AbstractOn the basis of previously measured rates, rate‐temperature coefficient and heat of the reaction between oxygen and palm‐kernel fat, the steady‐state temperature distribution in uniform columns of palm kernels due to atmospheric oxidation is determined theoretically using a uni‐dimensional model. Temperature rise may be controlled by three factors; (i) conduction loss, (ii) oxygen deficiency and (iii) convection loss. In practice (i) and (ii) or (i) and (iii) usually operate together; however, they may be considered separately in order to define the lengths of column, external temperatures and ventilation rates at which the column is certainly safe from spontaneous ignition; but the margin of safety cannot be determined by this simplified