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Previous by Date: Subject: Clean room extinguishers Date: Sun, 27 Nov 2005 10:22:05 -0800 Author: "Harvey, Doug" |
Next by Date: Subject: Re: Clean room extinguishers Date: Sun, 27 Nov 2005 14:38:14 -0600 Author: Harry Elston |
>Currently, our CalIT2 clean room spaces have been designed with "A-B-C" >dry powder extinguishers only. Given the nature of the work being done >in these clean rooms it concerns me to have these units as our only >available option. I am considering putting CO2 type units in the main >corridor of the clean room space as well. Any thoughts, for or against, >would be greatly appreciated. > >Hope you are all having a great holiday weekend! > >Doug > >Douglas Harvey (Chemical Hygiene Officer) >UCSD-Environment, Health & Safety >Desk Phone: (858) 822-1579 >Cell Phone: (858) 583-3257 >Email: daharvey**At_Symbol_Here**ucsd.edu I should start adding a standard disclaimer for my replies to this list: My company sells _________, in this case, Cleanguard (and all other types) of fire extinguishers. The best option for a clean room is going to be an Ansul Cleanguard extinguisher or equivalent. These use DuPont FE-36 as the extinguishing agent, the best Halon substitute available, although it comes at a higher price than CO2. The principle advantages of FE-36 over CO2 is that it discharges as a liquid so it can be lobbed a fair distance, there is less thermal shock, and CO2 is not A-rated. A non-magnetic version is available in case your labs use high magnetic fields, too. You can learn more at Ansul: http://www.ansul.com/Products/hand_portable/cleanguard.asp If you are looking for an extinguishing system to use instead of sprinklers, Ansul also has info on those: http://www.ansul.com/Products/clean_agent_systems/inergen.asp You are right to be concerned about ABC units in that kind of environment. They can cause far more damage than the fire they extinguish. The dust gets everywhere, is abrasive, and is corrosive to circuit boards etc. Saw a case when I was at the U of KY where a student put out a small Dewar flask of burning pentane with an ABC in a small computer/instrument room. The fire itself did about $0 worth of damage; the extinguisher cleanup took days and probably caused appreciable damage to their instruments. Nonetheless, a mixture of extinguishers may be in order, especially if a lot of flammable solvents are in use. For example, a 13.25 lb Cleanguard is rated 1-A: 20-B:C, but a Foray dry chemical unit is 20-A: 120-B:C. Clearly, you have much more power in controlling a fire and preventing reignition with the dry chemical ABC unit and there could be times when this power could make the difference between saving or losing the entire lab. Each fire situation is unique. If you go the mixed extinguishers route, workers in that area would use their training and common sense (talk about a house of cards, I know....) to select the appropriate extinguisher to use for a given situation. For example, a small contained fire or small electrical fire might call for the FE-36 whereas a spilled burning liquid might require the dry chemical. Check with your local fire marshal to see what kind of mix or extinguishers are required/acceptable. Additional info about laboratory extinguishing considerations (including some other alternatives) can be found on my web page: http://www.ilpi.com/safety/extinguishers.html Best regards, Rob Toreki -- ===================================================== Safety Emporium - Lab & Safety Supplies featuring brand names you know and trust. Visit us at http://www.SafetyEmporium.com esales**At_Symbol_Here**safetyemporium.com or toll-free: (866) 326-5412 Fax: (859) 523-0606, 4905 Waynes Blvd, Lexington, KY 40513-1469
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