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Previous by Date: Subject: Re: Fume hood sashes / Gas Cylinders Date: Wed, 12 Jul 2006 08:54:57 -0400 Author: john.coulter**At_Symbol_Here**NSTARCH.COM |
Next by Date: Subject: 11 Re: Fume Hood Sashes Date: Wed, 12 Jul 2006 13:46:45 -0400 Author: Ralph Stuart |
From: info**At_Symbol_Here**ilpi.com Subject: Re: [DCHAS-L] Fume hood sashes Date: July 11, 2006 5:56:36 PM EDT A good start is to put some chains on the wall nearest the fume hood so folks have a place to chain up their cylinders. Some signs that say "Cylinders Must Be Chained At All Times" and "Cylinders Not Connected Must Be Capped" would be an added bonus. Some folks are not capable of running (or have never considered how to run) gas in from a location more than 2 feet away from their apparatus. Or they are lazy. It's easy to set up a localized nitrogen manifold in the laboratory, for example, but it requires a modicum of acquired skill in selecting the appropriate fittings, tubing, and valves. Or they might use a cylinder infrequently and running a "large" length of tubing seems inconvenient. In addition, I suspect some folks fear the gases they work with (carbon monoxide, hydrogen) and therefore have an innate desire to have the whole shebang as close to the hood as possible in the event of a leak. Folks make the fume hood airfoil modification for other reasons as well. For example, in my former labs we had vacuum lines in the hoods and the pumps were underneath them. We had to run the heavy wall tubing or copper pipe connecting these components under the hood sash. If I didn't have a Dremel tool to cut a hole through the air foil we would have either had to run it over the top of air foil (meaning the sash would not close the last 1.25 inches) or remove the air foil....or possibly modify the sash with a spacer that allowed the tubing to fit. So I wouldn't necessarily call it ignorance (although it comes down to that too often, alas). It's just that some folks are not handy (or are not willing to be handy) with tools or design, and some schools are not good about supplying support personnel who can make simple improvements/adjustments such as these (one of those false economies). If you had the time and money, a campaign to assist folks in making the necessary modifications for their unique situations might be worth the effort. Wouldn't eliminate this problem, but it could reduce it. Some heavy duty custom aluminized tags reading "This Air Foil Not To Be Removed or Modified...." might be a good part of such a program as well. Rob -- ===================================================== 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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