While I agree with Carl that flammable solvent mixtures are generally judged by their flash point, I disagree with the blanket statement that "All flammable solvents mixed with water should be treated, handled, and stored as flammable liquids." If a flammable solvent is completely miscible with water, said solution is used a dilution which yields no flash point, and the solution will not sustain combustion in a fire (i.e., has no "fire point"), no regulation or insurer is going to be concerned with their storage (or shipment) as a flammable liquid. The basic problem (to which Susan Hadden alludes) is generating the data for any such solution. Perhaps somebody has done this, but I am not aware of any published data. Richard Rosera Environmental Specialist Reckitt Benckiser, Inc. Hillsborough, NJ ----- Original Message ----- From: "Carl Zipfel"To: Sent: Monday, January 29, 2007 6:38 PM Subject: Re: [DCHAS-L] Aqueous/Flammable solvent mixtures > I went down this road many years ago and gave up. The problem is that the > only acceptable test of flammability is the "flash point". The flash point > defines flammability, and is what is accepted by the EPA, OSHA, and more > importantly the insurance companies. While the solvents that you mention > are miscible, once a little heat is applied they will separate and form a > flammable mixture in the air. All flammable solvents mixed with water should > be treated, handled, and stored as flammable liquids. > > Carl Zipfel, csp > > > ----- Original Message ----- > From: "Hadden, Susan [PRDUS]" > To: > Sent: Monday, January 29, 2007 2:36 PM > Subject: [DCHAS-L] Aqueous/Flammable solvent mixtures > > > > Many of our researchers use aqueous mixtures of miscible flammable > solvents > > for their LC work. They often have questions about storage and whether to > > treat them as flammable or not. I've been looking for data that might show > > me flammability as a function of concentration for the common solvents > such > > as CH3CN, MeOH, EtOH, IPA, etc. I've checked OSHA, NFPA and ASTM but can't > > find any solvent specific data. Does anyone know where I might find that > > information? > > > > Thanks, > > > > Susan Hadden > > Senior Occupational Safety Specialist > > J&J PRD Environmental, Health & Safety > > 1000 Rt 202, PO Box 300 > > Raritan, NJ 08869 > > 908-704-4295 (ph), 908-707-9211 (fax) >
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