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Flammable Liquid Safety
Safety Tips for Using Flammable Liquids
in School Laboratories
Introduction
The use of flammable liquids is an important part
of most chemical laboratories.
Understanding the
properties and hazards of these materials is an
important first step for the safe purchase, storage, use
and disposal of flammable liquids.
Safety Precautions
All flammable liquids found in school environments
are also organic compounds. Their principal
hazard is flammability. Many are also slightly toxic
by inhalation and are body tissue irritants. Mild
headaches
or dizziness may be a symptom of
overexposure to an organic vapor. Good ventilation
is highly recommended whenever volatile organic
compounds are used. Specific hazards for common
organic solvents are presented in this review. Always
wear chemical splash goggles, chemical-resistant
gloves and chemical-resistant apron whenever using
flammable liquids. Consult current Safety Data Sheets
for specific safety, handling and disposal information.
Purchase
• Before purchasing any organic liquid, ask the
following questions:
— Do I understand the hazards of this material?
— How often is this chemical used in a school
setting?
— What is the educational value of this chemical?
— Have I used this chemical before?
— Is my lab equipped for the safe use and storage
of this chemical?
If these questions cannot be answered positively,
please reconsider purchasing the chemical.
• Organic compounds are not easy to dispose of
and frequently require costly disposal methods.
Purchase only what is required for 1–2 years’ usage.
• Purchase smaller-size bottles of flammable liquids
whenever possible to keep them fresh and to make
storage and handling easier. It is easier to handle
a 100- or 500-mL bottle than a 1- or 4-L jug. Smaller
bottles also contain less liquid that can spill in the
event of an accident and thus will add less fuel to a
potential fire.
• Always purchase flammable liquids in plastic or
PVC-coated glass bottles. PVC-coated bottles will
not shatter and spill material when dropped.
Storage
• Store all flammable liquids, solids and gases in a
dedicated flammables cabinet. The best flammables
cabinets are built using high-density wood. Metal
is a heat conductor while wood is an insulator.
Applying intense heat to a metal flammables
cabinet may cause the door to warp and release
flammable liquids and vapors into the fire. A wooden
flammables cabinet insulates the chemicals inside
Transporting
• Secondary containment is critical in preventing
major spills or accidents when transporting
flammable liquids. Make sure all flammable and
combustible liquids are in unbreakable plastic
or PVC-coated glass bottles, or transport them in
unbreakable bottle carriers.
• Always carry large flammable liquid bottles with
one hand underneath the bottle and the other
hand around the neck of the bottle. This keeps the
bottle closer to your body and decreases the risk
of hitting a sharp object like a desk corner.
• If a cart is used to transport hazardous chemicals,
place compatible chemicals inside an unbreakable
secondary containment
vessel, such as a plastic
tote. The cart should be equipped with guardrails
to prevent plastic totes or bottles from sliding off.
• If hazardous chemicals are moved from one floor
to another, use an elevator if possible. Only the
teacher transporting the chemicals should be on
the elevator. Although elevator accidents are rare,
should a dangerous material be released in an
elevator while passengers are trapped inside, the
results could be catastrophic.
Using and Dispensing
Flammable Liquids
• If volatile organic solvents are going to be used, the
lab must be well ventilated or have a working purge
fan to ventilate the lab. The laboratory should also
be equipped with one or two ABC dry-chemical
fire extinguishers and fire blankets in addition to
the other normal safety equipment (e.g., safety
eyewash, safety shower).
• Always review SDSs before using any hazardous
materials in the laboratory.
• Flammable liquids should not be mixed with
strong oxidizing agents. As the organic material
is oxidized, heat is evolved and may ignite the
material, resulting in a fire.
FLAMMABLE LIQUID SAFETY continued on next page.
the cabinet and will withstand a fire better than a
metal cabinet. Wooden flammable cabinets have
been reviewed and approved by the major standardsetting
organizations, including OSHA and NFPA, and
by many major city fire departments.
• Flammables storage cabinets should be located in
a locked chemical storeroom to prevent theft. The
cabinets should also be secured with a lock.
• Within the flammables cabinet, all the materials
should be stored using the Flinn Scientific Chemical
Storage Pattern.
• A chemical storeroom that contains flammable
materials should be equipped with an ABC fire
extinguisher, fire blanket and smoke detector.
• The chemical storeroom should also be equipped
with a small, corrosive-resistant exhaust system.
Store all flammable liquids
in a dedicated
flammables cabinet.
Flinn Scientific recommends a fan that will provide
four air changes per hour. The fan should be placed
near the ceiling of the storeroom. Since organic
vapors are heavier than air, the exhaust system
must draw vapors up from the floor. Use a galvanized
sheet metal duct to draw air from the floor to the
exhaust fan near the ceiling (see page 1177).
• If a flammables cabinet is not available, store all
flammable liquids in Flinn Saf-Stor™ cans (see
page 1144). This will provide good secondary
containment and protection during fires.
• Never store flammable or combustible materials
near strong oxidizing agents. As these materials
react with one another, heat is evolved and a
fire can occur. Use the Flinn Scientific Chemical
Storage Pattern to prevent storage accidents (see
pages 1223–1228).
• Diethyl ether may form explosive peroxides over
the course of 1–2 years. Buy and store only small
quantities of this material.
• Never store flammable liquids in a household
refrigerator or freezer. Vapors can build up inside
the refrigerator, and a spark from the compressor,
thermostat, lightbulb or electrical switch can ignite
the vapors. Explosion-proof refrigerators can be
purchased, but they cost 3–4 times more than
household refrigerators.
• Some alcohols also will form peroxides upon
standing. These peroxides can be explosive if they
are allowed to accumulate or are concentrated. Do
not distill these materials. Consult the Flinn Scientific
Catalog/Reference Manual or SDSs to determine
storage recommendations for specific alcohols.