DCHAS-L Discussion List Archive
Date: Tue, 27 Oct 2009 14:52:25 -0400
Reply-To: DCHAS-L Discussion List <DCHAS-L**At_Symbol_Here**LIST.UVM.EDU>
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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 — 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
Sent by:
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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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