doi:10.3850/978-981-08-7724-8_01-05

ABSTRACT

The purpose of this paper is to review the development, progression and severity of the Buncefield explosion and present an alternative hypothesis to that made in [1]. This reference concluded [1] (p. 31) that "the most likely scenario... was a deflagration outside the emergency pump house that changed into a detonation due to flame acceleration in the undergrowth and trees along Three Cherry Trees Lane." Our examination of the data available (CCTV and photographs) as well as analyses of the potential blast reaction leads to the conclusion that ignition, with direct initiation to detonation, commenced at at least two locations within the vapour cloud: the sensitised lean turbulent edges that fingered W along the N and S edges of the Northgate building. It is suggested that these near simultaneous ignitions were set off by vehicle remote keyless entry alarms. These were initiated by the pressure wave resulting from a fireball ignited within the Pump House Lagoon.

Keywords: Buncefield, Vapour cloud explosion, Detonation.

© 2011 CPD Unit, University of Leeds