[6287] in APO Printshop
Re: Chemicals clean out
daemon@ATHENA.MIT.EDU (Charley Hamilton)
Tue Feb 8 22:01:35 2011
In-Reply-To: <alpine.DEB.2.00.1102082059590.31888@e51-075-5.mit.edu>
Date: Tue, 8 Feb 2011 19:01:04 -0800
From: Charley Hamilton <charley.hamilton@gmail.com>
To: "Leonard H Tower Jr." <tower@alum.mit.edu>
Cc: "Katherine O'Connor" <katoco@mit.edu>, apo-exec@mit.edu, apo-tools@mit.edu,
apo-printshop@mit.edu
All -
Just as an FYI, here in CA (and I believe it is now standard in MA),
flammables cabinets are supposed to vent to the exterior. This is
often a problem in existing structures, as they seldom have a good
spot for cutting a hole provided.
If MIT raises the issue of flammables cabinets again, you will
probably want to ask them how they plan to vent it. it would be ideal
if they cover the costs of installing the vent, as this can far exceed
the costs of the cabinet itself. Cabinets are generally UL-listed,
and can be had, for a price, to meet almost any specification
off-the-shelf. Venting requires approval by the fire marshal, and
typically requires an engineered design by a fire-protection engineer.
Sometimes a "deemed to comply" design is available from
municipalities or the local fire marshal.
YiLFS,
Charley
On Tue, Feb 8, 2011 at 6:13 PM, Leonard H Tower Jr. <tower@alum.mit.edu> wr=
ote:
> Kate:
>
> * I suggest you ask Abby to put off the cleanout until next week, as
> =A0there are a half dozen chairs and officers responsible for different
> =A0chemicals, and it will take some time for everyone to get to the
> =A0separation.
>
> * Has Abby ever provided a list of what chemicals need to be kept in a
> =A0flammable cabinet/locker? =A0I doubt latex paint needs to be, but a
> =A0definite list would be useful to keep on the cabinet/locker door.
>
> * In the 70's, AX, LSC, The Tech, SAA, Technique, TCA, among other
> =A0student activities were told they each needed a flammable
> =A0cabinet/locker (darkroom chemicals too). =A035 years ago, the cheapest
> =A0MIT would accept was well over a $1,000. =A0Each activity said they
> =A0couldn't afford that. =A0MIT then suggested one cabinet for the 4th
> =A0floor, one for Walker, one for N51, but could never find a way to
> =A0secure each activity belongings separately in one cabinet/locker,
> =A0let alone a secure location that only authorized activities had
> =A0access to. =A0Money was never found. =A0Nothing happened.
>
> =A0At that time, AX moved the green chemical cabinet/locker where it is
> =A0now, and has kept most flammables in it since then (charcoal lighter
> =A0fluid doesn't always find it way back there). =A0It was believed that
> =A0that corner would be the safest for an explosion in the APOffice.
> =A0It was also believed the chance of an explosion was quite tiny.
>
> yiLFS -len
>
> =A0 Date: Tue, 08 Feb 2011 14:40:23 -0500
> =A0 From: Katherine O'Connor <katoco@MIT.EDU>
> =A0 To: apo-news@mit.edu
> =A0 Cc: apo-printshop@mit.edu
> =A0 Subject: Re: Chemicals clean out
>
> =A0 If you know which of the contents of the chemical cabinet are still
> =A0 viable, please move them to the shelves of the paint cabinet marked
> =A0 "chemicals to keep" as soon as possible.
>
> =A0 To everyone else, the glasses/jars that were in the paint cabinet hav=
e
> =A0 been temporarily moved to the plastic storage units next to the soda
> =A0 fridge. =A0Also, be aware that the paint cabinet will contain chemica=
ls.
>
> =A0 Yours in Flammable Liquid Storage,
> =A0 Kate O'Connor
>
>
>
> =A0 On Tue, 2011-02-08 at 09:30 -0500, Abigail Davis Licnikas wrote:
> =A0 > Good morning~
> =A0 > Last November during the annual inspections, I mentioned that at so=
me
> =A0 > point, we should think about cleaning out your metal locker of any
> =A0 > old/unused chemicals and look at purchasing a flame locker for your
> =A0 > flammables. =A0I=92m working with EHS on a schedule now for a clean=
out
> =A0 > and need some help.
> =A0 > I don=92t have a firm date yet, but would you please separate out
> =A0 > chemicals you want to keep (maybe set aside in a box?) and leave
> =A0 > anything you don=92t want in the current locker with a note/sign th=
at
> =A0 > says remove? =A0I=92m hoping TEI will be around later this week or =
next
> =A0 > week to remove your items
> =A0 > If there are any questions/concerns please don=92t hesitate to cont=
act
> =A0 > me
> =A0 > Thanks
> =A0 > Abby
> =A0 >
> =A0 >
> =A0 > Abigail D. Licnikas
> =A0 > Environment, Health and Safety Program Manager
> =A0 > Division of Student Life
> =A0 > W32-119
> =A0 > Office: 617-324-6034
> =A0 > Cell: 203-768-9879
> =A0 > Cell 2: 617-719-9605
> =A0 >
> =A0 > "If we did all the things we are capable of doing, we would literal=
ly
> =A0 > astound ourselves"~ Thomas Edison
>
>
>
