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Subject: [DCHAS-L] Notes from CHAS Safety Journal Club Meeting, September 1, 2020
Date: Friday, September 4, 2020 at 3:16:35 PM
Author: DCHAS Membership Chair <membership**At_Symbol_Here**DCHAS.ORG> 		Next by Date:
Subject: Re: [DCHAS-L] Flammability of plastics in labs
Date: Sat, 5 Sep 2020 03:40:09 -0400
Author: Eugene Ngai

From: John Callen <jbcallen**At_Symbol_Here**GMAIL.COM>
Subject: Re: [DCHAS-L] Flammability of plastics in labs
Date: Fri, 4 Sep 2020 19:05:19 -0500
Reply-To: ACS Division of Chemical Health and Safety <DCHAS-L**At_Symbol_Here**Princeton.EDU>
Message-ID: 0F16E50A-6948-42EB-84B3-BB2152B6CE1D**At_Symbol_Here**gmail.com
In-Reply-To


Pete,


Polycarbonate is the preferred plastic for use in Occupational and Educational Personal Eye and Face Protection Devices (PEFPD), (AKA, protective safety glasses, goggles and face shields).

It can meet the requirements for impact, penetration and flammability requirements.

Under certain situations it may be blended with certain other plastics, such as polyester terephthalate to impart special properties.

Always check to make sure that the PEFPD you requisition and buy meet the requirements of ANSI/ISEA Z87.1-2010 for impact and are stamped or marked with  + for spectacle lens, Z87+ for all  Z87+ for all other lens, Z87+ for plano frame and Z87.2+ for Rx frame.

Also, please check with the manufacturer to insure that protective eye- and face-ware meet the ANSI/ISEA Z87.1-2010 for the General Requirements for Ignition, Section 5.2.3 and Test Procedure, Section 9.7 and are optionally rated under UL 94, Standard for Tests for Flammability of Plastic Materials for Parts in Devices and Appliances and ASTM D 1929, Standard Test Method for Determining Ignition Temperature of Plastics.

Arc Flash is a different story for another time.

Be Safe, Secure & Sound in Judgement, Vigilant as Always and Stay Safe!

All My Best,

John B. Callen, Ph.D.
3M Personal Safety division - Retired
ACS/DCHAS Founding Member
(312) 632-0195

On Sep 4, 2020, at 1:26 PM, Reinhardt, Peter <peter.reinhardt**At_Symbol_Here**YALE.EDU> wrote:

Colleagues,
 
At Yale, we do not allow the use of a face shield in a lab without a mask or a face covering, but that is not my question.
 
Now, as in the past, we DO use face shields for laboratory PPE-when it is appropriate to protect the face and eyes.
 
I understand that some plastics are more flammable than others. Some labs use pyrophorics, and other have open flames.
 
What information is available about the flammability of the plastics used in face shields? Are there some plastics that I should avoid? I hope the wisdom of this group can help me find answers.
 
What about plastic goggles and safety glasses? Are they flammable? Are they tested for flammability?
 
Thank you!!
 
Pete
 
Peter A. Reinhardt (he/him/his)
Director, Office of Environmental Health & Safety
Yale University
135 College St., Suite 100
New Haven, CT   06510-2411
(203) 737-2123
Cell: (203) 410-0444
 
 
 
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