Fire extinguishers laboratories

Carbon dioxide is used in the manufacture of sodium carbonate by the ammonia-soda process, urea, salicyclic acid (for aspirin), fire extinguishers and aerated water. Lesser amounts are used to transfer heat generated by an atomic reactor to water and so produce steam and electric power, whilst solid carbon dioxide is used as a refrigerant, a mixture of solid carbon dioxide and alcohol providing a good low-temperature bath (195 K) in which reactions can be carried out in the laboratory. 

Sand. Buckets of dry sand for fire-extinguishing should be available in the laboratory and should be strictly reserved for this purpose, and not encumbered with sand-baths, waste-paper, etc. Most fires on the bench may be quickly smothered by the ample use of sand. Sand once used for this purpose should always be thrown away afterwards, and not returned to the buckets, as it may contain appreciable quantities of inflammable, non-volatile materials e.g., nitrobenzene), and be dangerous if used a second time. 

Finally, the student should familiarise himself with the contents of the Section in the Appendix upon Laboratory Accidents, with the position of the fire extinguisher, buckets of sand, first aid cabinet, and the fireproof blanket. 

It is usually better to use a fire extinguisher charged with carbon dioxide under pressure this produces a spray of solid carbon dioxide upon releasing the pressure intermittently and is effective for extinguishing most fires in the laboratory. 

Underwriters Laboratories 333 Pfingsten Road Northbrook, Id. 60062 Standards for Safety is ahst of more than 200 standards that provide specifications and requirements for constmetion and performance under test and in actual use of a broad range of electrical apparatus and equipment, including household appHances, fire-extinguishing and fire protection devices and equipment, and many other nongenerady classifiable items, eg, ladders, sweeping compounds, waste cans, and roof jacks for trader coaches. 

Fire drills are very much in order in most laboratories. When the signal is given, all workers should shut down their equipment and leave in a quick and orderly manner. Some employees may be assigned to fire extinguishers or other fire fighting equipment. The speed with which this is accomplished is important and may be timed wdth a stopwatch. After the drill, a supervisor may want to check on how well the equipment was secured... 

Safety signs of approved types, available from laboratory supply houses and safety equipment dealers, should be posted in appropriate spots. The door leading out of the laboratory should be marked EXIT, while the door to a back room should be marked NO EXIT. The location of a fire extinguisher must be clearly marked. Signs are available for every type of hazard. Homemade signs not conforming to official standards should not be considered. 

Sprinklers and fire protection systems are required by NFPA Codes, but are often dependent on the overall size of the facility and quantity of stored flammable/combustible material. The wisest course of action is to provide heat and smoke detectors in each laboratory and provide a sprinkler system at least in the hallways. Each laboratory should have at least one ABC portable fire extinguisher. Computers have become more important to laboratories than ever. Halon fire extinguishing systems are available which are nondestructive to both electronic equipment and human life. These should be employed for fire protection. 

Laboratory fire procedures must be understood by all in the laboratory. Fires may be extinguished using carbon dioxide, water, or foam fire extinguishers, but it is critical that the right extinguisher is used in each situation. 

Laboratories should have fire extinguishers and safety showers. Respirators should be available for emergencies. Emergency equipment should be kept in a central location and must be inspected periodically. 

Fires involving alkylaluminium compounds are difficult to control and must be treated appropriately to particular circumstances [1,5,6], usually with dry-powder extinguishers. Halocarbon fire extinguishants (carbon tetrachloride, chloro-bromomethane, etc.), water or water-based foam must not be applied to alkylaluminium fires. Carbon dioxide is ineffective unless dilute solutions are involved [5,6], Suitable handling and disposal procedures have been detailed for both laboratory [1,2,5,6,7] and manufacturing [5,6] scales of operation. 

Uses Component of fire extinguisher fluids solvent for waxes, fats, and resins degreaser flame retardant heavy liquid for mineral and salt separations chemical intermediate laboratory use. 

Portable fire extinguishers purchased in the United States should be listed by Underwriters Laboratories (UL). Extinguishers for marine use should bear the label of the U.S. Coast Guard or other Authority Having Jurisdiction (AHJ). Extinguishers and agents purchased outside the United States should be approved by the AHJ, such as the governmental authority. 

Portable fire extinguishers should be installed, located, and maintained in accordance with NFPA 10, Standard for Portable Fire Extinguishers. For sizing and placement purposes. Class A laboratory units should be rated as extra (high) hazard, and Class B, Class C, and Class D laboratory units should be rated as ordinary (moderate) hazard. 

Knowledge about the safety devices (e.g., laboratory hood, fire extinguisher, emergency shower, first aid boxes, etc.). 

Caution Think Never underestimate the potential of any fire and never overestimate the capacity of the available fire extinguishers to extinguish the fire. The sooner you attack the fire, the easier it is to put out Any delay means possible disaster to life and property. Also ensure that the higher authorities, other local laboratories and fire departments are immediately notified. 

Become familiar with the location and use of standard safety features in your laboratory. All chemistry laboratories should be equipped with fire extinguishers, eyewashes, safety showers, fume hoods, chemical spill kits, first-aid supplies, and containers for chemical disposal. Any questions regarding the use of these features should be addressed to your instructor or teaching assistant. 

Siaff Carbon-Dioxide Fire Extinguishers. VI I5F. MIh Edition. Laboratories Incorporated Underwnlers, Northbrook. 1L, 1995. 

Carbon tetrachloride commonly was employed as a cleaning solvent, although its considerable toxicity entails considerable hazard when used indiscriminately. It has been used as a fire-extinguishing fluid for petroleum fires, but its toxicity and tendency to form still more toxic carbonyl dichloride makes it undesirable for confined areas. The common laboratory practice of removing traces of water from solvents with metallic sodium should not be applied to halogenated compounds carbon tetrachloride-sodium mixtures are shock sensitive and can detonate. 

Fire.—(a) Fire extinguishers should always be at hand in the laboratory, and should be applied at once. 

Carbon dioxide fire extinguishers are widely used in laboratory fire fighting because the C02 does not damage apparatus or cause electrical shorts. Furthermore, carbon dioxide is effective against a wide variety of fires and is not toxic. The National Fire Protection Association adopts the following classification of fires ... 

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