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Incorporated, a worldwide network of science museums and related institutions.
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At Pacific Science Center, we use both hydrogen Balloons and a Rubens tube in our stage shows. We have found the following:

One must always check with their local fire department.  We are issued permits for each new fire related demo we perform, and there is a huge latitude of permission given or withheld based on the details of your particular environment.

Generally speaking, we are given permission to explode H2 balloons in areas with very high ceilings and a building ventilation system,  such as our stage area, our laser dome theater, or outdoors.  We have to have adequate extinguishers prepared, and there are a great many guidelines we follow for dispensing H2 (it must be stored in a locked area outdoors), and handling and transporting it for our own safety.  Detonation is also very particular: we use a long lighter stick, safety gear, ear protection, and are very careful to detonate the balloon at the correct point.

We also present with a Ruben's tube, and we are using it in a very ventilated, open area with an extremely high ceiling.  We additionally have a fan onstage to blow any fumes off of the floor where they might settle.  This is also to keep the gas away from other electronics we have onstage in our Sound Show.  We have a special extinguisher for just for propane.  We have a time limit for how long we will leave the gas running, and have to use the small size tanks.

Once again, nothing is ever certain until one is permitted by the fire department.  They will usually do a site visit, make recommendations based on your special case, and in some cases return to see if the proper measures are in place.  Sometimes we do a little extra work, but this is well worth knowing we approved and presenting safe demonstrations for staff and visitors.

Holly Csiga, Presentations Supervisor and Zeta Strickland, Science Interpretations Program Manager

-----Original Message-----
From: Becky Matthews [mailto:[log in to unmask]] 
Sent: Friday, July 08, 2011 9:48 AM
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: fire demos in general

ISEN-ASTC-L is a service of the Association of Science-Technology Centers Incorporated, a worldwide network of science museums and related institutions.
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What kind of ventilation do the presentation areas for demos with fire or hydrogen balloons have?  Seems I recall you have to have an outdoor/rooftop tank for hydrogen; is that correct? Are any science centers doing the Ruben's tube demo and, if so, what ventilation do you have for that? 

Thanks for any information!
Becky

Becky Fox Matthews
Senior Educator/Special Projects Manager Adventure Science Center
800 Ft. Negley Blvd.
Nashville, TN 37203
615-401-5073
 
Our Mission
Adventure Science Center ignites curiosity and inspires the lifelong discovery of science. 

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For information about the Association of Science-Technology Centers and the Informal Science Education Network please visit www.astc.org.

Check out the latest case studies and reviews on ExhibitFiles at www.exhibitfiles.org.

The ISEN-ASTC-L email list is powered by LISTSERVR software from L-Soft. To learn more, visit
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