From: Eugene Ngai <eugene_ngai**At_Symbol_Here**COMCAST.NET>
Subject: Re: [DCHAS-L] Here we go again! Another demo gone wrong
Date: Sun, 4 Nov 2018 15:15:30 -0500
Reply-To: ACS Division of Chemical Health and Safety <DCHAS-L**At_Symbol_Here**PRINCETON.EDU>
Message-ID: 002601d4747b$22a2a1b0$67e7e510$**At_Symbol_Here**comcast.net
In-Reply-To <644D5591-F87B-4ECA-B63E-50CFD7B9725B**At_Symbol_Here**keene.edu>


I agree that Chapter 12 of NFPA 45 is an excellent resource that is
applicable and the AHJ has the authority to educate and enforce this
standard. The challenge however is the over 95% of the jurisdictions in the
US use the International Fire Code (IFC). In the 2018 edition Chapter 38
Higher Educational Laboratories was added but it does not contain anything
similar to Chapter 12. In addition this only applies to

HIGHER EDUCATION LABORATORY. Laboratories in
Group B occupancies used for educational purposes above
the 12th grade. Storage, use and handling of chemicals in
such laboratories shall be limited to purposes related to testing,
analysis, teaching, research or developmental activities
on a nonproduction basis.

Which means it does not apply to high school and lower grades.

Most AHJ's have responsibilities that span a wide range of occupancies,
residential, mercantile, education, industrial, etc. It is not possible for
them to also be knowledgeable about this unique topic.

My recommendation would be to send a letter to the NFPA 45 Committee
summarizing the problem. The committee might be able to have a task force
develop some educational material based on Chapter 12 that can be sold or
distributed free through the NFPA Public Education Division.
https://www.nfpa.org/public-education

They have an extensive portfolio of free safety documents that can be
downloaded free as PDF files.

Eugene Ngai
Chemically Speaking LLC

-----Original Message-----
From: ACS Division of Chemical Health and Safety On
Behalf Of Stuart, Ralph
Sent: Sunday, November 4, 2018 1:14 PM
To: DCHAS-L**At_Symbol_Here**PRINCETON.EDU
Subject: Re: [DCHAS-L] Here we go again! Another demo gone wrong

> >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.
>
In my opinion, it is the local Authorities Having Jurisdiction using this
tool, rather than the ACS, who have the best opportunity, both in terms of
oversight resources and outreach opportunities to address fire hazards in
elementary and high school teaching labs. I understand that the NFPA
standard does not apply everywhere, but it is a good model to work from.

- Ralph

Ralph Stuart, CIH, CCHO
Environmental Safety Manager
Keene State College
603 358-2859

ralph.stuart**At_Symbol_Here**keene.edu

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