To study the thermal hazard of beta-nitroso-alpha-naphthol, both dynamic and isothermal tests were performed with a differential scanning calorimeter (DSc). The dynamic tests indicated that the initial decomposition temperature of beta-nitroso-alpha-naphthol ranged from 153 degrees C to 173 degrees C. The interrupt-rescanning method verified the autocatalytic characteristic of beta-nitroso-alpha-naphthol decomposition. DSC curves obtained at five constant temperatures confirmed that the decomposition of beta-nitroso-alpha-naphthol was an autocatalytic reaction. Activation energy E was 149 +/- 8 kJ mol(-1) calculated by Kissinger method. E values calculated by induction period method and isothermal method were in line with that obtained by Friedman method. On the basis of the kinetic analysis, the safety parameter SADT of beta-nitroso-alpha-naphthol in 50 kg standard packaging was 81 degrees C based on Semenov model and 67 degrees C based on Frank-Kamenetskii model. (C) 2015 The Institution of Chemical Engineers. Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.