The safe operation of the batch emulsion polymerization of Styrene-Butadiene, with all reactants charged at the start, is studied. In order to assess runaway potential, simplified kinetic and headspace pressure models are developed. Kinetic information is obtained from isothermal reaction runs carried out over wide ranges of temperature (70 to 125'C) and pressures (8 to 23 bars). Detailed experimental setups and methods for both Butadiene distillation and reactor operation, are given for an industrial polymerization recipe. Simulation studies based on numerical integration of the heat and mass balance equations for cooled reactors show that for the relatively large particle size latex of this study, the reactor is not parametrically sensitive. The influence on the scaleup of the various heat transfer parameters, is discussed.