1) This Section applies to laboratories where dangerous goods, including flammable liquids and combustible liquids, are used. (See Appendix A.)
2) Except as otherwise specified in this Section, the
use, handling and storage of dangerous goods, including flammable liquids and combustible liquids, shall conform to Parts 3, 4 and 5.
1) Interior finish materials, floors, fixed furniture and
equipment shall be chemically resistant to dangerous goods being used in a laboratory to minimize their deterioration, in conformance with Articles 3.2.7.7. and 3.2.7.8.
1) A laboratory shall be separated from other
parts of the building by fire separations conforming to this Code and the BCBC, but having a fire-resistance rating of not less than 1 h.
1) Except as provided in Sentences (2) to (6), a laboratory shall conform to the requirements for emergency planning in Section 2.8. and for a fire safety plan in Subsection 5.1.5.
2) Fire drills required in Sentence 2.8.3. shall be held at intervals not greater than 3 months in a
laboratory.
3) Personnel working in a laboratory shall be trained in
the safe handling and use of dangerous goods, in conformance with Article 3.2.7.15.
4) Dangerous goods shall be identified in conformance with Article 3.2.7.13.
5) The laboratory shall be clearly designated as an area
containing dangerous goods in conformance with Article 3.2.7.14.
6) Measures shall be taken to prevent access to the
laboratory by unauthorized persons.
1) Where combustible materials, such as packaging
materials, are used in a laboratory, their quantity shall not be
greater than the supply for one day of normal
operation.
2) Combustible materials in excess of those permitted in
Sentence (1) shall be stored outside of the laboratory in conformance with
Section 3.2.
1) Absorbent and neutralizing materials shall be provided
in the laboratory and in the dangerous goods storage areas in conformance with Sentence 3.2.7.11.(2).
1) Except as provided in Sentence 5.5.3.5.(3), electrical equipment located in
areas where the concentration of flammable vapours is
sufficient to create a hazard shall conform to
the British Columbia Safety Standards Act
and pursuant regulations, for the hazardous
locations.
2) Electrical equipment located inside a power-ventilated
enclosure required in Article 5.5.4.2. and its exhaust duct system shall
a)conform to Sentence (1), and
b)be designed and maintained to prevent the accumulation of combustible or reactive deposits.
1) Smoking shall not be permitted in a laboratory and
signs shall be posted in conformance with Article 2.4.2.2.
2) Where overheating of unattended equipment using heat
can cause a fire or an explosion, such equipment shall be
equipped with a high temperature limit switch fitted to
a)sound an alarm, and
b)shut off the heat.
3) An ignition source that is an integral part of an
operation involving flammable vapours shall be permitted
provided
a)the supply of flammable liquids or combustible liquids for this operation is controlled and kept to a strict minimum,
b)flammable vapours and combustion fumes are exhausted in conformance with Article 5.5.4.2.,
c)there is no other source of ignition capable of igniting the flammable vapours in an uncontrolled manner, and
d)there is no combustible material in the immediate vicinity of this operation.
1) Electrical equipment, mechanical systems, piping,
valves, and automatic and manual control and safety devices
shall be inspected, tested and maintained in good operating
condition at all times.
2) The ventilation systems serving a laboratory shall be
inspected and cleaned to prevent the accumulation of combustible
or reactive deposits, and the intervals between inspections
shall be not greater than
a)12 months for the ventilation systems of the laboratory and dangerous goods storage areas, and
b)6 months for the ventilation system of a power-ventilated enclosure required in Article 5.5.4.2.
1) A laboratory shall be provided with continuous
mechanical ventilation designed and maintained to ensure that
dangerous goods vapours and particles
a)do not accumulate in the laboratory,
b)are prevented from migrating to other parts of the building,
c)do not accumulate in the ventilation system,
d)are exhausted to the outdoors, and
e)are not returned to the building.
2) A ventilation system required in this Section shall be
provided with monitoring devices to
a)indicate that the ventilation system is in operation, and
b)sound an alarm if the ventilation system is malfunctioning.
1) The use of dangerous goods in a laboratory shall be confined inside a power-ventilated
enclosure conforming to Articles 5.5.4.3. and 5.5.4.4. when
a)their use releases flammable vapours or causes runaway or potentially explosive reactions,
b)liquids are heated to a temperature equal to or greater than their flash point, or
c)Class I liquids or unstable liquids are used.
2) A power-ventilated enclosure required in Sentence (1) shall not be used for the storage of dangerous goods, and any quantity in excess of the supply necessary
for normal operations shall conform to Subsection 5.5.5.
1) The ventilation system for a power-ventilated
enclosure required in Article 5.5.4.2. shall
a)conform to NFPA 91, “Exhaust Systems for Air Conveying of Vapors, Gases, Mists, and Noncombustible Particulate Solids,”
b)provide continuous exhaust ventilation at an air velocity sufficient to prevent the accumulation of combustible or reactive deposits in the power-ventilated enclosure and its exhaust duct system,
c)confine dangerous goods vapours and particles to the area where they are generated and exhaust them to the outdoors,
d)not return the exhausted air to the building, and
e)be provided with well identified control switches that are
i)located outside of the power-ventilated enclosure, and
ii)readily accessible in case of an emergency.
2) Where the deposits referred to in Clause (1)(b) can accumulate in the power-ventilated enclosure and its exhaust
duct system and create a fire or explosion hazard,
a)provisions shall be made to remove such deposits so they do not create a fire or explosion hazard, or
b)an automatic fire suppression system shall be provided.
1) The power-ventilated enclosure required in Article 5.5.4.2. and its exhaust duct system shall
a)except as provided in Sentences (2) and (3), be constructed of noncombustible materials compatible with and chemically resistant to the dangerous goods vapours and particles being exhausted,
b)be provided with access doors to permit inspection and maintenance of the fan assembly and exhaust ducts,
c)be provided with instructions for its use and the operation of the ventilation system, and
d)be provided with means to control accidental spillage.
2) Combustible materials are permitted in systems
described in Clause (1)(a) if
a)such materials are required by the corrosive or reactive properties of the dangerous goods being used, and
b)their flame-spread rating is not more than 25.
3) The flame-spread rating required in Sentence (2) is permitted to be greater than 25 if an automatic
fire suppression system is provided inside the power-ventilated
enclosure and its exhaust duct system.
1) The quantity of dangerous goods kept in a laboratory shall be minimized and shall
not exceed the lesser of
a)the supply necessary for normal operation, or
b)when located in
i)a Group A, Division 2 educational or a Group D major occupancy, 300 L of flammable liquids and combustible liquids, of which not more than 50 L shall be Class I liquids, or
ii)a Group B major occupancy, the quantities of flammable liquids and combustible liquids permitted in Sentence 4.2.6.3.(1).
(See Appendix A.)2) Quantities of flammable liquids and combustible liquids in excess of those permitted in Sentence (1) shall be stored in
a)cabinets conforming to Subsection 4.2.10. except that, in laboratories described in Clause (1)(b), the total quantity of flammable liquids and combustible liquids stored in such cabinets shall not exceed the quantity permitted for one cabinet, or
b)a room conforming to Subsection 4.2.9.
3) Quantities of dangerous goods other than flammable liquids and combustible liquids in excess of those permitted in Sentence (1) shall be stored outside of the laboratory in
conformance with Part 3.
1) Except as provided in Sentences (2) and (3), flammable liquids or combustible liquids in a laboratory shall be kept in containers conforming to Subsection 4.2.3.
2) Where Class I liquids are required to be kept in
individual containers having a capacity greater than 5 L in a
laboratory, such containers shall
a)be safety containers conforming to ULC/ORD-C30, “Safety Containers,” and
b)have a capacity of not more than 25 L.
3) Containers of flammable liquids or combustible liquids shall be kept closed when not in use.
1) Storage cylinders and piping systems for Class 2 gases
used in a laboratory shall be firmly secured and protected
against mechanical damage.
2) Each point of supply and each point of use of
cylinders or piping systems for Class 2 gases shall be provided
with
a)labels identifying the gas being supplied, and
b)a manual shut-off valve.
3) A Class 2 gas cylinder valve shall be closed when not
in use.
1) Refrigerators described in Sentence 4.1.4.1.(2) shall be identified in conformance with Article 3.2.7.14.
2) Class I liquids that are stored in
refrigerators shall be kept in closed containers.
1) Where unstable substances, such as
perchloric acid, are heated above normal ambient temperature, it
shall be done in a separate power-ventilated enclosure
a)conforming to Articles 5.5.4.3. and 5.5.4.4., and
b) displaying conspicuously posted instructions specifying that the enclosure is to be used for this application only.
2) The power-ventilated enclosure required by Sentence (1) as well as its exhaust duct system shall be washed after each use to
prevent the accumulation of highly unstable deposits.
(See Appendix A.)
3) Unstable substances, such as perchloric acid,
shall not be heated with an open flame or in a hot oil
bath.
1) Wastes from dangerous goods shall be
a)identified to prevent accidental mixing of incompatible chemicals, and
b)included in the quantities specified in Article 5.5.5.1.