Codes, fire issue performance

The issues in these evaluations are safety as related to toxicity and flammability, environmental impact as related to the generation of volatile organic compounds and global warming, product performance as related to insulating properties, conformity to fire codes, and the like, cost and availability, and regulatory requirements. 

Beyond perfonnance optimization, issues relative to packaging and the need for compliance with certain safety and electronics regulatory codes are cited as reasons for a customized solution. In the latter case, a systems approach is required, especially when attempting to meet the code or performance requirements for compliance with European Certification (CE) mark or electrical and fire safety codes such as National Eire Prevention Association (NFPA) and CENELEC (European Committee for Electrotechiucal Standardization). Off-the-shelf electronics may provide the necessary performance characteristics for generic applications, and their use eliminates large expenses related to product development, plus the associated time delays. Photonics-related components are solely addressed in this section because they are used to customize instruments for application-specific systems. 

The National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) develops and issues fire codes that are used by fire marshals and the authority having jurisdiction to enforce required fire safety measures. NFPA issued the new NFPA 45-2015 Standardfor Fire Protection for Laboratories Using Chemicals which included Chapter 12 on Educational and Instructional Laboratory Operations. This new section established new requirements for teachers and instructors who perform demonstrations. Instructors performing demonstrations must perform a documented risk assessment, provide a safety briefing to students, provide adequate personal protective equipment (PPE), and use secured safety barriers between the student and the demonstration to prevent personal injury unless there is at least 10 feet between the demonstration and the students. Institutions are required to train instmctors in fire safety procedures, emergency plans, hazards in the laboratories, use of PPE, and how to conduct risk assessments. 

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