| Thousands of auto body collision repair shops are | | | | UL Standard 2208 establishes three categories for |
| using solvent distillation units (SDUs) or solvent | | | | testing to define operation locations. Certification for |
| recyclers to reduce costs and liabilities associated | | | | use in Norman, non-hazardous locations is the hardest |
| with hazardous waste management. | | | | certification to earn because it has the strictest |
| The EPA strongly encourages all recycling and proper | | | | vapor concentrations tests. Under normal operation |
| waste disposal methods to protect our environment. | | | | and under tested failure conditions, the usit must not |
| Their research and analysis in on-site recycling and | | | | create hazardous conditions from high vapor |
| batch distillation has been an important part of | | | | concentrations. |
| national waste management policies. | | | | Class I, Division 2 certification means that vapor |
| The fire safety community is concerned about the | | | | concentrations are not hazardous during normal |
| process of distilling flammable and combustible | | | | operation, but can be hazardous during tested failure |
| chemicals. With many auto body shops using SDUs | | | | conditions. |
| they have increased efforts to establish fire safety | | | | Class I, Division 1 certification is the least desirable; |
| guidelines for SDUs. | | | | this category means that under normal operation and |
| Concerns led to manufacturers and marketers to | | | | under tested failure conditions, the unit will produce |
| become educators while those who opposed on-site | | | | hazardous vapor concentrations and may only be |
| recycling attempted to create restrictive rules within | | | | used in a Class I, Division 1 area. Making an area |
| the industry. Opponents wanted SDUs to be | | | | suitable for a unit of this classification would be very |
| approved only for use in special locations set up for | | | | expensive, requiring a specialized construction |
| classified hazardous use making on-site recycling | | | | process. |
| financially difficult for small businesses. | | | | Auto body shops are not classified as hazardous |
| With the help of environmental officials and a good | | | | locations and typically, the only classified areas are |
| safety record these negative forces have not been | | | | the mixing rooms and spray booths. If they are using |
| put into play. Safety concerns have been overcome | | | | SDUs that are not certified for use in a |
| by Underwriters Laboratories Inc (UL) developing a | | | | non-hazardous location, they can expect additional |
| standard (UL Standard 2208) for SDUs to be certified | | | | expenses in providing a code-compliant location for |
| for use in non-classified areas or in special classified | | | | the unit and frequent safety inspections. |
| rooms and buildings. | | | | |