I encourage all of you to become familiar with the recommendations for demonstrations given in Chapter 12 of NFPA 45 Fire Protection for Laboratories Using Chemicals.

Chapter 12 Educational and Instructional

Laboratory Operations

12.1 General. This chapter provides fire protection and safety

requirements for new and existing educational and instructional

laboratories where experiments are conducted or demonstrations

are performed using hazardous materials.

12.2* Instructor Responsibilities. Where instructors are performing

demonstrations or students are conducting experiments

using hazardous materials, the instructor shall be required

to perform a documented hazard risk assessment,

provide a safety briefing to students, provide adequate personal

protective equipment (PPE), and place a safety barrier

(as required) between students and the demonstration or experiment

to prevent personal injury.

12.2.1* Instructors in teaching labs shall be trained and

knowledgeable in fire safety procedures, emergency plans, the how to properly conduct a hazard risk assessment.

12.3 Chemical Storage and Handling.

12.3.1* Bulk quantities of chemicals shall be stored in a locked

room outside of the classroom in educational labs. Chemicals

stored and in use in an educational lab classroom shall be

limited to the amount needed for one day's use, preapportioned

to the amount needed for each class session. The

amount of chemical that is not in use during an individual

class session shall be kept in an appropriate, locked cabinet.

12.3.1.1 Quantities of chemicals in an instructional lab shall

be limited to the lowest possible level necessary and in no case

shall exceed the per-laboratory unit quantities specified in

9.1.1 or the maximum allowable quantities specified in fire or

building codes.

12.3.1.2 Dispensing of bulk quantities of chemicals for an

experiment or demonstration shall be performed in a prep

room outside of the classroom.

12.3.1.3 For existing educational and instructional laboratories

that do not have a separate preparation room, the dispensing

of bulk quantities of chemicals for experiments or demonstrations

shall be performed prior to the arrival of the students

in the classroom.

12.3.1.4 The minimum amount of chemical(s) needed to perform

the experiment or demonstration shall be transferred to a

small, appropriately labeled, sealable bottle(s) or dropping

bottle(s).

12.3.1.5 Bottles of chemicals shall only be open in the classroom

only when the experiment or demonstration is being

performed.

12.3.2* Performance of Experiments or Demonstrations.

12.3.2.1 Experiments or demonstrations for students involving

open flames; fire; or the use of flammable, reactive, toxic

or corrosive chemicals shall be performed in accordance with

12.3.2.1.1, and 12.3.2.1.2, 12.3.2.1.3, or 12.3.2.1.4.

12.3.2.1.1 Experiments or demonstrations shall be performed

in a location that does not block access to the primary

means of egress from the laboratory work area.

12.3.2.1.2* Experiments or demonstrations that involve or

produce hazardous quantities of fumes, vapors, particulates,

or gases shall be performed in a chemical fume hood or other

ventilation device adequate to capture the materials being

evolved. This includes demonstration hoods or other devices

that meet the requirements of ANSI/AIHA Z9.5 2.1.1.

12.3.2.1.3 Experiments or demonstrations involving chemicals

that are performed outside a fume hood where the separation

distance in 12.3.2.1.4 is not possible shall be performed behind

an impact-resistant plastic or tempered-glass safety shield.

(1) The shield shall be at least 0.610 m (24 in.) high and shall

wrap 180 degrees around the hazard or extend at least

0.305 m (12 in.) beyond the hazard in both directions.

(2) The shield shall be secured to the work surface with bolts

or clamps to keep it in place.

12.3.2.1.4 Experiments or demonstrations involving chemicals

that are performed outside a fume hood where a shield is not

utilized shall be performed in a location that is at least 3.05 m

(10 ft.) from students.

12.3.2.2 Experiments or demonstrations using flammable

liquids and open flames shall be performed by a knowledgeable

instructor.

12.3.2.3 In educational and instructional laboratories where

experiments are conducted by students, the instructor shall be

responsible for conducting a safety briefing prior to the start

of each experiment to review the hazards of the chemicals

used, the personal protective equipment required for the experiment,

and a review of the emergency procedures.

12.4 Other Requirements. Educational and instructional

laboratory units shall be classified in accordance with 4.2.2.

12.4.1 Educational laboratory units shall be provided with

fire-rated separation in accordance with 5.1.3.

12.4.2 Life safety classification for educational and instructional

laboratory units shall be in accordance with Section 5.3.

12.4.3 The allowed quantities of flammable and combustible

liquids for educational and instructional laboratory units shall

be in accordance with Section 9.1.

12.4.4 The allowed quantities of compressed gases for educational

and instructional laboratory units shall be in accordance

with 10.1.6.

12.4.5 Emergency gas shutoffs for educational and instructional

laboratory work areas shall be in accordance with

10.2.3.4.

It saw this too. It made me wonder if the approach we, the ACS, is taking is the correct approach. In addition to teaching the safe way to show the demonstration we need to discover where this teacher learned how to do this demonstration, follow the trail back to get to the source of the demonstration and correct the problem.

Hi All,

Here we go again. Another flammable demonstration gone wrong.

This was reported on ABC National News tonight (Nov 2). It happened in Georgia this week.

https://abcn.ws/2qofYYp

Fortunately, the teacher was not seriously injured (minor burns and burned hair) and none of the students were hurt.  One very, very lucky teacher!

I guess she was trying to show that flame will follow a vapor or that the vapor had a higher density than air.

Kirk Hunter

Waxahachie, Texas

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