] in the Chemical 1aboratory I Edited by NORMAN V. STEERE, 140 Melbourne Ave., S.E. Minneopolis, Minn. 5541 4
CXXVI. Standard to be Adopted for Fire Safety in Laboratories (Concluded) Norman V. Steere, CSP, Safety Consultant, Norman V. Steere 8 Associates, 140 Melbourne Ave. S.E.. Minneapolis, Minn. 5 5 4 14
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present only health health hazards shall he returned t o the supplier after expiration of the retention period. Quantity limits proposed for gas cylinders in laboratories include a maximum of 15 cylinders of hazardous gases and oaygen, and a limit based partly on the size of the laboratory and partly on the hazards of the gases. The total limit of 15 cylinders in a laboratory has an exception allowing up t o 25 cylinders that are 2-inch by 12-inch (lecture bottle size). Within the total limit. laboratories would he permitted t o have two cylinders of oxygen or compressed flammable gas per 500 square feet of area in the laboratory, two cylinders of liquefied flammahle gases per 500 square feet, and three cylinders of gases with health hazards only. Cylindkrs of gases with health hazards such as hydrogen sulfide and hydrogen fluoride will he required to be kept in a hood or other enclosure that is mechanically ventilated continuously. A limit of two cylinders of such gases will be set for each ventilated enclosure.
als would certainly be safer if the bottles were in some type of carrying container that would prevent breakage or limit spills.) Existing construction is not Rxrmpt from The proposed standard differs from the requirements of the prupuaed srnndard. OSHA regulations in allowing approved based on the judgment of the C ~ m m ~ t t e e plastic shipping containers of up t o 5 galpreparing the proposed standard that perInns for the common Class IB solvents. sonnel should be protected in existing as Present OSHA r ~ g u l a t ~ mprohibil s emwell as in new construction. Rather than ployer use of plastic runtain~rsInqer than set differing standards for new construcone quart for such flammahle liqwds, r w n tion and for existing construction, or aethough the larger containers are hemp( used cepting all existing laboratories as they are to trnnsport such liquids with npproval of under a "grandfather clause," the Committhe I . S . Denartment U ~ ' I ~ " S D O I I R L ~ O " . VENTILATION SYSTEMS tee has proposed t o include in the standard The proposed standard d&s not allow this flexibility: "Laboratories, laharatory Some of the requirements proposed for containers of flammahle liquids (defined as building, equipment and installations that ventilation systems pertain to the design of having flash point temperatures below do not comply strictly with this Standard the system, and some pertain t o the main100°F or 37.E°C) larger than 5 gallons t o be shall be considered t o he in compliance if it tenance of the svstem. Basic desien rein laboratories or lahoratory buildings, excan he shown that equivalent protection qummentr rnelude location of fresh alr I"cept that 55-gallon drums ere permitted in has been provided or that no specific haztakes so that flammahle or tmic m a r e r d i approved storage rooms. Approved storage ard will he created or continued through or hy-products of combustion are not rooms must be located above grade, be sepnoncompliance." drawn in from the laboratory building or arated from other occupied areas by one(This provision does provide for some from other structures and devices, and prohour fire-resistant construction and fire flexihility in application of the standard, vision that exhaust from laboratory hoods doors, and meet other special requirehut it does not address sueh pertinent shall not he recirculated. Other design rements. questions as: Who decides what is equivaquirements include general provisions that lent protection? How can i t be determined hood ductwork shall he under negative that eauivalent nrotection has been orovidCOMPRESSED OR LlOUEFlED pressure relative to surrounding spaces in ed" l i a specific hnrnrd cme that threatens GAS CYLINDERS the building (exhaust fans not on the hoods persmr u r une that threatens property" hut an or near the roof), and that ductwork What degree ot hazard or rxpc,rure r u hazshall he constructed of noncombustible All cylinders must he secured in place to ards is not aeceptahle?) materials except under defined eircumprevent failing, and the proposed standard stances. also sets limits on the size, quantity and The proposed standard specifies that length of time that cylinders of hazardous laboratory hood face velocities shall be sufCONTAINER SIZE LIMITS chemicals or oxygen may be used or stored ficient to assure a capture velocity into the in laboratories. hood for the operating conditions. The reeThe maximum sizes of cylinders in laboThe proposed standard is similar to ommended face velocities for low hazard ratories are proposed to be 10 inches by 50 present OSHA regulations that prohibit materials or materials with low toxicity, inches (approximate) for oxygen and comglass containers larger than one quart for sueh as nuisance dusts, acetone, and pressed flammahle gases, 9 inches by 30 acetone.. ethvl alcohol. methanol. benzene. straight-chain hydrocarbons, are 50-60 feet inches for liquefied flammable gases, and 5 toluene and similar srdvmrs (Clasr IH,. unper minute minimum, and 75-80 feet per inches by 15 inches for gases which present l ~ s pmetal ( ' 0 l l t ~ i l l ~would h ~ f f e r purity r or minute average. For general use, the velocihealth hazards. (For example, anhydrous be corrodrd (OSHA %tnndnrdi do not ties should be 80 minimum and 100 feet ammonia is not classified as a flammable allow gallon glass containers unless metal per minute average. Materials of extreme gas, so it would he limited in the laboratory containers would affect purity or he cortoxicity or hazard, such as carcinogens or to a cylinder no larger than 5 inches by 15 roded AND minimum usage is greater than metal carhonyls, should be used in hoods inches. Acetylene and hydrogen would he two ounces a t a time.) with minimum face velocity a t any point of limited to cylinders no larger than 10 inchBecause of the extreme fire hazard in 100-125 feet per minute, and average vees by 50 inches.) case of hreakage of a gallon glass bottle of locity of 125-150 feet per minute. (RecomThree years is the maximum retention flammable solvent, the proposed standard mended hood face velocities are based on period for eompressed or liquefied gas cylsuggests that sueh bottles be stored in rcrummmdatimr published hy the Amerlinders in the laboratory, with a six-month metal pails or other suitable containers of ran industrial Hygiene A3wrintlon and the limit for nonflammable gases that present sufficient size to hold the liquid in case of American Conference of C.o\,ernmental Inhealth hazards. The proposed standard breakage. (Transporting gallon glass hotalso specifies that cylinders of gases that tles of solvents or other hazardous materi-
EXISTING CONSTRUCTION AND THE GRANDFATHER CLAUSE
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Laboratory hood face velocities are t o be checked a t least annually, according t o the proposed standard, t o determine that the hood is operating properly. In addition, a sign is t o be attached to the hood with the hood velocity and the classification of the hood. If the hood face velocity has dropped below the minimum needed for one of the classifications of hazard, the hood is to he improved, reclassified and hood use limited accordingly, or the hood is not t o be used.
HAZARDS OF CHEMICALS AND CHEMICAL REACTIONS The proposed standard contains requirements for hazard assessment that may be new for many laboratories, but that are common in some laboratories and considered important by the Committee developing the standard. The requirements apply t o ordering, handling and storage, and laboratory operations. "When a chemical is ordered, steps shall he taken t o determine the hazards and t o transmit that information t o those who will receive, store, use or dispose of the chemical." These requirements will certainly necessitate planning aud organization for gathering the necessary information, and a greater effort to see that the information reaches all the people who may need it. Consistent with the requirement for gathering and disseminating chemical hazard information is the requirement that: "Receiving, transporting, unpacking, and dispensing of chemicals and other hazardous materials shall be carried out by trained personnel in such locations and
manner as to minimize hazards from flammable, reactive or toxic materials." Laboratory managers will need to carry out initial and periodic reviews to assure that hazardous chemicals are not brought into a laboratory complex unless the receiving and storage facilities (and the laboratory) meet the design, construction and fire protection requirements of the standard for the quantities and hazards of the chemicals. Laboratory supervisors and faculty will need t o review the available information on handling and disposal of chemicals, and establish appropriate procedures for handling and disposal. The proposed standard specifies that: "Before the initial use of a chemical material, the user shall be made thoroughly familiar with its hazards," and "shall follow such handline oracedures as are appropriate." The standard also speeifies that before a chemical material is used, the user shall determine that information and facilities are available t o provide safe disposal of hazardous materials and waste products. The chapter on Laboratory operations specifies that periodic reviews shall be conducted of laboratory operations and procedures, with special attention to any change in materials, operations, or personnel. Before tests or laboratory reactions are begun, the standard specifies that an evaluation shall be made for hazards that may be encountered or generated during the course of the work. If reactions are being carried out to synthesize materials whose hazard characteristics have not yet been determined by test, precautions must be em-
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ployed to control the most severe hazard possible, based on known hazards of similar material. If the new material may present a severe explosion potential, quantities must be limited and suitable precautions must he used.
EMERGENCY PROCEDURES The proposed standard requires that emergency procedures be developed for laboratory emergencies. Such procedures are t o include alarm actuation, personnel relocation or evacuation, equipment shutdown procedures, and provisions for firefighting action, either by a public fire department or by an emergency control group with the laboratory organization. The standard specifies that emergency procedures shall be established for extinguishing clothing fires, and emphasizes that the most important instruction and training is that a person on fire MUST drop to the floor and roll; blankets and showers are of secondary importance.
CONCLUSION Development and implementation of a meaningful and reasonable standard for fire safety in laboratories, t o protect laboratory personnel and essential facilities and equipment, requires thoughtful study of the needs and requirements for training personnel in academic laboratories and in other types of laboratories and for modifying practices and facilities t o control hszards.
Volume 52, Number 8,August 1975 / A381
