Beware the many unusual hazards when fighting fires in labs

Depending on their contents, laboratory fires can present firefighters with many different hazards and challenges. If departments come prepared, a fast and efficient response may ensure firefighter safety and preserve the lab; however, an uninformed response can compromise not only firefighter safety, but also the public’s safety, and can result in the loss of critical research. Fire departments must be aware of the working laboratories in their coverage area, their contents, their activities and how to respond safely and effectively to incidents that may occur inside them.

POSSIBLE CONTENTS
When scientific research is conducted, it often takes place in a laboratory, which is a breeding ground for unique and highly dangerous hazards. Below, I discuss just a few of these perils and what you must do to protect yourself from them.

Lab fires pose unique challenges such as flammable liquids, poisonous gases and biological agents. Firefighters may also be unable to immediately determine the type of products stored and used at the lab, which can make choosing a firefighting tactic difficult. (Ap/Curtis Compton)

Liquids/Gases
One of the most common items found inside labs is flammable liquid, so it makes sense that the storage area for liquids/gases is the most hazardous area fire departments will likely encounter in a lab environment. Although well-run laboratories usually store flammable liquids in approved cabinets, others may store them out in the open, in metal, glass and even plastic containers. Labs performing larger experiments may use larger quantities of flammable liquids that are stored in drums. One relatively new storage concept involves using pressurized liquid dispensing containers, which can hold up to 200 liters (53 gallons) of liquid under a nitrogen blanket and be dispensed whenever necessary. These robust metal containers can create an unusual fire load inside a laboratory.

Gases
Gaseous poisons/toxins that are often present in lab environments can run the entire gamut of hazards found on the U.N. hazardous materials chart. Gases commonly stored and used in labs include nitrogen, helium and natural gas; more exotic gases, including hydrogen chloride and cyanide, may also be present. The more exotic/hazardous gases are frequently stored in lecture bottles, which can hold 1 lb. or 2 cubic feet or less of the product. If you respond to a call involving a leaking lecture bottle, chances are all the gas will escape the bottle before the fire department arrives on scene. Important: Whether you deal with liquids or gases or both in a laboratory setting, before offensively attacking the situation, as multiple liquid/gas hazards may be present.

Specialized Equipment
One item quickly gaining popularity in lab occupancies: equipment used for magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) imaging. Both types of equipment produce high magnetic fields that extend from all sides, possibly reaching the lab’s roof. Any ferrous metal objects, including items attached to personal protective gear, can be drawn to this equipment with great force. NMR equipment uses both liquid helium and liquid nitrogen to maintain an extremely cool temperature. A sudden change in its magnetic field, which could occur if a firefighter enters the field carrying an axe that’s drawn to the equipment, can quench the equipment, causing a spontaneous loss of the superconductivity quality of the magnet. If this happens, the liquid nitrogen will likely leak into the room, creating a cloud of condensation that not only impairs vision, but also reduces the oxygen concentration in the room. To avoid this problem, look for signs indicating “Magnetic Field,” or “No Metal Objects in This Room.”

In addition to MRI and NMR equipment, the nature of recent research activities has resulted in the use of increasingly more sophisticated (and expensive) lab equipment. This may include robotic equipment designed to handle delicate and/or very hazardous research. The robotic equipment may turn on and begin to work at any time. This equipment is normally very susceptible to water damage and should be protected from exposure to water from sprinklers and hose streams.

Biohazards
In addition to mechanical hazards, biohazards may be present as well. These should typically be contained, but even if released, many biohazards do not live long in general environments. This is particularly true if sprinklers have discharged, because many dangerous biological agents can’t survive without specific temperature and other environmental conditions. If no victims are present, it may be best to isolate the area until an action plan is formulated.

Labs that house test animals may contain oxygen, flammable anesthetic gas and other hazards. Secure and ventilate these areas quickly to allow veterinarians access.(AP/Charlie Neibergall)

Animals
Animals in lab environments, which can include anything from untamed rats or mice to primates, often undergo surgical procedures. Note: These animals are not domesticated pets and should be approached and treated with extreme caution. Tactics for these areas are no different than tactics for hospital operating rooms. Beware of oxygen, flammable anesthetic gas and other hazards. You might need to secure and ventilate these areas quickly to allow veterinarians access to handle any sedated animals. Normally, animal areas have numerous security measures in place to contain animals, so make sure you know the location of these areas and what’s expected of the fire department when responding.

Warning Signs
Another challenge you might possibly encounter involves a lack of labels on chemical containers or warning signage around the laboratory. In such cases, it becomes extremely difficult to understand the nature of the problem and what to do about it. Equally challenging is the fact that some research is so cutting edge, the hazards of the situation are still unknown. In both of these cases it will be critical to have the scientist present to help answer questions about how to handle the situation.

ON-SITE TOOLS & RESOURCES
To help firefighters respond to laboratory fires, a wide variety of tools and resources can be accessed at the scene. First and foremost, information should be readily available on the chemicals/biohazards present. This includes material safety data sheets (MSDS) or biological safety data sheets, which are similar to MSDS but apply to biological agents. Both types of sheets can be obtained from scientists/researchers in the lab during preplanning ops. Although these sheets provide information about the potential hazards present, often there are so many chemicals present in a laboratory that it’s difficult to understand what’s going on. To help avoid this problem, check signage at the entrance to the lab for hazard warnings prior to making entry. Note: Unfortunately, some labs don’t update their data sheets or post warning signs around the facility. Many labs feature built-in suppression systems that can control damage and greatly assist fire departments in fighting fire, so it’s vital that firefighters understand how they work. The most common system installed in lab occupancies is a wet-pipe sprinkler system. To support this system, firefighters should: • Ensure water supplies are operating effectively; • Keep valves that supply the operating system(s) fully open until the fire is extinguished and incident command determines it’s appropriate to turn the system off; • Ensure fire pumps are operating properly; and • Station firefighters with radios at each valve supplying the operating sprinkler system(s) until they can confirm full extinguishment of the fire—even after they’ve controlled it. This ensures that the sprinkler supply valves don’t get closed inadvertently and that firefighters can reactivate them should a controlled fire suddenly rekindle. • Connect lines to the fire department pumper connection on the system, and supply them at the designated pressure (if the designated pressure is not known, pump at 150 psi). The first or second-arriving engine company should connect to the fire department sprinkler and continue the pumping operation until incident command determines it’s appropriate to stop.

Remember: Some locations may have numerous sprinkler systems and therefore numerous fire department connections. Firefighters can determine which system is operating—and which system fire they should connect to—by checking for an operating water motor gong running above or next to the connection, or water discharging from the main drain line below or next to the connection. However, these clues don’t always identify the correct connection, which is why departments should survey the building before the fire and clearly mark the correct one. Some labs may be protected by specialty systems,\ such as gaseous suppression systems, dry chemical systems or water mist systems. Each is intended to flood a specific area with a suppression agent, be it gas, dry chemical or water. They may protect entire rooms, specific hazards in the room or fume hood areas. In each case, it’s important to allow the system to do its job and to wear breathing apparatus when entering areas protected by these types of systems. Again, survey the building in advance to understand why these systems are there and how best to use them at an incident. In some cases, it may be advantageous to simply ensure the doors to the lab are closed, perform a reconnaissance via windows and stand by on the perimeter of the lab until more information is available. Additional planning can then be put into place to help crews understand the hazards and implement a strategic attack.
EXTINGUISHMENT
As mentioned, not all labs feature sprinkler systems. Even labs with sprinkler systems may include areas of the lab or fume hoods that are not completely protected, or storage or lab equipment may block the sprinkler’s discharge. Such conditions could allow a fire to burn without full extinguishment. Fire protection system designers count on the fire department to show up and finish the job, which means advancing adequately sized hoselines to the seat of the fire. If your preconnects measure 200 feet long and the lab building is three stories tall without standpipes, there’s a very good chance your lines won’t reach. You must address this issue in advance by making sure your preconnected hoselines will reach or by finding a way to extend preconnected lines. Initial-entry teams conducting recon into a lab building showing smoke should, at the very least, either carry extinguishers in with them or know where to access them in the building. Use extinguishers no smaller than a 2 1⁄2-gallon water/foam unit, or a 15–20-lb. dry-chemical or carbon dioxide unit.
LADDER OPS & VENTILATION
Various building features can make ladder company functions easier at these incidents. In many laboratories, stairways or access ladders lead to roofs. Many laboratories have fume hoods that expel gases at roof level and can be used to ventilate individual labs. However, firefighters operating on lab roofs need to remember that fume hood exhausts may discharge a variety of chemical fumes and they should therefore wear SCBA. Check HVAC controls for individual labs; some can be placed in full exhaust mode to increase the exhaust flow from the lab and ease ventilation.
PROPERTY CONSERVATION
Life safety is the primary objective at any incident, but once it stabilizes, commanders must consider property conservation. Laboratory equipment can be very expensive, and a few strategically placed salvage covers can save hundreds of thousands of dollars worth of equipment, as well as possibly months or years of research work. Forcing entrance may be necessary because many labs have high security. At the same time, firefighters must respect labs with high levels of security; such restrictions may be due to unusual hazards present. If a lab has an airlock at the entrance (a door into an entrance vestibule, then another interlocked door leading into the lab), it’s likely that some type of biological or other unusual hazard is present. Ask before you enter if any special precautions are needed to access the lab.

A FINAL NOTE
As with most other types of occupancies, the most important thing a fire department can do to prepare for lab incidents is to preplan the buildings. Know what is being done in the labs, what the hazards are, and what resources are available on site to deal with anticipated incidents. Be sure that the scientist or other scientific expert is present to help guide your response. Think about what can go wrong and how to advance extinguishing equipment and hoselines to all the potential areas in the building. If all occupants have been removed from the building, approach with caution and keep the problem isolated until a more detailed action plan can be developed.
Greg Jakubowski is a fire protection engineer and certified safety professional with 28 years of fire service experience. He is a Pennsylvania State Fire Instructor and serves as a captain with the Lingohocken Fire Company in Bucks County, Pa. He is also a principal and chief engineer of Fire Planning Associates in Washington Crossing, Pa., a company dedicated to helping fire departments, businesses and municipalities prepare for emergencies.