Tagasiplahvamist

Tagasiplahvamist is a phenomenon in which a fire or explosion that appeared to be contained or extinguished reignites or flares up again. The term is Estonian, formed from tagas- meaning back or again, and plahvatus meaning explosion. In English, it is commonly described as re-ignition or flare-up.

Causes and mechanisms include residual heat, pockets of unburned fuel or vapors that mix with air and ignite after a delay, and secondary ignition sources such as sparks or electrical faults. In confined spaces, gases can accumulate and later ignite when ventilation changes or temperatures rise. Delayed ignition can also occur if cooling or suppression measures trap heat or fuel in structure walls, equipment, or voids.

Tagasiplahvamist is relevant in several fields. In industrial and mining contexts, re-ignition can occur after blasting or during processing of volatile materials, posing secondary explosion risks. In chemical plants and storage facilities, residual vapors and heat can lead to renewed fires despite initial suppression. In natural settings, re-ignition can occur in wildfires when embers or heat pockets survive suppression efforts and ignite new flames under favorable conditions.

Prevention and safety focus on minimizing fuel sources and heat pockets, ensuring thorough cooling, proper ventilation control, and continuous monitoring of temperature and gas concentrations. Safe handling of volatile materials, robust ignition sources management, and well-planned suppression strategies are essential to reduce the risk of tagasiplahvamist and the potential for secondary damage.