Date: Fri, 30 Jul 2010 13:47:17 -0500
Reply-To: chemsafety**At_Symbol_Here**verizon.net
Sender: DCHAS-L Discussion List <DCHAS-L**At_Symbol_Here**LIST.UVM.EDU>
From: "Jay A. Young" <chemsafety**At_Symbol_Here**VERIZON.NET>
Subject: Re: Explosion Proof Refrigerator Storage

Jay+A.+Young

Jul 30, 2010 09:11:28 AM, DCHAS-L**At_Symbol_Here**list.uvm.ed u wrote:

We are in the process of annual review of our chemical inventory and I was hoping to get some help with the specific guidelines of what chemicals must be stored in our explosion proof refrigerator. I have read several re sources that indicate a flashpoint of 37.8C is the cut off however this cov ers a lot of lab solvents and I would not have enough room. Our acetone for example is stored in our vented flammable cabinets. Does anyone know of a site which gives detailed information on refrigerator storage. Also our sto ckroom only has an explosion proof refrigerator and vented flammable cabine ts we have no "Flammable" refrigerators available.
Does anyone in the Ch icago area know of a company that can convert our household refrigerators i nto flammable ones? As always thank you all in advanc for the help.

Kathleen Schmidt-Nebril, NRCC-CHO
Chemistry Division Department of Natur al Science
Dominican University
River Forest, IL 60305
708-524-653 3
*********************************
Kathleen,
 
In an explosion proof  refrigerator you store only those falmmabl e and combustible substances that can deteriorate if they are unstable and/ or will deteriorate if not kept cold.
 
Other flammable and combustible substances that would not deteriorate if stored at room temperature should be stored in flammable storage cabinet s that are vented to the outside.
 
Do NOT convert an ordinary refrigerator into an "explosive proof" refr igerator.   Anyone who says they can make such a conversion is a candidate who is not to be trusted with any tasks.
 
Check with the National Fire  Prevention Association NFPA for det ailed information.  They have several publications that you need to re ad, judging from your questions.  You might also want to take a look a t my book, published by Wiley Intersience: "Improving Safety in the Chemica l Laboratory", second edition.
 
Jay Young
 
 
 

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