HC21
Drycleaning shops contain all elements necessary for uncontrolled fires: fuels, ignition sources, and oxygen. Potential combustible materials include furniture, garments, lint, and portions of the building. The greatest risk of fire and explosion exists if the drycleaning shop uses a petroleum-based solvent in drycleaning machines. Approximately 10% of drycleaning shops in the United States use these highly flammable solvents. Ignition can be triggered by a burning or smoldering cigarette, heated equipment such as a press, a frictional spark inside the solvent reclaimer cage, or even static electricity within the reclaimer.
New solvents and machines are available today that are inherently safer than traditional petroleum-based solvents. All shops should follow fire codes and standards that address occupancy limits, building egress, and appropriate fire extinguishers, smoke detectors, fire suppression systems, and related issues to reduce the risk of fire. Code compliance will reduce the risk of loss from fire, and may also reduce property insurance premiums. In some cases, fire codes may not be as stringent with new solvents and machines.
NEW SOLVENTS/MACHINES
BUILDING FEATURES
FIRE SAFETY SYSTEMS
HANDLING COMBUSTIBLE LIQUIDS
Figure 1. Flashpoints of Stoddard solvent and four of the recently developed petroleum-based drycleaning solvents (with higher flashpoints).
To obtain more information about controlling this hazard or for information about other occupational health and safety issues:
--call NIOSH* at 1-800-35-NIOSH (1-800-356-674), or |
A NIOSH technical report, Control of Health and Safety Hazards in Commercial Drycleaners: Chemical Exposures, Fire Hazards, and Ergonomic Risk Factors, has been published on this subject. This document is one in a series of seven HAZARD CONTROLS concerning control of hazards in the drycleaning industry that are available free upon request.
*NIOSH is the Federal agency responsible for conducting research and making recommendations for preventing work-related illnesses and injuries. All HAZARD CONTROLS are based on research studies that show how worker exposures to hazardous agents or activities can be significantly reduced.
The principal contributors to this publication are Gary S. Earnest, Lynda Ewers, Avima Ruder, Linda Goldenhar, Rosmarie T. Hagedorn, Jerome P. Flesch.
This document is in the public domain and may be freely copied or reprinted. NIOSH encourages all readers of this HAZARD CONTROLS to make it available to all interested employers and workers. |
DHHS (NIOSH) Publication No. 97-159