Well put by Don and Rob. And YES, most (if not all) of
our
new self-closing cabinets have self-latching device that keeps the cabinet
open
when needed.
_
_________________________________________________
Mikhail
From: DCHAS-L Discu
ssion
List [mailto:DCHAS-L**At_Symbol_Here**list.uvm.edu] On Behalf Of ILPI
Sent: Wednesday, November 10, 2010 8:48 AM
To: DCHAS-L**At_Symbol_Here**LIST.UVM.EDU
Subject: Re: [DCHAS-L] flammable cabinet question<
/p>
Well, here's a great example of an issue where folks h
ave
been looking at it from two different sides....and Don's latest post nails
the
point we've all been circling around.
Don and I are both thinking of cabinets that have
self-closing mechanisms that can be latched open<
span
class=apple-style-span>. These kinds of mechanisms have a fusible
link
that melt in the event of fire. I will dig up some literature for the
Eagle cabinets that my company sells and make it available to the list when
I
get it. It's my understanding that many, if not most, of the other ma
jor
manufacturers also have this feature.
It is obvious from the
impassioned replies to my comment about a "trivial annoyance" tha
t
there are many on the list who have cabinets lack the stay-open/fusible lin
k
feature (or are unaware their cabinets have this feature). I was not
aware of cabinets that lacked this feature, although I would imagine that t
hose
which rely on spring-loaded hinges rather than piston-style closers would b
e
very difficult to engineer with a stay open mechanism and/or fusible link.<
/span>
The solution for those
who have
lamented the accident-enabling guillotine action of their self-closing door
s is
to retrofit them with the self-closing mechanisms that Don and I have
described. Self-closing adapter kits run in the ballpark of $75 for
small single door cabinets and $185 for larger ones; I will have some pictu
res
of these kits available on our web site later today.
Further, it is clear th
at NFPA
1 and the state codes that mandate self-closing should require those have stay-open/fusible link closers, a
s this
type addresses both the concerns of the fire department (ensuring flammable
s
are contained) and the workers (accidents caused by auto-closing doors).
Common sense and middle ground really can be addressed in regulations, but
only
after robust discussions like this one.
It's great to see this
list
fulfilling its mandate of raising awareness, generating thoughtful discussi
on,
and coming up with solutions to safety issues!
================
=========================
=============
Safety
Emporium - Lab & Safety Supplies featuring brand names
Fax:
(856) 553-6154, PO Box 1003, Blackwood, NJ 08012
On Nov 10, 2010, at 10:25 AM, Long, Don wrote:
I see the point trying to be brought up. There are some rules a
nd
procedures out there that while addressing one problem end up causing anoth
er
one. I deal with those issues myself on an almost daily basis.
The point I was wanting to make is that it is not up to us to
decide to ignore or work around a standard or legal requirement to do somet
hing
because we may not agree with it. It appears that this person's local
jurisdiction has adopted at least part of NFPA 1 (Uniform Fire Code) which
when
discussing Hazardous Materials Storage Cabinets states in part: "doors shall be well fitted, self
-closing,
and equipped with a self-latching device". Some state
s
have adopted the UFC statewide while others have had only local jurisdictio
ns
adopt it. This isn't a simple rule or procedural issue - this is a legal
compliance issue.
The bottom line on this issue is that if it's mandated by law w
e
really don't have a choice but to comply and should do our part to ens
ure
our folks can comply in a safe manner instead of ignoring it. NFPA reviews
standards on a regular basis. I completely agreed with you when you stated
that
"often rules are made by people who are only looking at one small part
of
a situation". One way we can address items like this is by joinin
g
NFPA and becoming involved in the process that updates the standards.<
/span>
Don A. Long<
b>
STS, CAIH
Southwest Research Institute Laboratory
Pine Bluff Chemical Agent Disposal Facility
PO Box 20130
White Hall, AR 71612
870-541-4930
-----Original Message-----
From: DCHAS-L Discus
sion
List [mailto:DCHAS-L**At_Symbol_Here**LIST.UVM.EDU]On
Behalf Of Rita Kay Calh
oun
Sent: Wednesday, Nov
ember
10, 2010 8:14 AM
To: DCHAS-L**At_Symbol_Here**LIST.UVM.EDU
Subject: Re: [DCHAS-
L]
flammable cabinet question
It is hard to see the sense in following “safety
rules” that cause more danger than they prevent. Often rules ar
e
made by people who are only looking at one small part of a situation and no
t at
all considering the overall ramifications of their dictates.
Consider the post this morning from Ina Ahern whose local fire depart
ment
is mandating the use of a tubing which has been shown to cause safety probl
ems
(see her post) when all that is needed is a program to increase awareness a
s to
the importance of inspecting tubing; at most a requirement that inspections
occur and are documented at regular stated intervals.
Date: November 10, 2010
6:54:08 AM EST
Subject: RE: [DCHAS-L]
flammable cabinet question
"I recently bought
several safety cabinets, and I found that it is the state that mandates sel
f
closing doors. Luckily, we were able to purchase ones with manual doo
rs."
This spooks me. The abo
ve
statement implies that even though self-closing doors are mandated by state
law
(probably a UFC state) but inconvenient, you have decided to ignore the law
. I
hope that's not what I read.
It's hard to convince
employees of the importance of safety rules and standards when we ourselves
ignore the "inconvenient" ones.
Southwest Research
Institute Laboratory
Pine Bluff Chemical Age
nt
Disposal Facility <
/o:p>
