Hi Ruth Ann,

I don't think you are interpreting the codes properly.  I assume you are 
referring to the NFPA fire codes.

The NFPA Laboratory Safety Standard (I can't remember the number off 
hand) has a complicated formula for determining the maximum amount of 
flammable liquid that can be stored in a laboratory.  It depends on the 
type of construction, fire protection (i.e sprinklers), type of 
occupancy, type of chemical, etc.  It is so difficult to apply that most 
people just limit the amount of solvent to just a gallon per lab per 
chemical (note not per building).  There is a limit for the total amount 
- in the lab and building - but I believe if you have just a few gallons 
per lab you are well below this limit.

An interesting thing in the NFPA Lab Standard is that it forbids storage 
of flammable liquids  below grade in a building - which means basements. 
  A lot of academic labs violate this.

Dan Crowl
Michigan Tech University



Murphy, Dr. Ruth Ann wrote:
> My question is about exit requirements for chemistry labs.  Does a
> policy limiting the amount of each flammable substance to one gallon or
> less  in the entire building allow  exits from different  upstairs labs
> to lead to only one hallway?   In other words, students from various
> labs would have to exit by the same hallway, and there would be no limit
> as to the number of flammable chemicals allowed - as long as each one
> was present in amounts less than one gallon.  Natural gas lines would
> also be in the labs.
> 
>  
> 
> Thank you for any help you can provide.
> 
>  
> 
> Ruth Ann 
> 
>  
> 
> Ruth Ann Murphy, Ph.D.
> 
> Chairperson
> 
> Department of Chemistry, Environmental Science and Geology
> 
> The University of Mary Hardin-Baylor
> 
> Belton, TX  76513-2599
> 
> 254.295.4542
> 
>  
> 

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