Key facts
- Over twice the planned amount of swimming pool chemicals were improperly stored at the BioLab plant in Conyers, Georgia.
- A corroded sprinkler system, with over 1,100 affected heads, failed and initiated a chemical reaction leading to a fire on September 29, 2024.
- The U.S. Chemical Safety and Hazard Investigation Board identified the chemical off-gassing and condensation as hydrochloric acid as the cause of sprinkler corrosion.
- Approximately 14 million pounds of reactive chemicals were stored without adequate safeguards.
- The company decided not to rebuild the plant and faced over $60,000 in proposed penalties for safety violations.
A fire at the BioLab plant in Conyers, Georgia, on September 29, 2024, was caused by the improper storage of excessive amounts of swimming pool chemicals and a significantly corroded sprinkler system, according to a final report by the U.S. Chemical Safety and Hazard Investigation Board (CSB).
The CSB found that the plant stored more than twice the planned quantity of chemicals, which naturally off-gassed chlorine fumes. These fumes combined with ambient humidity to form hydrochloric acid droplets, which condensed on metal sprinkler heads, causing significant corrosion and leaks since 2019. An inspection in December 2023 revealed over 1,100 corroded sprinkler heads.
On the day of the fire, a component of the corroded sprinkler system failed, allowing water to contact the reactive chemicals. This initiated a decomposition reaction that generated heat, leading to a fire and the release of a large plume of orange and black smoke, forcing residents to shelter in place.
CSB chairperson Steve Owens described the conditions as "completely unacceptable," noting that approximately 14 million pounds of reactive chemicals were stored without proper safeguards. The report also mentioned that the packaging of chemicals in roughly 5,000 giant sacks, some stacked in ways that hindered responders, contributed to the catastrophic fire.
BioLab, a subsidiary of KIK Consumer Products, has decided not to rebuild the plant. The company was cited by the U.S. Department of Labor for six violations, including four serious ones, with proposed penalties exceeding $60,000. The CSB has called for expanded regulatory coverage for such chemicals.
A BioLab spokesperson stated the company cooperated fully with the board and is reviewing the report's recommendations, emphasizing their commitment to safety and community well-being. The company also confirmed the completion of site clean-up and support for area residents and business owners.