Lab Inspections

1
Lab Inspections

• State Fire Marshals Office

2
Applicable Codes

• 1999 BOCA
• Business Occupancy
• 1999 BOCA Fire Prevention Code
• 2000 NFPA 101, Life Safety Code
• Existing Business Occupancy

3
Applicable Codes

• 2000 NFPA 45, Standard on Fire Protection for
  Laboratories Using Chemicals
• 2000 NFPA 30, Flammable and Combustible Liquids
  Code

4
Material Identification

• Material Safety Data Sheets (MSDSs) must be
  maintained for each chemical stored in the lab.
• Laboratories and storage areas must be properly
  identified with warnings for emergency response
  personnel.

5
Material Identification

• Content identification must be provided on
  containers of hazardous materials.
• Materials that become hazardous during storage
  must be marked with the date when first opened.
• Example Picric Acid

6
Disposal and Storage

• Hazardous materials need to be properly disposed
  of when they reach their expiration date.
• There should be someone trained in the proper
  disposal of hazardous materials and someone
  trained to respond to an accident involving
  hazardous materials.
• Flammable and combustible liquids must be stored
  in rooms designed in accordance with NFPA 30 for
  inside storage rooms, or in Hazardous Materials
  Storage Lockers.

7
Storage

• Flammable liquids cabinets must not be
  overloaded.
• Not more than a total of 120 gallons of flammable
  and combustible liquids (NFPA 30, 4.3.1).
• Flammable liquids cabinets must remain closed
  when not in use.
• Flammable liquids cabinets should have the bung
  in or be vented directly to the outside.
• Incompatible materials must be stored separately.

8
Ventilation

• Perchloric Acid requires a special ventilation
  system.
• A measuring device for airflow must be provided
  on each lab hood.
• Lab hood systems must be identified and provided
  with an inspection tag containing
• Inspection interval
• Last inspection date
• Average face velocity
• Location of fan that serves hood
• Inspectors name

9
Compressed and Liquefied Gases

• Compressed gas cylinders must be secured from
  tipping over by holders designed for such
  service.
• Compressed gas cylinders must be protected
  against physical damage and tampering.
• Cylinders shall be attached to an instrument for
  use by means of a regulator.
• Cylinders not in use shall not be stored in the
  laboratory.

10
Compressed and Liquefied Gases

• Manual shutoff valves must be provided near each
  point of use.
• Cryogenic fluid systems must be designed to
  prevent contact of the fluid with organic
  materials.
• Liquid oxygen systems must be designed to prevent
  contact of the oxygen with organic materials.

11
Electrical

• Extension cords must not be used in place of
  permanent wiring.
• Electrical receptacles must be located so that
  they are not subject to liquid spills.
• Electric motors used with flammable and
  combustible liquids must be suitable for Class I
  Division II locations.

12
Emergency Procedures

• Plans for laboratory emergencies must be
  developed, which include
• Alarm activation
• Evacuation and building re-entry procedures
• Equipment shutdown procedures or applicable
  emergency operations
• Nonfire hazards
• Fire alarm notification appliances must have a
  distinctive alert tone that cannot be confused
  with other alarms (i.e. gas alarms).

13
Fire Extinguishers

• Fire extinguishers for the type of hazard must be
  located inside the laboratory area.
• Class A Ordinary Combustibles
• Class B - Flammable and Combustible Liquids
• Class C Electrical
• Class D Flammable Metals
• Personnel should be trained in the use of fire
  extinguishers.