From: Ken Kretchman <kwkretch**At_Symbol_Here**ncsu.edu>
Subject: Re: [DCHAS-L] Wearing FR masks when working with Pyrophorics during COVID pandemic?
Date: Mon, 10 Aug 2020 15:12:27 -0400
Reply-To: ACS Division of Chemical Health and Safety <DCHAS-L**At_Symbol_Here**Princeton.EDU>
Message-ID: CAOYSQ4_o31mJNygYvBzDUj1AvxPYTSs639tt2vn0V6xNt50AXA**At_Symbol_Here**mail.gmail.com
In-Reply-To


Hi Margaret

We did some testing here at the university some years ago with lab coats and t-butyl lithium following the referenced tragedy.

The most striking comparison was a 65-35 polyester /cotton blend which gave a very energetic flame spread vs
100% cotton, Nomex, or other treated fabrics.

I would certainly want to stay away from synthetic fabric masks for lab use.

Ken

Ken Kretchman, CIH, CSP Director, Environmental Health and Safety
NC State University / Box 8007 / 2620 Wolf Village Way / Raleigh North Carolina 27695-8007
Email: Ken_Kretchman**At_Symbol_Here**ncsu.edu / Phone: (919).515.6860 / Fax: (919).515.6307


On Mon, Aug 10, 2020 at 2:18 PM James Keating <james.k.keating**At_Symbol_Here**gmail.com> wrote:
If you are working with phosphoric you need serious fire resistant PPE. Also limited amount of flammable material in hood area as well as in the cabinet under the hood.

Remember the Sherry Sanji tragedy.

Jim Keating

On Mon, Aug 10, 2020, 1:55 PM Margaret Rakas <mrakas**At_Symbol_Here**smith..edu> wrote:
For those organic synthesis research labs, is your EHS department recommending fire-resistant face masks? Or 100% cotton?

Many thanks
Margaret

--
Margaret A. Rakas, Ph.D.
Lab Safety & Compliance Director
Clark Science Center
413-585-3877 (p)

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