BioLab Inc.
| Company type | Subsidiary |
|---|---|
| Industry | Chemical manufacturing |
| Founded | 1955 |
| Founder | Leon Bloom |
| Headquarters | Lawrenceville, Georgia , United States |
Area served | United States |
| Products | Chemicals for swimming pools and spas (including BioGuard) |
| Owner | KiK Consumer Products |
Number of employees | 4750 (circa Chemtura insolvency) |
| Parent | KiK Consumer Products |
BioLab Inc. operates as a branch of KiK Consumer Products with a focus on manufacturing chemicals used in swimming pools. The company has come under examination due to its safety practices, especially following a 2024 fire incident at its Conyers, Georgia facility that resulted in shelter-in-place directives impacting 90,000 individuals.
Company history
Established in 1955 by Leon Bloom, BioLab originally produced cleaning agents for the poultry sector before pivoting to pool and spa chemical production with the introduction of BioGuard in 1962. The business was acquired by the Lonza group in 1979, coinciding with Bloom’s retirement. In 1996, Great Lakes Chemical Corporation took ownership, which later merged with Crompton Corporation to create Chemtura. After Chemtura filed for bankruptcy, Canadian-based KiK Consumer Products purchased BioLab in January 2014 for $300 million.
In 2003, BioLab moved its headquarters to Lawrenceville, GA. Around the time of Chemtura’s insolvency, the firm employed roughly 4,750 workers, most of whom were stationed at Lawrenceville operations.
Louisiana plant
BioLab acquired its Lake Charles, Louisiana facility in 2013. Originally constructed in 1979, this plant was destroyed in 2020 when flooding caused by Hurricane Laura led to water exposure of reactive chemicals, igniting a fire. At that point, the facility ranked as the second-largest manufacturer of trichloroisocyanuric acid (TCCA) and disodium isocyanurate. The plant’s shutdown, combined with the effects of the 2020 COVID pandemic, contributed to supply disruptions lasting into 2022.
KiK allocated $170 million toward rebuilding the plant in nearby Westlake, Louisiana. Groundbreaking took place in June 2021, and operations resumed by July 2022. In March 2023, a chlorine leak triggered a shelter-in-place order and temporarily closed interstate I-10. Later, in July 2024, a warehouse fire at this location also caused a brief closure of I-10.
Conyers plant
Established in 1973, BioLab’s Conyers facility was the eighth-largest employer in Rockdale County by 2024, with a workforce of 484 employees. It held the highest property assessment value within the county at $113.4 million, accounting for 3% of Rockdale’s total assessed valuation.
2004 Conyers plant fire
On May 25, 2004, a fire destroyed Plant 14’s warehouse, which stored approximately 12.5 million pounds of pool chemicals and oxidizers. This event necessitated mandatory evacuation within a 1.5-mile radius and led to the closure of I-20; voluntary evacuations were advised north of the highway. While 28 individuals sought medical attention, no serious injuries were reported.
More than 150 firefighters responded to the blaze, utilizing nearly 10 million gallons of water—prompting Rockdale County to procure additional water from DeKalb County to replenish reserves. The financial losses for the company exceeded $50 million. Although the warehouse site was redeveloped in 2019, it was again destroyed during the fire incident in 2024.
2020 Conyers plant fire
On September 14, 2020, a pipe rupture at Plant 6 within BioLab’s Conyers complex caused flooding that came into contact with TCCA stored on the floor, initiating an exothermic reaction. An employee attempted to isolate affected TCCA bags; however, deteriorating conditions prevented their removal. Firefighters from Rockdale County applied water sprays to avert ignition. No fire erupted during this event but toxic fumes led to nine firefighters being hospitalized. Damage costs surpassed one million dollars. Four days later, TCCA that had been relocated caught fire inside a semi-trailer.
2024 Conyers Facility Fire
On September 29, 2024, a defective fire sprinkler system released water onto the roof of the TCCA storage area at the Conyers warehouse, sparking an uncontrollable blaze and chemical breakdown that emitted vast plumes of orange and black smoke visible up to 30 miles away. The structure ultimately collapsed, with firefighters gaining control of the flames by 4 p.m., although the release of hazardous gases persisted.
This event prompted mandatory evacuations and shelter-in-place directives throughout Conyers and Rockdale County. Interstate 20 was shut down due to dangerous conditions. Air monitoring conducted by the EPA identified chlorine compounds resulting from the TCCA breakdown, while neighboring Fulton County experienced chemical haze and noticeable odors. Piedmont Rockdale Hospital transferred patients to Newton Hospital, which subsequently implemented its own shelter-in-place orders.
Heavy rainfall caused by Hurricane Helene had occurred prior to the fire, though its influence on the incident remains uncertain. By October 1, six separate lawsuits had been filed against BioLab and its parent corporation. Rockdale Emergency Management advised residents to maintain daily shelter-in-place protocols through October 4 due to variable air quality hazards.
The American Red Cross established a shelter for those displaced in Stockbridge, Georgia. As of mid-October, the EPA continues to issue twice-daily air quality reports for Rockdale County.
Additional Incidents
In 2015, a fire broke out in an external storage section of the plant but was swiftly extinguished by Rockdale County Firefighters; six firefighters sustained minor injuries that did not threaten their lives.
Smaller-scale fires were also documented in both 2010 and 2016.