Date: Fri, 5 Nov 2010 09:42:43 -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: Don Abramowitz <dabramow**At_Symbol_Here**BRYNMAWR.EDU>
Subject: Re: flammable cabinet question
In-Reply-To: <6C0639B1D231AE449A9AED1D6F470BFD3852B9C489**At_Symbol_Here**newport.wesley.int>
< div style='font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 12pt; color: #000000' >MaryAnn,

I'm also aware of the problem of dropped bottles.  T he springs on the self closers can be quite strong, so people are forced in to a one hand lift on heavy containers, like 4 liter bottles and five gallo n cans.  I don't see many instances of people leaving the doors to the manual cabinets open all day, so I'm not sure that self closers solve a re al problem.  

I suppose the self-closing door is a huge a dvantage when it slams shut and protects the rest of the cabinet's contents when the bottle it knocks out of your hand bursts into flames.

             & nbsp;                        & nbsp;                       Don

Donald Abramowitz
Environmental Health & ; Safety Officer
Bryn Mawr College
Bryn Mawr, PA



We have had chemicals dro pped a few times because of the self closing doors.  Has anyone else h ad this problem?  In trying to keep the door open, or not realizing ho w close the door is  people have bumped the door pulling out the chemi cal and dropped the bottle.  Our older cabinets are not self closing a nd we don=E2=80=99t have a problem with the doors being left open.  I prefer those that are not self closing.

 

MaryAnn

 

MaryAnn Yaeger, MS

Supervisor of Laborator y Services,

Ch emical Hygiene Officer

Wesley College

120 N. State Street

Dover DE 19901

Ph. 302-736-2389

Fax 302-736-2301

 

From: DCHAS-L Discussion List [mailto:DCHAS-L**At_Symbol_Here**list.uvm.edu] On Beha lf Of ILPI
Sent: Thursday, November 04, 2010 5:53 PM
To : DCHAS-L**At_Symbol_Here**LIST.UVM.EDU
Subject: Re: [DCHAS-L] flammable cabin et question

 

State and local codes will vary so you should consult y our local or state fire marshal's office.   For example, it is my unde rstanding that California requires self-closing doors.  The major US m anufacturers sell both manual and automatic door models, so there is obviou sly no federal requirement.

 

Given the obvious safety advantages of au tomatic door closers, the question should be why one would wish to defeat a safety feature that is, at best, a trivial annoyance.  I strongly end orse their use whenever feasible.

 

Best wishes,

 

Rob Toreki

 

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Safety Emporium - Lab & Safety Supplies featuring brand names

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& nbsp;

 

On Nov 4, 2010, at 5:19 PM, Bradley, Shelly wrote:



Are self-closing doors required on flammable cabinets? (Specifi cally those under fume hoods)

If not, are there any restrict ions on removing closers from flammable cabinet doors as long as the door l atches?

 < /p>

Thanks,

Shelly

 

Shelly Bradl ey
Instrumentation Specialist
Laboratory Development Assistant
Cam pus Chemical Compliance Director
Chemistry Department
Hendrix College

Conway, AR  72032
(501) 450-3812
brad ley**At_Symbol_Here**hendrix.edu

< /div>

 

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