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Date: Fri, 30 Jul 2010 11:35:20 -0500
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Subject: Re: Explosion Proof Refrigerator Storage
Date: Fri, 30 Jul 2010 13:42:07 -0400
Author: Pete Vail


Date: Fri, 30 Jul 2010 13:01:05 -0400
Reply-To: DCHAS-L Discussion List <DCHAS-L**At_Symbol_Here**LIST.UVM.EDU>
Sender: DCHAS-L Discussion List <DCHAS-L**At_Symbol_Here**LIST.UVM.EDU>
From: Don Abramowitz <dabramow**At_Symbol_Here**BRYNMAWR.EDU>
Subject: Re: Explosion Proof Refrigerator Storage
In-Reply-To: <BBFA6832756A874D89D201416246904006E7B866**At_Symbol_Here**exchng2k.dom.edu>
< div style='font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 12pt; color: #000000' >Generally, it is not necessary to store flammable liquids in an explosion proof refrigerator.  Flammable liquid cabinets are ideal for ordinary storage.  Your reference to 37.8 degrees C seems to correspond to the definition of a flammable liquid (a liquid with a flash point at or below 1 00 degrees F).  I've never seen that as a criteria for deciding what m aterials require refrigeration.  (Flashpoint is simply the temperature at which a solvent gives off enough vapor that it can be ignited with a sp ark and continue to burn.  Gasoline has a flash point well below zero, and it rests comfortably in our car gas tanks on hot days.)

Explosi on proof refrigerators come into play when you decide, for whatever reason, that you want to refrigerate flammable liquids.  This is because putt ing flammable liquids in a regular refrigerators creates an ignition hazard .

I don't know of anyone who converts regular refrigerators to explo sion proof ones.  For an ordinary stockroom situation, I see no need t o store all of your flammable solvents under refrigeration.

               ;   Don

Donald Abramowitz
Environmental Health & Safety Officer
Bryn Mawr College
Bryn Maw r, PA


We are in the process of annual review of our chemical inven tory and I was hoping to get some help with the specific guidelines of what chemicals must be stored in our explosion proof refrigerator.  I have read several resources that indicate a flashpoint of 37.8C is the cut off however this covers a lot of lab solvents and I would not have enough room.  Our acetone for example is stored in our vented flammable cabinets.  Does anyone know of a site which gives detailed information on refrig erator storage.  Also our stockroom only has an explosion proof refrig erator and vented flammable cabinets we have no "Flammable" refrigerators a vailable.
Does anyone in the Chicago area know of a company that can con vert our household refrigerators into flammable ones?   As always than k you all in advanc for the help.

Kathleen Schmidt-Nebril, NRCC-CHO< br>Chemistry Division Department of Natural Science
Dominican University
River Forest, IL 60305
708-524-6533

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