How to Ensure Safety During Distillation

Lisa Hartman of NFPA quickly notes that home-brewed whiskey and vodka may not cost as much, but that does not make them any less hazardous. “The craft boom has raised many questions from a fire safety standpoint. Are we providing sufficient protection?”, she questions.

Distillers can take steps to ensure safe distillation. A home moonshiner should avoid building their still out of recycled parts such as old radiators and sheet metal; instead, high quality pot stills should be constructed from copper or 304 stainless steel for best results and to prevent the release of potentially flammable alcohol vapors into the atmosphere.

Distillers must also remain aware of the risk that alcohol vapors might ignite in a barrel house due to fermentation processes and cask storage (commonly referred to as the angel’s share).

To lower this risk, distillers must install a ventilation system in their barrel house and ensure alcohol concentrations do not exceed 40 percent before charging their still boiler with wash alcohol concentrations higher than 40% to lower explosion risk. Also, receivers with small filling openings may help limit vapor escape; and finally a fire extinguisher must be close at hand should a hose line failure or spilled receiver occur.