Aug 12, 2011 – What Constitutes Too Hot?
QUESTION:
In a Florida summer cool weather is rare, and typically automobiles get very hot inside. I have noticed that some products have a label that says to store in a cool dry place. I have heard of people installing some sort of a/c unit in a vehicle bed (enclosed truck bed w/ topper), but this seems quite pricy. The distributor warehouse I have bought chemicals from is not an especially cool place (actually sometimes hot/muggy) and I am curious as to what they expect a technician to do with the chemical regarding storing it legally, despite outdoor heat & mugginess. What would you recommend to do it? I think some sort of cooler has served in preventing temperatures from reaching an extreme. Do you think that is sufficient from keeping the compartment from being TOO hot? (most product labels do not bear a specific degree value, but a general statement)
ANSWER:
This is one that kind of bothers me too, as so many product Labels will say only to store in a "cool, dry place" or to "avoid excessive heat", but without specifying any temperature limits. However, I looked at a few Labels and then some MSDS's, and the MSDS may offer more information than the Label on proper storage. For example, the Termidor SC label states to "protect from temperatures above 40 C" (I still don't know why they are trying to shove the metric system down our throats), and this converts to only 104 degrees Fahrenheit, which certainly will be reached in vehicles during the summer. The MSDS further says that this storage in high temperatures should not be for "extended periods of time", so we're back to a vague precaution (extended? hours? weeks? months?).
Personally I would believe that an extended period of time would refer at the least to several weeks, and perhaps months would be likely, so carrying a small amount of the product in your vehicle and using that product over the next few days should not be a major concern with degradation of the active ingredient. You can help this out by carrying only smallish quantities that you know will be sufficient for that day's work, and this probably is good advice anyhow not to use your vehicle as your major storage area. Given that an accident and a spill are possible it would be best to have the minimum amount of toxic material on board if that occurs.
I haven't heard myself of people installing A/C units in their storage lockers on a vehicle, but certainly some technicians will carry a small cooler box to store materials like paraffin bait blocks or gel baits. These could be simply a cheap styrofoam ice chest that you keep ice packs in for the day, perhaps clearly marking that chest as one used for "pesticide storage", and ensuring that those ice packs are not contaminating anything else in your home freezer each night. You should consult with your local regulatory inspectors to be certain this is okay with them, and even to see what other thoughts they might have on this problem. Sometimes leniency with the rules is given to accommodate odd weather conditions in an area, such as harsh freezing temps in the upper Midwest in the winter that could cause pumps and pipes to burst. But the use of a small cooler with ice in it and the carrying of small quantities of your products, particularly liquids and aerosols, should be acceptable and should keep the storage space temperature well below one of concern.
View past Ask Mr. Pest Control questions.
In a Florida summer cool weather is rare, and typically automobiles get very hot inside. I have noticed that some products have a label that says to store in a cool dry place. I have heard of people installing some sort of a/c unit in a vehicle bed (enclosed truck bed w/ topper), but this seems quite pricy. The distributor warehouse I have bought chemicals from is not an especially cool place (actually sometimes hot/muggy) and I am curious as to what they expect a technician to do with the chemical regarding storing it legally, despite outdoor heat & mugginess. What would you recommend to do it? I think some sort of cooler has served in preventing temperatures from reaching an extreme. Do you think that is sufficient from keeping the compartment from being TOO hot? (most product labels do not bear a specific degree value, but a general statement)
ANSWER:
This is one that kind of bothers me too, as so many product Labels will say only to store in a "cool, dry place" or to "avoid excessive heat", but without specifying any temperature limits. However, I looked at a few Labels and then some MSDS's, and the MSDS may offer more information than the Label on proper storage. For example, the Termidor SC label states to "protect from temperatures above 40 C" (I still don't know why they are trying to shove the metric system down our throats), and this converts to only 104 degrees Fahrenheit, which certainly will be reached in vehicles during the summer. The MSDS further says that this storage in high temperatures should not be for "extended periods of time", so we're back to a vague precaution (extended? hours? weeks? months?).
Personally I would believe that an extended period of time would refer at the least to several weeks, and perhaps months would be likely, so carrying a small amount of the product in your vehicle and using that product over the next few days should not be a major concern with degradation of the active ingredient. You can help this out by carrying only smallish quantities that you know will be sufficient for that day's work, and this probably is good advice anyhow not to use your vehicle as your major storage area. Given that an accident and a spill are possible it would be best to have the minimum amount of toxic material on board if that occurs.
I haven't heard myself of people installing A/C units in their storage lockers on a vehicle, but certainly some technicians will carry a small cooler box to store materials like paraffin bait blocks or gel baits. These could be simply a cheap styrofoam ice chest that you keep ice packs in for the day, perhaps clearly marking that chest as one used for "pesticide storage", and ensuring that those ice packs are not contaminating anything else in your home freezer each night. You should consult with your local regulatory inspectors to be certain this is okay with them, and even to see what other thoughts they might have on this problem. Sometimes leniency with the rules is given to accommodate odd weather conditions in an area, such as harsh freezing temps in the upper Midwest in the winter that could cause pumps and pipes to burst. But the use of a small cooler with ice in it and the carrying of small quantities of your products, particularly liquids and aerosols, should be acceptable and should keep the storage space temperature well below one of concern.
View past Ask Mr. Pest Control questions.
