Chemistry

[LargeFormat]

I have to design a drainage installation for a darkroom and need to make provision for the chemicals. Is there anything else, other than developers, fixers and stop baths I should worry about and can anyone tell me what chemicals (eg hydroquinone in D76) are in them.

[Malcolm_Stewart]

You should be able to find the constituent parts by downloading the H&S/COSHH Data Sheets.

Ilford and others make these available on their website. Most recently revised data sheets will contain disposal/environmental information. Bear in mind that their advice will probably be for industrial quantities, so keep an eye open for advice for domestic/amateur usage. Those originating in the US may not be appropriate here.

I'd say that the biggest risk in any darkroom is the risk of electrocution, from poorly insulated /earthed appliances and damp skin. (And trip hazards in the dark...)

[zx9]

I like the way Ilford have taken to labelling their chemistry 'Hazardous - In Australia'. Given how many really hazardous things they have there I wondered just how bad 250ml of Ilfosol can be

Ilfosol S data sheet, individual constituents are quite harmful but probably not in the concentrations present in the bottle as sold by Ilford.

[LargeFormat]

Thanks guys that's just the source I needed. Should have known these things as I designed the National Film Archive. Looking at the data sheets it rather looks as if they are quite benign when alkalis cancel acids.