From:
Debbie Decker <debbie.m.decker**At_Symbol_Here**GMAIL.COM>
Subject:
Re: [DCHAS-L] Flammable cabinets and termites
Date:
Aug 30, 2023 14:45 UTC
Reply-To:
ACS Division of Chemical Health and Safety <DCHAS-L**At_Symbol_Here**Princeton.EDU>
Message-ID:
<CABNxZ9cUwdVogr80nj=B-=eV4Wp4P9-GeAGFDONKAfu_Ndw1Yw**At_Symbol_Here**mail.gmail.com>
In-Reply-To:
<PH7PR07MB94677A8C8B6C2BD458DBA0D2DDE7A**At_Symbol_Here**PH7PR07MB9467.namprd07.prod.outlook.com>
Brilliant. I particularly like the ability to influence behavior. For health and safety folks, that'd be awesome!
I had to Google Termite Man. It may be best to ignore the one in Amazon’s The Boys series. Here are suggestions for the superpowers of Termite Man
https://www.rentokil.com/my/help-advice/blog/termites/amazing-termite-man
Paul Weller
Senior Science Laboratory Manager - Retired
From: ACS Division of Chemical Health and Safety <DCHAS-L**At_Symbol_Here**Princeton.EDU>
On Behalf Of Richard Palluzi
Sent: Tuesday, August 29, 2023 11:03 AM
To: DCHAS-L**At_Symbol_Here**Princeton.EDU
Subject: Re: [DCHAS-L] Flammable cabinets and termites
Sounds like a B level 50’s SF movie plot!
I can't get out of my mind a vision of highly industrious, solvent-intoxicated termites.
Jennifer,
Although it seems surprising, flammable storage cabinets can be made from wood.
https://scimatco.com/pages/why-should-i-buy-a-scimatco-metal-free-acid-cabinet-1
In addition to fire rating, you need to consider the structural integrity of the damaged cabinets. A massive fire at Ohio State University
that destroyed two labs was caused when a shelf on a solvent cabinet collapsed spilling out hexane solvent.
https://pubsapp.acs.org/cen/news/83/i21/8321ohio.html
Sadly, that is not the only solvent shelf collapse leading to terrible consequences that I know of. So, be sure to have any damaged wooden
cabinets inspected for structural integrity by a qualified carpenter.
If you replace the cabinets remember to consider self-closing doors as they are required in some states.
Best,
Craig
Craig A. Merlic
Professor of Chemistry, UCLA Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry
Executive Director, UC Center for Laboratory Safety
Reaching out for advice on how to handle a unique situation. Several of our flammable storage cabinets are wood, and today I found abundant
evidence of termites in two of them.
I've already contacted facilities management for the pest control, but what I'm unsure of is how this impacts the fire rating on the
cabinet. The cabinets are built in to a larger unit (not free standing)
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