Combustible Metals

Battery fire

Do you have any combustible metals or combustible metal compounds in your laboratory? If so, you will need to have a type D fire extinguisher. In the event of a fire, types A, B, and C fire extinguishing agents will react with combustible metals. Therefore, unique agents such as potassium and sodium are used in type D fire extinguishers to put out fires with combustible metals. Type D fire extinguishers are yellow and have a five pointed star on them. Please contact EHS at (313)593-0921 if you are in need of this type of fire extinguisher. 

The following is a list of combustible metals that require a type D fire extinguisher:

  • calcium
  • cerium
  • cesium
  • lithium
  • lutetium
  • magnesium and magnesium alloys
  • neodymium
  • phosphorus
  • potassium
  • potassium-sodium alloys
  • rubidium
  • sodium
  • strontium
  • aluminum (powder)
  • beryllium (powder)
  • nickel catalyst (Raney)
  • titanium (powder)
  • zinc (powder)
  • zirconium (powder)
  • aluminum phosphide
  • calcium carbide
  • gallium arsenide
  • gallium phosphide
  • lithium aluminum deuteride
  • lithium aluminum hydride
  • lithium aluminum hydride bis(tetrahydrofuran)
  • lithium amide
  • lithium borohydride
  • lithium-6 deuteride
  • lithium hydride
  • lithium tetraphenylborate tris(1,2-dimethoxyethane)
  • lithium tri-tert-butoxyaluminohydride
  • magnesium hydride
  • phosphorus pentasulfide
  • potassium hydride
  • Red-Al
  • sodium aluminum hydride
  • sodium bis(2-methoxyethoxy)aluminum hydride in toluene
  • sodium borohydride
  • sodium borohydride cobalt-doped
  • sodium borohydride on alumina
  • sodium hydride
  • zinc phosphide

Environmental Health and Safety

108 - Auxiliary Program Center
4901 Evergreen Road
Dearborn, MI 48128
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Phone: 313-583-6679
Fax: 313-493-9161