Floods in the Lab“In nature, floods are acts of God, but in

the chemical laboratory, floods are preventable accidents that still

happen.” – Bruce D. Pollard

Pollard, Bruce D. Flood Control. J. Chem. Ed. 1983, 60, p. A335-A336.

Seven Steps of Flood Control

1. Prevention2. Minimization3. Early Detection4. Stopping the Flood5. Evaluation6. Clean-Up7. Documentation

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Pollard, Bruce D. Flood Control. J. Chem. Ed. 1983, 60, p. A335-A336.

http://niameyflood.blogspot.com/p/b.html

Circulating CondensersDO• Use braid-reinforced PVC hoses of appropriate diameter and

thickness, or something equivalent (avoid rubber for long-term use as will crack)

• Secure with correct size of metal or plastic hose clamps• Conduct a visual inspection of all cooling water hoses in your

laboratory on a monthly basis and replace as necessary • Avoid running water overnight or on weekends • Install pressure-sensitive flow detector on water feed

DO NOT• Use rubber tubing or wire to make connections on water-cooled

condensers, laser units, and circulators

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Flood Prevention in the Lab. 2010, Lab Manager. http://www.labmanager.com/lab-health-and-safety/2010/06/flood-prevention-in-the-

lab?fw1pk=2#.VBNNG_ldUlk

Flood ReactionDO• Assess if there is an immediate safety hazard to you or others

such as electrical sources near the water• Stop running water as soon as safety possible• Move sensitive materials and equipment away from water source• Contain the water. Treat it as a chemical spill if there is possible

chemical contamination• Contact labs that are next to and below yoursDO NOT• Immediately start cleaning up water before assessing hazard or

checking if water is contaminated

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Flood Prevention in the Lab. 2010, Lab Manager. http://www.labmanager.com/lab-health-and-safety/2010/06/flood-prevention-in-the-

lab?fw1pk=2#.VBNNG_ldUlk