Flammable hand lotion, need info

[GPM123]

I read an article on it not long ago and can't find it now, of course.
The local hospital is thinking on installing despensers and have concerns about the stuff. Contacted me for direction. Can anyone help me out here.

[nmfire]

You walk into the local Level 1 Trauma center here, and all you will see is a wash of these wall mounted Purell toweless hand sanitizer. it IS alcohol based but as far as flamibility, I don't remember off hand. Lets put it this way, they have them outside EVERY patient room in three buildings with 7-14 floors so there are probably several thousand of them. No one has been vaporized yet.

[LadyCapn]

We came across this issue in Ontario as well. Our fire code has a specific section for flammable liquids however medical liquids in small quantities were exempt. We approached the Office of the Ontario Fire Marshal for an opinion.

Basically it boiled down to the fact that the amounts in any given location were small and the chance of introducing an ignition source was slim. Although the liquid is highly flammable if introduced directly to flame it was felt that the quantities were negligible. Also due to the fact that each "dispenser" was self sealing (pump style) and in plastic bottles there was little danger that liquid itself would be uncontrolled.

As such, there are no restrictions on the use of this product.

[GPM123]

Thanks LadyCapn. You came to mind when I posted the question.
I think we do simmilar work.

I pretty much found the same during my search eariler. This has come up at NFPA meetings and I believe there is going to be some sort of a review.

[Safety1]

The thing to remember when dealing with alcohol based hand cleaners is the storage of the containers.

Even though the individual containers do not appear to be a concern how many of them are in storage?

My department considers the storage as flammable storage and you have to be concerned with the amount.

One or two containers? No problem. A pallet load of them will probably put you over the limit.

We have been told to consider them a class 1B flammable (flashpoint under 100 degrees).

1910.0106 OSHA Regs

1910.0106(d)(3)(i)
Limit the storage of _____ liquids to 60 gallons in storage cabinet.
1st blank: (Class I, Class II, be specific)

1910.0106(d)(3)(ii)
nsure that storage cabinet is designed and constructed as specified by rule 1910.106(d)(3)(ii)(a)(b).


1910.0106(e)(2)(ii)(b)(2)
Prohibit the storage of _____ liquids in excess of 120 gallons in an industrial plant building outside of a storage cabinet, or storage room or in any one fire area of a building.
1st blank: (Class IB, IC, II, III, be specific)

1910.0106(e)(2)(iv)(c)
Prohibit open flames or other source of ignition in an industrial plant area where Class I Liquids are used.


A hospital would be consisdered an "Industrial Plant" for purpose of enforcement.

An ignition source would be items and procedures such as Laser Surgery and Cauterizing wounds or anything that shouldn't be used in a high oxygen atmosphere.

Check your own fire codes on flammable storage.

Now that I think about it this stuff might even be Class 1A in that case the storage is even more stringent.

I haven't had enough coffee yet

Kevin

[LadyCapn]

You are right Safety, though as I said the large scale storage of said liquid is covered in the appropriate Section of the Code. The issue faced here was whether or not to allow the hospitals to mount small (less than l litre) containers in the hallways outside patient rooms. Theoretically no flammable liquid may be stored within an exit or a means of egress, therefore the question was whether or not to allow the hospitals to mount numerous containers of it throughout the hallways.

[E229Lt]

Hand care, on the same lines:

Recently, in a large metro Department in the North East, it was found that many nail salons store large amounts of acetone based nail polish remover in their stores. Some were found to store drums of the liquid.:eek:

[Safety1]

Originally posted by LadyCapn
The issue faced here was whether or not to allow the hospitals to mount small (less than l litre) containers in the hallways outside patient rooms. Theoretically no flammable liquid may be stored within an exit or a means of egress, therefore the question was whether or not to allow the hospitals to mount numerous containers of it throughout the hallways.

The info I have at present, at least in Michigan, is that the distribution containers are being allowed by the State Fire Marshall and the department currently in charge of patient health and safety (new govenor - new department names)

We have been instructed to monitor WHERE they are placed. Are they exposed to a flame hazard or are employees and guests allowed to use potential flame producing materials (including smoking) immedialtely after using the cleaner.

One area of concern that I have is mounting one of these things next to the wall mounted nurses writing desk. Most of these desks have a power outlet built into it and the potential for spark production cannot be ignored.

BTW, I have witnessed a fire caused by the cleaning gel. Please remember that the cleaning gel and smoking don't mix - been there done that, got the t-shirt. OK, it was me and my cigerrette.

Kevin

[DianeC]

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A28085-2004Jan18.html