[Nhcoll-l] FW: fluid-preserved collections explosion hazard and safety
Hawks, Catharine
HawksC at si.edu
Thu Oct 22 14:15:00 EDT 2020
In case this did not go through on the first try
From: Kilby, Michael <KILBYMI at si.edu>
Sent: Thursday, October 22, 2020 1:48 PM
To: Hawks, Catharine <HawksC at si.edu>
Cc: blstemen at gmail.com; 'nhcoll-l-bounces at mailman.yale.edu' <nhcoll-l-bounces at mailman.yale.edu>
Subject: RE: fluid-preserved collections explosion hazard and safety
Cathy,
I’m happy to pass along what we’ve applied and learned from creating ethanol collection storage spaces at the Smithsonian over the years. Here is some information that may be helpful:
The Smithsonian basically has two types of ethanol collection storage spaces:
* Small ethanol collection storage rooms (under 500 sq. ft)
* These are storage rooms located within a museum
* These rooms adhere to the requirements for flammable liquid storage rooms in NFPA 30 (Flammable and Combustible Liquids Code)
* 2 hour fire rated enclosure, sprinkler suppression systems, ethanol gas detection, curbing and/or trench drains
* The Smithsonian has a separate collections storage facility, which includes a purpose built space housing natural history specimens in approximately 500,000 gallons of ethanol (70% concentration).
* The space is in a building dedicated for storage and research (no assembly)
* Size and unique purpose of the space required a performance rather than a prescriptive code approach
* Fire protection design parameters developed for this space are attached (Smithsonian Fire Protection & Life Safety Design Manual, see section 7.1.F)
Responses to specific questions (in red):
1. In case of fire, how to exit? Refer to your local fire/life safety codes. Smithsonian follow the Life Safety Code (NFPA 101). Sprinklers and gas extinguishing are out of question. But then, if I spill a jar full of something toxic or poisonous and some fire gets loose, what then? Strongly recommend automatic fire suppression for ethanol storage – with sprinklers typically being the most practical and reliable. If this is not possible, then divide storage into separate areas, with each area fully enclosed with fire rated construction. Drainage and/or curbing will be needed in each room to prevent spread of fluid/fire to adjacent spaces. Size of the space should be based on maximum acceptable loss of collections – without automatic suppression you’ll need to assume complete loss of collections within a single fire rated storage room.
2. Do you handle your fluid-preserved collectins as an explosion hazard? How do you mitigate the risks? How do you lead out the heat from collection in case of fire? Smithsonian ethanol storage spaces are considered Class 1, Division 2 atmospheres per the National Electric Code (NFPA 70). To reduce the risk of ignition, should there be a release of ethanol, explosion proof electrical fixtures and equipment are utilized. Risk is further mitigated by strictly limiting personnel and operations in the space. Space is dedicated to storage. Processing, research and other activities are not permitted in the storage rooms. Sprinkler systems are used to control a fire, and thus the heat generated. Spaces are also kept cool, at approximately 65 degrees F, to reduce evaporation of ethanol.
I think a pressure valve, which just flies away in case of overpressure, would mitigate some risk. See above answer to b.
We already have planned the ventilation to near-floor, ideally separate from rest of the building. We do the same. Return air is close to the floor. Gas detection is provided in the space. Upon detection of ethanol vapor from a spill, ventilation goes to 100% exhaust.
An alternative is to put all fluid-preserved vessels to the flammable liquid safety cabinets but this may be more expensive than secure the whole room. For small quantities, the use of these cabinets may be practical. Housing collections in cabinets creates other challenges in terms of readily viewing and accessing the collection.
Hope this is helpful. Good luck with your project!
-Michael
Michael Kilby, P.E.
Associate Director for Fire Protection
Smithsonian Institution
Office of Safety, Health and Environmental Management
600 Maryland Ave. SW Suite 7106
Washington, DC 20013-7012
Tele. 202.633.2628<tel:202.633.2628> (o) 202-438-6697 (c)
kilbymi at si.edu<https://nam02.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Furldefense.proofpoint.com%2Fv2%2Furl%3Fu%3Dhttp-3A__kilbymi-40si.edu%26d%3DDwMFAg%26c%3DezHeX61fxv1UK0GsNdSebQ%26r%3D3h8VSStueUcbu_pMeeGVHP947YSGt4cIIgE99CE6WJU%26m%3DQ0TA2kUylIprYUUVpYq3hHbi7hXMQvkA-0lUKnVYC6c%26s%3D8_8Mhw9aPkV0cOasVeCmidiB7YidYSozCv4L9XM8IGY%26e%3D&data=02%7C01%7CKILBYMI%40si.edu%7C1bb3946cf8ae4f40c11d08d854e80ec5%7C989b5e2a14e44efe93b78cdd5fc5d11c%7C0%7C0%7C637352702945492624&sdata=uCm%2Bnx41HN7PfyOIfnTppjTIZEr545l3KI2EnlEv48A%3D&reserved=0>
From: Hawks, Catharine <HawksC at si.edu<mailto:HawksC at si.edu>>
Sent: Thursday, October 22, 2020 9:20 AM
To: blstemen at gmail.com<mailto:blstemen at gmail.com>; Kilby, Michael <KILBYMI at si.edu<mailto:KILBYMI at si.edu>>
Subject: FW: fluid-preserved collections explosion hazard and safety
Please see below and respond if you have time.
Cathy
From: Nhcoll-l <nhcoll-l-bounces at mailman.yale.edu<mailto:nhcoll-l-bounces at mailman.yale.edu>> On Behalf Of Lennart Lennuk
Sent: Thursday, October 22, 2020 9:17 AM
To: steven.vandermije at naturalis.nl<mailto:steven.vandermije at naturalis.nl>; Simon Moore <couteaufin at btinternet.com<mailto:couteaufin at btinternet.com>>; Fabian.Neisskenwirth at ruhrmuseum.de<mailto:Fabian.Neisskenwirth at ruhrmuseum.de>; nhcoll-l at mailman.yale.edu<mailto:nhcoll-l at mailman.yale.edu>
Cc: Sander Olo <Sander.Olo at loodusmuuseum.ee<mailto:Sander.Olo at loodusmuuseum.ee>>; peeter.mauer at ajaloomuuseum.ee<mailto:peeter.mauer at ajaloomuuseum.ee>; Ulla Villem <Ulla.Villem at loodusmuuseum.ee<mailto:Ulla.Villem at loodusmuuseum.ee>>; Märt Kose <Mart.Kose at loodusmuuseum.ee<mailto:Mart.Kose at loodusmuuseum.ee>>
Subject: [Nhcoll-l] fluid-preserved collections explosion hazard and safety
External Email - Exercise Caution
Dear all!
I have urgent question about fire safety in fluid-preserved collections.
We are planning new building for Estonian Museum of Natural History and until last week it was not considering the potential danger of ca 15 cubic meters of fluid-preserved specimens, speaking of 12 tonnes of 70-75 % ethanol.
I need some examples from the best of this world. We had meeting last week with our fire-safety specialist but he seemed to have no knowledge or skill to deal with such amount of ethanol.
Most important questions are:
1. In case of fire, how to exit? Sprinklers and gas extinguishing are out of question. But then, if I spill a jar full of something toxic or poisonous and some fire gets loose, what then?
2. Do you handle your fluid-preserved collectins as an explosion hazard? How do you mitigate the risks? How do you lead out the heat from collection in case of fire?
I think a pressure valve, which just flies away in case of overpressure, would mitigate some risk.
We already have planned the ventilation to near-floor, ideally separate from rest of the building.
An alternative is to put all fluid-preserved vessels to the flammable liquid safety cabinets but this may be more expensive than secure the whole room.
So far I have checked NPS, ConserveOGram, Collection Forum, spnhc wiki and STASHC but have not find any specific information about that:
1. Simmons, John E. Fluid Preservation.
2. ? Storage Concerns For Fluid-Preserved Collections. Conserve O Gram 11, 1–4 (1999).
3. Marte, F. & Solazzo, C. The Stability of Natural History Specimens In Fluid-preserved Collections. 10.
4. Neumann, D. & Carter, J. Baseline Standards for Fluid Collections. 47.
5. MacLeod, I. D. Conservation of a museum megamouth shark specimen by changing its preservative from aqueous ethanol to aqueous glycerol. Collection Forum 29, 73–89 (2015).
Best regards!
Lennart Lennuk
Head of zoology
Estonian Museum of Natural History
+372 6603404, 56569916
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