LABORATORY.
FIRE SAFETY
Fire Marshal’s Office
Department of Environmental Safety
Objectives
Learn UMD Emergency Procedures.
2. Become familiar with emergency
equipment in your area and learn how
to use it.
3. Identify fire hazards in laboratory
settings:
1.
Texas Tech – January 15, 2001

On January 15, 2001, a fire occurred in a Chemistry Building laboratory. A 4-liter bottle of flammable liquid broke inside
a fume hood, emptying its contents into the hood and onto the floor. Several hot plates were located inside the hood
and ignited the flammable liquid.

A researcher was unable to extinguish the fire with two portable fire extinguishers and quickly exited the laboratory. 911
was called.

Other bottles of flammable materials soon broke, providing more fuel and allowing the fire to intensify. Soon after, a
small explosion occurred when flammable materials stored in the cabinet underneath the hood became involved in the
fire. The Fire Department extinguished the fire.
UNIVERSITY OF MARYLAND
DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL SAFETY
DIVISION OF ADMINISTRATIVE AFFAIRS
Emergency
Response
Guide
EMERGENCY RESPONSE
FIRE
RADIATION SPILL
CHEMICAL SPILL
BIOLOGICAL SPILL
PERSONAL INJURY
Know Your
Emergency
Procedures
Become familiar with procedures
in your laboratory
Activation of the Fire Alarm
System

Know the locations of
the nearest fire alarm
pull stations

The fire alarm is
monitored by the
Dept. of Public Safety
Evacuation Plan

Know the locations of the nearest exit
and alternate exits

Know how to be accounted for
Emergency Telephone Numbers
Campus
Cell Phones
Phones
#3333
911
Verizon Wireless, Sprint
Nextel, ATT, and T-Mobile
301-405-3333
Others
ALL FIRES, INCLUDING EXTINGUISHED
FIRES, MUST BE REPORTED TO THE FIRE
DEPARTMENT
Know Where Emergency
Equipment is and How to Use It
Fire Alarm System

Fire Alarm may be activated
automatically by smoke detectors or the
sprinkler system in addition to manually
by pull stations
Sprinkler System
Sprinklers are activated individually by
heat and are automatic
 Not all laboratories are sprinklered

Sprinkler System
www.canutesoft.com
Fire Extinguishers
Fire Extinguishers are placed in certain
locations as required by the fire code.
 Total and immediate evacuation is
safest. The UM Policy on Fire
Emergencies is a total evacuation
policy. You are NOT required to fight
a fire.

If you are trained in the
safe use of fire
extinguishers and chose
to fight a fire:
DO NOT place yourself or
others in danger
DO NOT delay activation of
the fire alarm
DO NOT delay notification of
the fire department
Emergency
Shower and
Eyewash Station
Fire Blankets

Fire blankets are not supplied
Know How to Operate Your
Equipment
Natural Gas
Valves
•
Make sure valves
are fully closed
when not in use
Be aware of open
valves and leaks
DO NOT disregard
slight odors
Heat Producing & Electrical
Equipment




Be familiar with controls and
features. All unattended heat
producing equipment is required
to have a manual reset overtemperature switch.
All unattended operations must
be provided with automatic
shutdown to prevent system
failure that could result in a fire
or explosion.
Operate equipment in
accordance with manufacturer’s
instructions.
Make sure equipment is turned
off when not in use.
 Keep heat producing equipment
clear of flammable and
combustibles.
Electric stirrers, when used with
combustible or flammable liquids
which are heated above their flash
points, must be suitable for such
use.

Refrigerators, freezers, or coolers
must be prominently labeled to
indicate whether they are or are not
suitable for storing flammable
liquids.

Use only properly installed
electrical wiring and UL listed/FM
approved electrical equipment –
avoid extension cords.

Electrical Safety

Misuse of
extension
cords is the
most common
electrical
hazard found
in labs
Electrical Safety
Use power strips
with built in circuit
breakers.
 Use electrical
equipment that is
listed and use it
according to
manufacturer’s
instructions

Know The Properties of
The Material You Are
Working With
Oxidizers

Oxidizers produce
oxygen that supports
and accelerates fires
 Examples: Nitric Acid,
Oxygen
 Hazards: Increase
intensity of fires, may
react like explosives
Organic Peroxides

Examples: Hydrogen
Peroxides, Peracetic
Acid
 Hazards: Unstable and
explosive in fires,
extremely flammable,
may be shock and
friction sensitive
Corrosives

Liquids or solids that
destroy human tissue
 Examples: Hydrochloric
Acid, Nitric Acid, Picric
Acid
 Hazards: Can be
oxidizers, water
reactive, unstable,
poisonous
Explosives

Explosives require, licenses, permits
and special storage arrangements
Compressed Gas

May be flammable, nonflammable, liquefied, or
cryogenic
 Examples: Propane,
hydrogen, oxygen and
liquid nitrogen
 Hazards: May be
flammable, may support
combustion (oxidizer),
high expansion ratios,
B.L.E.V.E.
One spare cylinder allowed per
operation in laboratories
Flammable Solids

Alkali metals that burn
under certain
conditions
 Examples:
Magnesium, Sodium,
Phosphorous
 Hazards: Ignite easily
and burn violently, may
react with water and
air, produce toxic or
corrosive vapors
Flammable and Combustible
Liquids
Give off concentrations of vapor which
form an ignitable mixture with air
 Examples: Ethyl Ether, Toluene,
Glacial Acidic Acid
 Hazards: Ignitable and burn, hazards
associated with other chemical classes.

Storage and Use of Flammable
And Combustible Liquids
Flammable Liquids Storage
Cabinet

Keeps fire away from
flammable vapors
 May ONLY be
ventilated directly to
the outside IF
specifically necessary
(i.e., exposure
concentration
concerns)
Flammable Liquids Storage
Refrigerator
Keeps ignition
sources away from
flammables stored
inside
 Explosion Proof
only necessary in
hazardous
locations $$$

Factors Affecting
Storage and Use
Layout, construction, and arrangement
of buildings
 Classification of liquid
 Quantities of liquid
 Type of container

Summary Of Storage Requirements

There is a maximum quantity of liquid that can be
stored outside of a flammable liquid storage
cabinet or safety cans. The maximum quantity in
an instructional laboratory is 50% less than that
for a research laboratory.

A maximum of 120 gallons of Class I, Class II,
Class IIIA liquids may be stored in a flammable
liquid storage cabinet. Of this total not more than
60 gallons shall be of Class I and Class II liquids.
Not more than 3 such cabinets are allowed per fire
area.
•There is a maximum quantity of liquid that
can be stored in any laboratory including
inside a flammable liquid storage cabinet.
The maximum quantity in an instructional
laboratory is 50% less than that for a research
laboratory. The quantity is based on many
factors.
Rule of Thumb – Store the minimum
amount necessary, keep it in a
flammable liquid storage cabinet and
take out only what you need when you
need it.
Flammable and Combustible
Liquids






Keep aisles clear for
emergency egress
Do not place items in corridors
or stairwells
Do not place flammable liquids
near exits
Do not obstruct fire safety
equipment
Keep lab area neat
Properly segregate chemicals
Reference Material
NFPA
Fire Protection Guide on Hazardous Materials
(Latest Edition)
NFPA
NFPA 45 Standard on Fire Protection for
Laboratories Using Chemicals
DES
www.des.umd.edu
UMD Policy on Fire Emergencies
UMD Policy on Means of Egress