Fire Marshal’s OfficeDepartment of Environmental Safety

LABORATORY.FIRE SAFETY

Objectives1. Learn UMD Emergency Procedures.2. Become familiar with emergency

equipment in your area and learn how to use it.

3. Identify fire hazards in laboratory settings:

On January 15, 2001, a fire occurred in a Chemistry Building laboratory. A 4-liter bottle of flammable liquid broke inside a fume hood, emptying its contents into the hood and onto the floor. Several hot plates were located inside the hood and ignited the flammable liquid.

A researcher was unable to extinguish the fire with two portable fire extinguishers and quickly exited the laboratory. 911 was called.

Other bottles of flammable materials soon broke, providing more fuel and allowing the fire to intensify. Soon after, a small explosion occurred when flammable materials stored in the cabinet underneath the hood became involved in the fire. The Fire Department extinguished the fire.

Texas Tech – January 15, 2001

EmergencyResponse

Guide

Know YourEmergencyProcedures

EMERGENCY RESPONSE

RADIATION SPILL

CHEMICAL SPILL

BIOLOGICAL SPILL

PERSONAL INJURY

FIRE

UNIVERSITY OF MARYLANDDEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL SAFETYDIVISION OF ADMINISTRATIVE AFFAIRS

Become familiar with procedures in your laboratory

Activation of the Fire Alarm System

Know the locations of the nearest fire alarm pull stations

The fire alarm is monitored by the Dept. of Public Safety

Evacuation Plan

Know the locations of the nearest exit and alternate exits

Know how to be accounted for

Emergency Telephone NumbersCampus Phones

911

Cell Phones

#3333Verizon Wireless, Sprint

Nextel, ATT, and T-Mobile

ALL FIRES, INCLUDING EXTINGUISHED FIRES, MUST BE REPORTED TO THE FIRE DEPARTMENT

301-405-3333 Others

Know Where Emergency Equipment is and How to Use It

Fire Alarm System Fire Alarm may be activated

automatically by smoke detectors or the sprinkler system in addition to manually by pull stations

Sprinkler System

Sprinklers are activated individually by heat and are automatic

Not all laboratories are sprinklered

Sprinkler System

www.canutesoft.com

Fire Extinguishers

Fire Extinguishers are placed in certain locations as required by the fire code.

Total and immediate evacuation is safest. The UM Policy on Fire Emergencies is a total evacuation policy. You are required to fight a fire.

NOT

DO NOT place yourself or others in danger

DO NOT delay activation of the fire alarm

DO NOT delay notification of the fire department

If you are trained in the safe use of fire

extinguishers and chose to fight a fire:

Emergency Shower and Eyewash Station

Fire Blankets Fire blankets are not supplied

Know How to Operate Your Equipment

Natural Gas Valves

• Make sure valves are fully closed when not in use

Be aware of open valves and leaks

DO NOT disregard slight odors

Heat Producing & Electrical Equipment Be familiar with controls and

features. All unattended heat producing equipment is required to have a manual reset over-temperature switch.

All unattended operations must be provided with automatic shutdown to prevent system failure that could result in a fire or explosion.

Operate equipment in accordance with manufacturer’s instructions.

Make sure equipment is turned off when not in use.

Keep heat producing equipment clear of flammable and combustibles.

Electric stirrers, when used with combustible or flammable liquids which are heated above their flash points, must be suitable for such use.

Refrigerators, freezers, or coolers must be prominently labeled to indicate whether they are or are not suitable for storing flammable liquids.

Use only properly installed electrical wiring and UL listed/FM approved electrical equipment –avoid extension cords.

Electrical Safety Misuse of

extension cords is the most common electrical hazard found in labs

Electrical Safety Use power strips

with built in circuit breakers.

Use electrical equipment that is listed and use it according to manufacturer’s instructions

Know The Properties of The Material You Are Working With

Oxidizers

Oxidizers produce oxygen that supports and accelerates fires

Examples: Nitric Acid, Oxygen

Hazards: Increase intensity of fires, may react like explosives

Organic Peroxides

Examples: Hydrogen Peroxides, Peracetic Acid

Hazards: Unstable and explosive in fires, extremely flammable, may be shock and friction sensitive

Corrosives

Liquids or solids that destroy human tissue

Examples: Hydrochloric Acid, Nitric Acid, Picric Acid

Hazards: Can be oxidizers, water reactive, unstable, poisonous

Explosives Explosives require, licenses, permits

and special storage arrangements

Compressed Gas May be flammable, non-

flammable, liquefied, or cryogenic

Examples: Propane, hydrogen, oxygen and liquid nitrogen

Hazards: May be flammable, may support combustion (oxidizer), high expansion ratios, B.L.E.V.E. One spare cylinder allowed per

operation in laboratories

Flammable Solids

Alkali metals that burn under certain conditions

Examples: Magnesium, Sodium, Phosphorous

Hazards: Ignite easily and burn violently, may react with water and air, produce toxic or corrosive vapors

Flammable and Combustible Liquids

Give off concentrations of vapor which form an ignitable mixture with air

Examples: Ethyl Ether, Toluene, Glacial Acidic Acid

Hazards: Ignitable and burn, hazards associated with other chemical classes.

Storage and Use of FlammableAnd Combustible Liquids

Flammable Liquids Storage Cabinet

Keeps fire away from flammable vapors

May ONLY be ventilated directly to the outside IF specifically necessary (i.e., exposure concentration concerns)

Flammable Liquids Storage Refrigerator Keeps ignition

sources away from flammables stored inside

Explosion Proof only necessary in hazardous locations $$$

Factors AffectingStorage and Use Layout, construction, and arrangement

of buildings Classification of liquid Quantities of liquid Type of container

Summary Of Storage Requirements There is a maximum quantity of liquid that can be

stored outside of a flammable liquid storage cabinet or safety cans. The maximum quantity in an instructional laboratory is 50% less than that for a research laboratory.

A maximum of 120 gallons of Class I, Class II, Class IIIA liquids may be stored in a flammable liquid storage cabinet. Of this total not more than 60 gallons shall be of Class I and Class II liquids. Not more than 3 such cabinets are allowed per fire area.

•There is a maximum quantity of liquid that can be stored in any laboratory including inside a flammable liquid storage cabinet. The maximum quantity in an instructional laboratory is 50% less than that for a research laboratory. The quantity is based on many factors.

Rule of Thumb – Store the minimum amount necessary, keep it in a flammable liquid storage cabinet and take out only what you need when you need it.

Flammable and Combustible Liquids Keep aisles clear for

emergency egress Do not place items in corridors

or stairwells Do not place flammable liquids

near exits Do not obstruct fire safety

equipment Keep lab area neat Properly segregate chemicals

Reference MaterialNFPA

Fire Protection Guide on Hazardous Materials(Latest Edition)

NFPANFPA 45 Standard on Fire Protection for Laboratories Using Chemicals

DESwww.des.umd.eduUMD Policy on Fire EmergenciesUMD Policy on Means of Egress