Date: Tue, 27 Oct 2009 14:52:25 -0400
Reply-To: DCHAS-L Discussion List <DCHAS-L**At_Symbol_Here**LIST.UVM.EDU>
Sender: DCHAS-L Discussion List <DCHAS-L**At_Symbol_Here**LIST.UVM.EDU>
From: Kim Auletta <kauletta**At_Symbol_Here**NOTES.CC.SUNYSB.EDU>
Subject: Re: Lab Incident: Lab explosion in Montana
In-Reply-To: <FF7CC1B4-4D7C-4996-86E0-4E1EE25FCA7F**At_Symbol_Here**uvm.edu>
Someone may need to review the NFPA standard. When I was with OSHA, I 
investigated an oven that exploded that was used with methanol (vitamin 
factory). Turns out they were using a Class A when they should have had 
the Class B. 

NFPA 86: Standard for Ovens and Furnaces

Current Edition: 2007     Next Revision Cycle: Annual 2010 




Document Scope:  1.1* Scope. 1.1.1 This standard applies to Class A, Class 
B, Class C, and Class D ovens, dryers, and furnaces, thermal oxidizers, 
and any other heated enclosure used for processing of materials and 
related equipment. 1.1.1.1 The terms ovens, dryers, and furnaces are used 
interchangeably and also apply to other heated enclosures used for 
processing of materials. 1.1.2* Within the scope of this standard, a Class 
A, Class B, or Class C oven is any heated enclosure operating at 
approximately atmospheric pressure and used for commercial and industrial 
processing of materials. 1.1.3 A Class A oven can utilize a low-oxygen 
atmosphere. 1.1.4 This standard applies to bakery ovens and Class A ovens, 
in all respects, and where reference is made to ANSI Z50.1, Bakery 
Equipment Ñ Safety Requirements, those requirements shall apply to bakery 
oven construction and safety. 1.1.5 This standard applies to atmosphere 
generators and atmosphere supply systems serving Class C furnaces and to 
furnaces with integral quench tanks or molten salt baths. 1.1.6* This 
standard applies to Class D ovens and furnaces operating above ambient 
temperatures to over 5000¡F (2760¡C) and at pressures normally below 
atmospheric to 10?8 torr (1.33 * 10?6 Pa). 1.1.7 This standard does not 
apply to the following: (1) Coal or other solid fuel-firing systems (2) 
Listed equipment with a heating system(s) that supplies a total input not 
exceeding 150,000 Btu/hr (44 kW) 


Kim Auletta
Lab Safety Specialist
EH&S    Z=6200
Stony Brook University
kauletta**At_Symbol_Here**notes.cc.sunysb.edu
631-632-3032
EH&S Web site: http://www.stonybrook.edu/ehs/lab/

Remember to wash your hands!


From:
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To:
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Date:
10/24/2009 08:44 AM
Subject:
Re: [DCHAS-L] Lab Incident: Lab explosion in Montana
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From: Lucy Dillman 
Subject: Re: [DCHAS-L] 2 RE: [DCHAS-L] Lab Incident: Lab explosion in 
Montana
Date: October 23, 2009 8:32:49 PM EDT

When I was in college we had an oven blow up in a biochemistry teaching 
lab.  We were doing an amino acid preparation from some source, I don't 
recall what, but it called for doing an ether/water layer, discarding the 
ether and then heating the water fraction.  Apparently someone discarded 
the water and put the ether fraction in the oven.  This was the day before 
Thanksgiving vacation.  I don't know why it didn't flame out or blow up 
right away, but no one was in the lab when it went.  There was damage to 
the oven, and glass flew all over the place, all the preps were lost.  It 
was a good lesson in rechecking the procedure and not being in a rush to 
get out the door for vacation.
 
Lucy Dillman







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