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Previous by Date: Subject: safety shower location Date: Wed, 23 Nov 2005 11:53:23 -0600 Author: Patrick Ceas |
Next by Date: Subject: Re: [CSHEMA-L] safety shower location Date: Wed, 23 Nov 2005 13:35:17 -0600 Author: ceas**At_Symbol_Here**STOLAF.EDU |
>We are designing a new Science Center (178,000 sq. ft). Regardless >of the location of your current safety showers and eyewashes, I >would be very interested in hearing where you would prefer to have >yours located -- in the labs or in the halls -- and why. Thanks! >Pat Ceas > >*** >Chemical Hygiene Officer >St. Olaf College >Northfield, MN I'll first refer you to the handy ANSI compliance guide at Guardian Equipment (disclaimer: my company is a Guardian distributor): http://www.gesafety.com/pdf/ANSIGuide.pdf It notes: "In general, the ANSI standard provides that emergency equipment be installed within 10 seconds walking time from the location of a hazard. The equipment must be installed on the same level as the hazard (i.e. accessing the equipment should not require going up or down stairs or ramps). The path of travel from the hazard to the equipment should be free of obstructions and as straight as possible. However, there are certain circumstances where these guidelines may not be adequate. For example, where workers are handling particularly strong acids, caustics or other materials where the consequences of a spill would be very serious, emergency equipment should be installed immediately adjacent to the hazard. Laboratory environments may also require special consideration. It is common in many laboratory buildings to install emergency equipment in a corridor or hallway outside of the lab room. This may satisfy the provisions of the standard but still not provide workers with immediate access to emergency equipment. In these cases, we recommend installing combination eye wash/drench hose units at lab sinks (see page 7). These units are highly accessible and versatile. They provide immediate protection for the eyes, face or body when a spill involves a relatively small amount of hazardous material." If you have floor drains, it would be best to locate the showers near a drain if that location is commensurate with safety needs. Again, to quote the Guardian guide: "The standard does not include any provisions regarding the disposal of waste water. However, designers must give consideration to where waste water will go. In particular, care must be taken that waste water not create a hazard (i.e. by creating a pool in which someone might slip) or freeze. Generally, Guardian eye wash, eye/face wash and safety station units are designed with waste connections for connection to drain piping. WE RECOMMEND THAT EMERGENCY EYE WASH AND SHOWER UNITS BE CONNECTED TO DRAIN PIPING. FOR EMERGENCY SHOWERS AND FOR OTHER UNITS WITHOUT WASTE CONNECTIONS, FLOOR DRAINS SHOULD BE PROVIDED. After an emergency eye wash or shower has been used, the waste water may contain hazardous materials that cannot or should not be introduced into a sanitary sewer. It may be necessary to connect the drain piping from the emergency equipment or floor drain to the building's acid waste disposal system or to a neutralizing tank." I'm a big fan of floor drains if your local/state EPA regs permit. Nothing worse than flooding a building from the top floor down - I saw firsthand the result of a top-story lab fire at Case Western U and the water went all the way down to the basement. Hundreds of thousands in extra water damage - I believe it dribbled right onto their NMR machines, too! My general preference in a new lab would be to locate showers in the hallway immediately outside the lab (with a floor drain). In labs, you generally find folks obstructing them with stuff such as lab coats, cylinder carts, bikes, equipment etc. etc. Moreover, and more importantly, if the lab is going up in flames, you really don't want to shower off in there! ANSI-approved eye washes, of course, should be in every lab. Swing-down (or swing from the side) auto-activating units are really quite nice as they can be plumbed at a normal sink without interfering with its regular operation. Finally, I will note that with the Americans With Disabilities Act (ADA), you will want to consider installing "barrier free" units in the teaching labs. These are designed for wheelchair access. Best regards, Rob Toreki -- ===================================================== Safety Emporium - Lab & Safety Supplies featuring brand names you know and trust. Visit us at http://www.SafetyEmporium.com esales**At_Symbol_Here**safetyemporium.com or toll-free: (866) 326-5412 Fax: (859) 523-0606, 4905 Waynes Blvd, Lexington, KY 40513-1469
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