Hi Margaret

We did some testing here at the university some years ago with lab coats and t-butyl lithium following the referenced tragedy.

The most striking comparison was a 65-35 polyester /cotton blend which gave a very energetic flame spread vs

100% cotton, Nomex, or other treated fabrics.

I would certainly want to stay away from synthetic fabric masks for lab use.

Ken

Ken Kretchman, CIH, CSP Director, Environmental Health and Safety

NC State University / Box 8007 / 2620 Wolf Village Way / Raleigh North Carolina 27695-8007

Email: Ken_Kretchman**At_Symbol_Here**ncsu.edu / Phone: (919).515.6860 / Fax: (919).515.6307

On Mon, Aug 10, 2020 at 2:18 PM James Keating <james.k.keating**At_Symbol_Here**gmail.com> wrote:

If you are working with phosphoric you need serious fire resistant PPE. Also limited amount of flammable material in hood area as well as in the cabinet under the hood.

Remember the Sherry Sanji tragedy.

Jim Keating

On Mon, Aug 10, 2020, 1:55 PM Margaret Rakas <mrakas**At_Symbol_Here**smith.edu> wrote:

For those organic synthesis research labs, is your EHS department recommending fire-resistant face masks? Or 100% cotton?

Many thanks

Margaret

--

Margaret A. Rakas, Ph.D.
Lab Safety & Compliance Director
Clark Science Center
413-585-3877 (p)

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