Date: Thu, 13 May 2010 09:36:39 -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: ILPI <info**At_Symbol_Here**ILPI.COM>
Subject: Re: Connecting eyewash/safety show to a BAS
In-Reply-To: <89907EA1DCFB7548A431C13A270F9DD50A5B2134**At_Symbol_Here**prk-exch-01.vcp.local>

In my personal experience, people will work alone in laboratories late at night even if there are rules prohibiting it.   Obviously, if such individuals trigger the units, they may be in need of immediate assistance and may not be able to call for help on their own.   However, the chances of a critical injury in which someone could activate a safety shower and then collapse before reaching the alarm or phone (in an academic setting) is pretty darn remote.  Then again, I have witnessed people doing very stupid things in labs late at night, including "pranks" that could easily have gotten them fired or killed.

Units can also be activated by accident or by vandals, resulting in significant water damage if the activation is not discovered until hours later, particularly if there are no floor drains in the building.  One malicious activation could cause tens of thousands of dollars in damage if it is not discovered and dealt with quickly.

Obviously, a cost-benefit analysis is in order.   

Water flow alarm systems designed for safety stations run about $1,000 USD if purchased in bulk.  If you purchase just the flow switch with remote indicating capabilities and forgo the local alarm/horn/strobe the cost is approximately half that.   In my personal opinion, if you're on a fixed budget and looking at that kind of money, a water tempering unit is a better investment than an alarm for an academic setting because it is a) most likely to improve outcomes and b) is required under the International Plumbing Code (and recommended under ANSI Z358.1).

http://www .iccsafe.org/gr/Documents/stateadoptions.pdf
http://www.gesafe ty.com/downloads/ANSIGuide.pdf
Disclaimer: the following product examples are from my company's web site.  Obviously, such products are available from other suppliers as well.

http://www.safetyemporium. com/?04100-A
http://www.safetyemporium.co m/?04302

Rob Toreki

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Safety Emporium - Lab & Safety Supplies featuring brand names
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On May 12, 2010, at 11:06 PM, Paul Dover wrote:

Dear all,
Do any of you have experience about having your eye washers &/or safety showers connected to a Building Automation System (BAS)? I can understand the benefit in a remote location, where a response team can be alerted if this equipment is activated, but it seems overkill in a University lab.
Can I get some opinions please?
Thanks, Paul
____________________________________________

Paul Dover
Resources Manager
Medicinal Chemistry and Drug Action
Monash Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences
Monash University (Parkville Campus)
381 Royal Parade, Parkville
Victoria, 3052. Australia

Phone: +61 3 9903 9551
Fax:   +61 3 9903 9143

Email: Paul.Dover**At_Symbol_Here**pharm.monash.edu.au
Web:   http://www.pharm.monash.edu.au
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