SAFE TALK

LABORATORY FIRE SAFETY

OIL, GAS AND CHEMICALS SERVICES

OCTOBER 2012

Introduction
We have noticed an alarming increase in the frequency of laboratory fires this year. Due to the inherent hazards
in a lab environment fire safety measures must be observed at all times. Flammable liquids, compressed gases,
oxidizers, and a lengthy list of other chemicals can prove to be deadly in the event of a laboratory fire. The best
defense against these hazards is prevention and safe operating procedures. Do you know what the hazards are
in your laboratory?

Type of materials and how they should be used?

Reaction and hazard potential?
Proper storage methods?
Emergency response procedures?
Special considerations when working with material?
Have you inspected your lab for fire hazards? Use the Laboratory Fire Safety Checklist.

Do you know the location of the safety equipment in and around your laboratory? In the event of an emergency
you do not have time to waste in trying to find them! Take the time now to locate the nearest:

Fire extinguisher.
Emergency eye wash station and showers.
Spill cleanup material.
Alarm pull box.

Fire prevention is a vital aspect of laboratory safety. The following information is provided to help prevent
laboratory fires.

Housekeeping

The area must be kept as

clean as the work allows.
Chemicals,
especially
liquids, should never be
stored on the floor, except in
closed
door
cabinets
suitable for the material to
be stored. Nor should large
bottles (2.5 liter or larger) be
stored above the bench top.
Stored items or equipment
shall not block access to the
fire extinguisher(s), safety
equipment,
or
other
emergency items.
Stairways,
hallways,
passageways/aisles
and
access
to
emergency
equipment and/or exits must
be kept dry and not be
obstructed in any fashion,

including
storage,
equipment, phone or other
wiring.
No combustible material
such as paper, wooden
boxes, pallets, etc., shall be
stored under stairwells or in
hallways. Hallways shall be
kept free of boxes and
materials so that exits or
normal paths of travel will
not be blocked.
All containers must be
labeled with at least the
identity of the contents and
the hazards those chemicals
present to users.

Fire Extinguishers
Laboratory personnel should be
adequately trained regarding
pertinent fire hazards associated

with their work, including how to

use fire extinguishers. This is an
important topic which will be
dealt with in detail in next
months Safe Talk
.
Fire extinguishers should
never be concealed from
general view or blocked from
access.

Electrical
Electrical
problems
and
deficiencies are one of the
leading causes of lab fires so all
electrical equipment shall be
properly grounded and sufficient
room for work must be present in
the area of breaker boxes. All
the circuit breakers and the
fuses shall be labeled to indicate
whether they are in the "on" or

SAFE TALK
LABORATORY FIRE SAFETY
OIL, GAS AND CHEMICALS SERVICES
"off"
position,
and
what
appliance or room area is
served. Fuses must be properly
rated.

Equipment, appliance and

extension cords shall be in
good condition.
Extension cords shall not be
used as a substitute for
permanent wiring.
Electrical cords or other lines
shall not be suspended
unsupported
across
emergency
showers,
overhead pipes or frames,
metal racks, etc. Do not run
cords through holes in walls
or ceilings or through
doorways or windows. Do
not place under carpet, rugs,
or heavy objects. Do not
place cords on pathways or
other areas where repeated
abuse
can
cause
deterioration of insulation.
Multi-outlet plugs shall not
be used unless they have a
built-in circuit breaker.

Vacuum Operations
When a vacuum is supplied by a
compressor or vacuum pump to
distill volatile solvents, a cold
trap should be used to contain
solvent vapors. Cold traps
should be of sufficient size and
low enough temperature to
collect all condensable vapors
present in a vacuum system. If
such a trap is not used, the
pump or compression exhaust
must be vented to the outside
using explosion-proof methods.

After completion of an
operation in which a cold
trap has been used, the
system should be vented.

OCTOBER 2012
This venting is important
because volatile substances
that have been collected in
the trap may vaporize when
the coolant has evaporated
and cause a pressure
buildup that could blow the
apparatus apart.
After vacuum distillations,
the pot residue must be
cooled to room temperature
before air is admitted to the
apparatus.

Explosion-Proof Refrigerators
If there is a need to refrigerate a
substance that is flammable, it
shall be refrigerated in an
approved
explosion-proof
refrigerator. This refrigerator is
designed as such that any
flammable
vapors
in
the
refrigerator do not contact
sparks. This refrigerator must
NOT be used for the storage
of food.

as fire or explosion in the

hood.

Flammable-Liquid Storage
The storage of flammable and
combustible
liquids
inside
buildings
in
general
and
laboratories in particular are
usually governed by national and
local regulations and these
always take precedence over
anything contained in this Safe
Talk.
Therefore,
the
recommendations that follow
should
be
considered
as
advisory or guidance and
secondary to your statutory
requirements.
Cabinets
designed for the storage of
flammable liquids should be
properly used and maintained.
Read
and
follow
the
manufacturer's information and
also
follow
these
safety
practices:

Ventilation Hoods
ONLY ITEMS NECESSARY TO
PERFORM THE CURRENT
ANALYSIS SHOULD BE IN THE
HOOD. The more equipment in
the hood, the greater the air
turbulence and the chance for
flammable vapors to escape into
the lab.

Exhaust fans should be

spark-proof if exhausting
flammable vapors and be
corrosive
resistant
if
handling corrosive fumes.
An emergency plan should
be prepared in the event of
ventilation failure or other
unexpected occurrence such

Flammable liquids may be

stored in containers of up to
5L in volume. Approved
metal containers of up to
25L are also acceptable.
Bear in mind that these all
contribute to the total
quantity permitted in the
lab.
The
recommended
maximum
volume
of
flammable AND combustible
liquids permitted in any
given laboratory is 300L, of
which only 50L may be
flammable (this means you
can have up to 50L of
flammable liquids in the
"open lab" area). Storage of
quantities in excess of this
within labs should be within
approved metal "flammable
liquids" cabinets.

SAFE TALK
LABORATORY FIRE SAFETY
OIL, GAS AND CHEMICALS SERVICES

Flammable liquid storage

cabinets may contain up to
500L of flammable AND
combustible liquids, of which
250L may be flammable;
however, the manufacturer
establishes quantity limits for
various sizes of flammableliquid
storage
cabinets,
which
should
not
be
exceeded
Store
only
compatible
materials inside a cabinet flammable liquids are to be
stored
separately
from
corrosives or oxidizers.
Do not store paper or
cardboard
or
other
combustible
packaging
material in a flammableliquid cabinet.
ALL
storage
containers
containing
flammables
MUST be labeled with a
conspicuous
flammable
symbol or wording and
flammable storage cabinets
themselves
MUST
be
labeled to indicate that the
cabinet contains flammable
materials, and that open
flame must be kept away

Compressed Gas
Compressed gases may be
combustible,
explosive,
corrosive, poisonous, inert, or a
combination of hazards.

If the gas is flammable, flash

points lower than room
temperature compounded by
high rates of diffusion (which
allow for fast permeation
throughout the laboratory)
present a danger of fire or
explosion.
Since
the
gases
are
contained in heavy, highly

OCTOBER 2012
pressurized
metal
containers, the large amount
of potential energy resulting
from compression of the gas
makes the cylinder a
potential
rocket
or
fragmentation bomb. Gas
cylinders shall be secured at
all times to prevent tipping
and be stored in a wellventilated area.
Signs
should
be
conspicuously posted in
areas where flammable
compressed
gases
are
stored,
identifying
the
substances and appropriate
precautions.
Cylinders
containing
flammable gases such as
hydrogen or acetylene shall
not be stored in close
proximity to open flames,
areas
where
electrical
sparks are generated, or
where other sources of
ignition may be present.
Cylinders
containing
acetylene shall never be
stored on their side. An open
flame shall never be used to
detect leaks of flammable
gases. Oxygen cylinders, full
or empty, shall not be stored
in the same vicinity as
flammable gases.

Cryogenic Liquids
Neither liquid nitrogen nor liquid
air should be used to cool a
flammable
mixture
in
the
presence of air because oxygen
can condense from the air and
lead to a potentially explosive
condition.

Adequate ventilation must

always be used to prevent
the build-up of vapors of

flammable gases such as

hydrogen, methane, and
acetylene.
Adequate ventilation is also
required when using gases
such as nitrogen, helium, or
hydrogen. In these cases,
oxygen can be condensed
out of the atmosphere
creating a potential for
explosive conditions.

Controlled Flames
Bunsen burners are part of
everyday operations in many
labs. As well as keeping
flammables away, ensure that
long hair is tied back during use
of a controlled flame. Never
leave a Bunsen burner lit in an
unattended lab.

Don't use a Bunsen burner

within 5 horizontal feet of a
ceiling-mounted
fire
detector

Doors and Corridors

Self-closing fire doors will protect
the corridor and exiting system
from smoke and toxic gases in
the event of a lab fire. Because
of this protection associated with
the fire doors they must not be
propped open.

Locate flammable storage

cabinets away from your exit
door, so an accident won't
cut off your exit
Flammable liquids are NOT
permitted to be stored in
corridors
under
ANY
circumstances

SAFE TALK
LABORATORY FIRE SAFETY
OIL, GAS AND CHEMICALS SERVICES

OCTOBER 2012

Conclusion
Fire is one of the most dangerous and devastating risks that we are likely to encounter when operating a
laboratory. It can have very serious consequences for life, property and business continuity. In light of the
increased instances recently of laboratory fires, some of which were quite serious, you are all required to
complete the Laboratory Fire Safety Checklist that is attached to the e-mail that delivered this Safe Talk.
When dealing with HSE matters it is always useful to take a step backwards and look at your own operation with
a critical eye. It should not take more than two hours to answer the 24 questions on the checklist and you never
know the life it saves might just be your own.

SAFE TALK
LABORATORY FIRE SAFETY
OIL, GAS AND CHEMICALS SERVICES

OCTOBER 2012

Minutes of Safe Talk Meeting:

Branch:_______________________________ Division: ______________________________
Person Conducting Meeting:__________________________________________________
Attendees:

Additional Items Discussed:

Problem Areas or Concerns:

Comments:

The original is to be maintained at the Branch for

reference and audit purposes. Data from this form is
required as part of your monthly Global QHS&E reporting