CLEAPSS

14/08/2026

❗️With wildfire risk high, we’re taking sensible action to protect people and places by stopping the sale of disposable BBQs to reduce the threat these products pose in current heatwave conditions. Please share this message within your community.👇️ https://www.gov.uk/guidance/statutory-guidelines-on-disposable-bbqs

13/08/2026

As people start to return to schools, reopening labs, cupboards and making plans for the new year ahead. What do you really know about your labs.....

How safe are you labs ?

Do you know what is / isn't safe in your department ?

The audits we carry out, check all aspects of labs, prep rooms and chemical stores.

In this one lab, there were over a dozen issues some potentially very serious, and some that could be solved that afternoon.

We can carry these audits out in any school, in any country, as long as the school is a member of CLEAPSS.

Want to know more get in touch via the CLEAPSS Helpline.

12/08/2026

Important safety advice for today….

Anyone using a colander to watch the eclipse, be careful — you may strain your eyes.” 😎🌒

Or you could read our guide to how to view this safely - PS017

https://science.cleapss.org.uk/Resource-Info/PS017-Viewing-the-Sun.aspx

04/08/2026

How to safely view a solar eclipse

The 12 August 2026 brings a total solar eclipse visible from Iceland, Spain and Northern Portugal, with a partial solar eclipse visible over Europe including the UK and Ireland as well as the Northern most parts of North America.

This solar eclipse is the first of five solar eclipses the UK will see in five years and is the UK’s most complete solar eclipse since 1999.

The next total solar eclipse will not visit the British Isles until 23 September 2090.

The eclipse will be visible in the UK from 6pm to 8pm The eclipse begins with ‘first contact’ (when the moon begins to cover the sun) just after 6pm, with the peak occurring just after 7pm; the eclipse will end just after 8pm. (see the Sky at Night website for more detailed times)

Looking directly at the sun during an eclipse can cause permanent eye damage within seconds, and people should use special eclipse glasses, make a pinhole projector viewer, or use natural pinhole projectors like a colander.


But wait, there’s more !!!

The eclipse will be followed by the Perseid meteor shower which will be at its peak on the night of 12–13 August.

After the eclipse, the sky will be dark and moonless which is ideal for meteor watching.
Under perfect conditions, the Perseids produce up to 100 meteors per hour. In the UK, more typical rates are around 20–40 meteors per hour from a dark site. The best time to watch is after midnight.

Useful Links

GL170 - Managing pupils safety during an eclipse
This guide explores organisational issues surrounding ensuring the safety of pupils in schools during a solar eclipse.
https://science.cleapss.org.uk/Resource-Info/GL170-Managing-pupils-safety-during-an-eclipse.aspx

Royal Astronomical Society
Advice on how to observe an eclipse safely, which can be found at www.ras.org.uk/images/solar_eclipse_leaflet.pdf

BBC Sky at night
How to make sure your eclipse glasses are safe
https://www.skyatnightmagazine.com/advice/how-know-solar-eclipse-glasses-are-safe

No eclipse glasses? Project the eclipse through a pinhole or a colander for a safe, easy method https://www.skyatnightmagazine.com/advice/solar-eclipse-projection

The Royal Observatory will be livestreaming the solar eclipse
https://www.rmg.co.uk/whats-on/online/solar-eclipse-august-2026-uk-live-stream

NASA Eclipse website
https://eclipse.gsfc.nasa.gov/SEdecade/SEdecade2021.html

Royal Museums Greenwich
Solar eclipses explained
https://www.rmg.co.uk/stories/space-astronomy/solar-eclipses-explained

Find out everything you wanted to know about partial and total solar eclipses, including when to see them in the UK

24/07/2026

CLEAPSS is Open !

Just a quick reminder that CLEAPSS does not close for the school holidays.

All of our current guidance is available via our website www.cleapss.org.uk To read CLEAPSS documents you must be signed into the CLEAPSS website using your individual login.

If you have not signed up for a login, or are unsure if you have signed up, please go to https://my.cleapss.org.uk/Account-Request.aspx

If you have forgotten your password please attempt to enter your best guess three times at https://my.cleapss.org.uk, and if it is incorrect you will receive a prompt to reset it.

If you are unsure if your school is a member please email the membership team. [email protected]

You can contact our Helpline in these ways:

Telephone: 01895 251 496

Email: [email protected]

08/07/2026

01/07/2026

This time next week it will be all about the Microscale, as the chemistry team at CLEAPSS decamp to support the UK edition of the International Microscale Conference.

CLEAPSS will be supporting the event all week long, if you are there come and collect a CLEAPSS Mug or see our model chemical store.

26/06/2026

Today we are at possibly the largest technicians conference in the UK (possibly the world?).

Yes we are at the Technicians Conference in Birmingham run by John Booth.

This event is always full, and has a great range of speakers and presenters including Steve Jones our director kicking things off with the opening Keynote Talk.

Come and find our stand and workshops

22/06/2026

Chemicals and Hot Weather

If temperature is high only during the day and fall overnight, this is unlikely to present a significant issue. Chemical stores with effective ventilation normally manage hot weather better than may be imagined.

However, if the temperature in your store room stays above 28’c for 24hrs a day, and for a week or longer then consider these additional controls.

• Keep the store as cool as possible. Increase ventilation when possible and ensure the ventilation system is operating correctly. A minimum ventilation rate of 2 air changes per hour, maintained 24 hours a day, with make-up air at low level and extraction at high level, is generally sufficient to remove hazardous fumes and maintain a consistent temperature. If the store frequently becomes hot, the ventilation system may be inadequate.
• If the store has windows, install blinds and keep chemicals out of direct sunlight. Grey reflective blinds are recommended, as they help reduce heat gain. Black blinds are not suitable because they absorb heat and can increase room temperatures.
• Use ice cube bags or reusable freezer blocks as temporary cooling packs. Where necessary, position them at the bottom of the storage cabinet, ensuring that the chemical container either rests on the cooling packs or is surrounded by them within the secondary containment.
• Take care when entering the store after it has been unattended for a period of time, particularly following hot weather.

See documents:
GL246: Checking bottles in the chemical store - https://science.cleapss.org.uk/Resource-Info/GL246-Checking-bottles-in-the-chemical-store.aspx
GL247: The shelf-life of chemicals - https://science.cleapss.org.uk/Resource-Info/GL247-The-shelf-life-of-chemicals.aspx
GL308 - Ventilation in chemical stores and prep rooms a summary - https://science.cleapss.org.uk/Resource-Info/GL308-Ventilation-in-chemical-stores-and-prep-rooms-a-summary.aspx

14/05/2026

From our friends ASE

Bursary offer for ASE Technicians Conference

3rd July 2026, Clifton College, Bristol, 08:30-16:00

Are you a technician who is new to ASE Technicians Conference? ASE extends huge thanks to Philip Harris (part of the Findel Group) for its' generous support of bursary contributions for a limited number of places, to enable technicians who have not previously attended an ASE Technicians Conference, to participate and to gain ASE Technician membership for a year from 3rd July 2026. Register for a £25 ticket and Philip Harris will pay the balance of £55 for Conference attendance and a year's membership! Available on a first come first serve basis.

Following the sell-out success of our Technicians Conference in 2023, we are returning to Clifton College in Bristol for an even better event!