I’ve not had much success going the fire safety route, so am trying the chemical/lab safety listservs for help.  Please forgive the cross-posting.

We have 2 researchers who use or plan to use hydrogen gas in their labs.

One is a biology lab and I don’t yet know much about why and how the hydrogen is used, except that it appears to be being plumbed into a tabletop “tent” approximately 4’ x 4’ x 4’.  The tent appears to be made of a clear plastic material.  I do not as yet know if it is static-resistant.

The other is a chemistry lab where the hydrogen will be used to consume residual oxygen in an anaerobic chamber.  The approximately 1-lb tank will be secured to the bench and the researcher plans to plumb it himself with copper line.

Naturally I have some concerns about hydrogen being used in the lab.  I doubt there are safer substitutes in these cases, but if anyone knows of one, can you please share them?

Can anyone point me to specific safety guidelines I can share with these researchers?

Thanks in advance.

Mary M. Cavanaugh CIH

University Industrial Hygienist

Safety & Workers' Comp. Office

cavanaughmm**At_Symbol_Here**appstate . edu

(828) 262-6838 Direct

(828) 262-2936 Fax