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Asked whether the companies used any specific chemicals known for being explosive, Vorderbrueggen said investigators have not looked closely at the list but noted toluene and acetone both have the capacity to explode.

It is highly possible, he said, that the explosion involved vapors of some chemical that had come into contact with an ignition source.

Fire Chief James Tutko said yesterday that the master alarm box for the building set off an alarm 1.5 seconds before the explosion. The master alarm can be set off by one of three things: smoke, heat or the activation of a sprinkler system.

Vorderbrueggen said the investigators have ruled out one potential source. The building was heated with oil, which has been ruled out as a cause, he said yesterday.

The CSB is similar to the National Transportation Safety Board in its investigatory role. The CSB is not a regulatory agency and does not have the authority to issue penalties. Instead, the agency prepares reports that are used to help prevent future incidents, as well as making referrals for enforcement action by other agencies, including the Environmental Protection Agency and the Occupational Safety and Health Administration.

Both Coan and the federal investigators praised the initial response of local officials.

"The success of this incident so far is that it's been mitigated by a highly professional team of local officials," Coan said. "That is really an aftermath of 9/11 and the understanding that local authorities have of unified command and knowing the need to work together if and when an event like this occurs."

Staff writers Matthew K. Roy and Chris Cassidy contributed to this report.

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