@GregoryMcStevens]

Lad my tutor told me to watch this after telling me that something as little as knocking over a canister of acetylene is enough to set it off😂

[@RandomDuude]

I... sometimes have to drive a van carrying 8 of those cylinders O_O

[@bmwtravel1100]

my old-school welding instructor told us that acetylene cylinders have some liquid acetone in the bottom of the cylinder so that the gas doesnt explode as you pressurize/fill the cylinder. you do not weld or release the gas if the cylinder is horizontal. keep it vertical. acetylene is highly explosive in the right cicrumstance - note the video.

[@sussertheoriginal]

It's not at the bottom. It's full apart from a small space at the top. It's called Dissolved Acetylene (DA) because the acetylene is dissolved in the acetone. The cylinder is also packed with kapok which dissipates pressure waves if the cylinder recieved a shock/impact. A shock, such as dropping the cylinder can cause thermal decomposition leading to a very big BANG.

[@ToyotaKTM]

That was NOT just Acetylene. It was a mix of about 4 parts Oxygen and 1 part Acetylene. Acetylene is C2H2 and gives off LOTS of black Carbon when it burns in air.

[@Awaroneducation]

Reminds me of my polytechnic days, I can't believe we used to weld with this in class. One day, one of the students knocked the pipe out from under the work table. It was a very loud, consistent gas release that had no end to it. We were all scared, but lucky it was only the oxygen pipe line. Our tutor resigned at the end of the semester

[@vitesse7090]

im doing oxy acetylene welding in mechanics class right now and this scares me shitless

[@LK-pc4sq]

dont worry its fine. Just make sure the valve is shut.

[@C.Sharpe]

We were learning oxy/ace and one of my classmates turned his acetylene regulator all the way on by accident because he was looking at the wrong part of the gauge... Fortunately our instructor caught it almost immediately. I'm not sure if it would have resulted in something like this, but I'm glad we never found out.

[@randomvideowatcher]

Instant convertible.

[@erickepka9571]

No way this is just one 10 cf bottle that we usually carry. Anyone know ? Doesn’t say in description.

[@SmokeElectronics]

Yep, if you tip the tank and drain the acetone the acetylene can do this with just a sharp tap. Like rolling around in the back of a van

[@KennyInVegas]

Just another reason NOT to make O/A bombs... extremely dangerous. One screw-up could literally take your life.

[@Dr_Mario2007]

Man... 🫣 Acetylene gas is no joke, it just annihilate the van instantly. Scary stuff...

[@jackandrews7821]

Perhaps I'll take the tank out of my truck unless I know I'll need it that day...

[@2sdd]

few weeks ago we had accident involving van with acetylen. both delivery guys died in spot. i was curious how it looked like so im here. Because i couldnt hear the explosion and I worked not far.

[@houstonhelicoptertours1006]

RIP I had the luck to survive one of these, got thrown clear and walked away. Couldn't hear a thing for weeks.

[@LK-pc4sq]

Can I ask how did they die?

[@2sdd]

@@LK-pc4sq i suppose they burnt to death? I have no idea it was two years ago and all i remember was that both guys died and reason for that was acetylen leak xd

[@2sdd]

@@LK-pc4sq lol i watched video again. I bet they were torn apart.

[@kara5518]

So You guys were able to blow up a van and get paid for it.... For science? ... Sign me up!

[@filipkrnac7258]

How much acetylen i need for something like this

[@chadkennedy529]

I'll check the o-rings tomorrow...

[@JuanValdezfor88]

How much acetylene did you use to demolish this van? Asking for a friend...

[@moopmoop345]

How big was the cylinder in water volume? I feel like this is very important information when assessing how shocking this video should be. is this a 5-litre bottle or a 50-litre bottle? was it an oxy/ace rig or just a leaking acetylene bottle alone? without information this video is useless. a propane cylinder would do the same thing.

[@dokterschaap]

Does not matter. This is not the cylinder exploding, this is gas that escaped from the cylinder and has build up in the back of the van. A 5 liter cylinder will hold about half a cubic meter of acetylene. Check the explosion videos of plastic bags filled with acetylene - 500 liter will be enough to blow this van to kingdome-come.

[@EdMichrina]

@@dokterschaap I'm sure they added oxygen to the mix to make it that explosive. I used to do it as a kid with used antifreeze gallon plastic containers. Not recommended to do!!!! I'm so lucky It didn't blow from handling or screwing on the cap. and It will kill you or at least blow your hands off and burn blind you. otherwise don't do this at home.

[@bojangles2492]

Look at 0:29 you can see the black and red hoses on the left going to the van, so my guess would be Acetylene and Oxygen. That silver stuff flying in the air could be a gas bag they used.

[@fireball5675]

@@EdMichrina i8

[@andrewmyers9982]

You were only meant to blow the bloody doors off!!

[@firstboy5479]

cool

[@yhfhdcf]

imagine this but it goes backwards

[@user-bj5rr3fh1u]

My son uses oxygen & we carry 3 to 6 tanks b ur a lot more when we travel. Would it be just as bad as this if we got in an accident??

[@C.Sharpe]

Pure oxygen doesn't burn, but it does make other stuff burn really well. It would depend on what that other stuff is...

[@Finn-gy6tu]

rip

[@ethantaylor5425]

That van's rear end just nope'd out of existence

[@mickeysmiths]

Were they attempting to put this van into space? If so, they really needed to put the van on a ramp 😅

[@carleynorthcoast1915]

Did they live?

[@goj0na]

No

[@LEXXIUS]

When you quickly need a flatbed...

[@philewing5100]

I never forget to shut off the valve... Lol

[@user-th6gv9jh6z]

Told you not to flood it

[@tristaneaton7704]

That. . . Would get your attention. . . Hey Martha, I can't find my damn keys again. . . Oh for Pete sake Henry, they were on the shelf.

[@mkay1957]

Looks like fun! Now it's time to go big and fill a semi truck trailer full of oxygen and acetylene bags.

[@Rs500ybd]

I am a Master Rescue Mechanic with over 20 years in my Role Acetylene is a must in our role used Correctly Protocols Followed it is a Fantastic Tool and it Undertakes it's task every time .The Moment you Disrespect it Or Mess About with it's Containment Then it will Kill You Please stay safe Follow the Rules Same For Propane Oxy cutting Follow the Rules TO THE LETTER Stay safe Stay Legal...... Go home to the wife or Girl ..... Or in micks case the bwoy . 💯💥🙏

[@imperishableneet]

Must've been hackers on steroids

[@dr.magnusnyhusurgentcarebar]

Driverless vans with a 300 gallon steel tank inside filled with oy acetylene will be the new car bomb.

[@jc100hung]

Are all explosions this fast or is it just this kind? Aka have movies been lying to me my whole life

[@yetanother9127]

Explosions in general are basically instant; the shockwave travels faster than the speed of sound (otherwise it isn't an explosion, just a big fire). One second it's there, the next it's been pretty much atomized. Obviously movies can't use real explosives; most Hollywood "explosions" involve gasoline and/or CGI to get that dramatic "FOOM" fireball effect.

[@MyLinguine]

There is detonation and deflagration. Detonations such as dynamite, TNT, or this have an expanding shock front that propagates faster than the speed of sound. Deflagration, like black powder or a trail of gasoline vapors pertains to all other rapid combustion events in which the subsequent shockwave does not travel faster than the speed of sound

[@sussertheoriginal]

However fast he can run, Ethan Hunt or Bruce Willis or them other blokes won't outrun an explosion. So yes, they've been lying. I realize that you already know this 😂

[@Blind_bag748]

It happens in jeffy's eighteenth birthday

[@Paul-zz1cr]

Who needs TNT, anybody can make a explosion.

[@stephenolson532]

Well i'm runnin down the road tryin to loosin my load "JESUS CHRIST"!!!!

[@anthonyperkins7556]

Blew the roof clean off

[@alx12345]

Kids in africa could have ate this van

[@SynthRockViking]

Research 😏🤫

[@tonyvn5817]

I think some one who didn't pay up their dedt was placed tied up in there secretly.

[@jwbcollects7676]

Sml

[@theautodan7095]

Hope no animals were harmed in the making of this vid... 😐

[@stuartbaxter3351]

Australian red cross lifeblood. Michael Phelps doesn't have AIDS

[@centralintelligenceagency9003]

Allah hu akbar

[@toruniak216]

Atm