Lessons Learned─Heat Gun Fire

Abstract

Heat guns are frequently used in research laboratories, and several cases of fires occurring following their use have been reported. In some publicly documented cases, the exact cause of these post-use fires remained elusive. Herein, we present a new incident of a heat-gun-related fire where flammable solvents were not a contributing factor. Instead, we suggest that the faulty equipment may be implicated. This case study underscores the importance of additional fault analysis and effective communication regarding recalls when purchasing and using consumer-grade equipment for laboratories.