From:
Daniel Crowl <crowl**At_Symbol_Here**MTU.EDU>
Subject:
Re: [DCHAS-L] Devices for Monitoring Temperature in Flammable Liquid Refrigerators
Date:
Apr 9, 2026 16:29 UTC
Reply-To:
ACS Division of Chemical Health and Safety <DCHAS-L**At_Symbol_Here**PRINCETON.EDU>
Message-ID:
<CAPEgXxz_ae=Ny3q6eScVGfRL4G2Z6hTgdHYDwV296MpYujOT1g**At_Symbol_Here**mail.gmail.com>
In-Reply-To:
<BY5PR02MB68189630A9B19089EFF452A3A55B2**At_Symbol_Here**BY5PR02MB6818.namprd02.prod.outlook.com>
Hi All,
If the refrigerator is rated for flammable storage, all electronic equipment placed inside the refrigerator would need to have a similar rating.
Ignition sources are one thing that you get for free!
Dan Crowl
Hi Margaret,
I have monitored by using the remote alarm contact that is integrated into most flammables refrigerators/lab refrigerators/ULT freezers. I set the high and low temperature
alarm points and the delay time (e.g. send alarm after 5 minutes of excursion) on the fridge/freezer. This alarm contact was connected to our building management system, and if the temperature limits were exceeded, it sent automated email messages through
our BMS. If the automated messages were not acknowledged within a set time, the BMS escalated the alarm by sending a message to our security company (which provided 24/7 monitoring) and they phoned a facilities team member. This isn’t a terrible sophisticated
model – the monitoring point doesn’t indicate the exact temperature, only that the point is/isn’t in alarm. It was good for our start-up company (read: no $$) because it used the built-in alarm contact and our existing BMS. Your facilities team may be a great
help in assessing whether you can do this too.
Leslie
If you are using monitoring devices for your 4C flammable-rated refrigerators, and these devices are able to either send an email or (better) place a phone call, I would be very interested in learning what you use and your experience with
it. I would like to be able to add monitors to ~6 flammable refrigerators while we essentially close down floors for several weeks for construction. We do not have 'built in' monitors for these refrigerators.
It is pretty cheap and easy to do this for nonhazarous material refrigerators but my initial lead is turning out not to be either...
--
Margaret A. Rakas, Ph.D.
Lab Safety & Compliance Senior Director
Clark Science Center
Smith College
413-585-3877 (p)
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