[Histonet] histology regs

[Rene J Buesa]

Jeanette:
  All tissue processors have fumes controls, meaning that any flammable fumes (alcohols or xylene) are controlled and pass through either water or chacoal filters, determining that they do not escape to the environment and cannot be ignited.
  That is why you can have tissue processors in small spaces and even several close together.
  René J.

"Mitchell, Jeannette M." <Jeannette.Mitchell <@t> vtmednet.org> wrote:
  Help !!

Does anyone know what fire codes REALLY apply to histology labs and how
did one justify having a tissue processor in less than 500 square feet
without a fire barrier around it ?

The reason I ask is :

We have a 10x22' tissue processing workroom with 5 routine processors,
one recycling system,

and explosion cabinets containing xylene, toluene, and ethanol.

Overall we have approx. 70 gallons of etoh and solvents in this 220'
room.

We have been told by an independent industrial hygienist that we should
only have 4.4 gallons (or 2 gallons per 100 square feet) of combustibles
in this room and each tissue processor should be separated from the
other by "1 hour construction" (some type of barrier that would take an
hour to burn through) according to NFPA 99 Chapter 11.

I have visited many histology labs in the New England area and I have
never seen tissue processors separated by 1 hour burn barriers or
processors in separate 500 sq. foot rooms (10 gallons of combustibles
per processor would require this space).

I have asked for a second opinion as this is not practical, rational, or
feasible.

PLEASE share your experience with fire regs in your lab ~

Thanks !

Jude Carpenter, BS, HTL (ASCP)

Supervisor of Histology/Surgical Pathology/Autopsy

Fletcher Allen Healthcare

EP2-101/ACC

111 Colchester Ave.

Burlington, VT 05401

(802)847-5116

FAX (802)847-4155

jude.carpenter <@t> vtmednet.org






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