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Previous by Date: Subject: [DCHAS-L] Chemical Safety headlines (13 articles) Date: Wednesday, June 26, 2019 at 7:19:59 AM Author: DCHAS Membership Chair <membership**At_Symbol_Here**DCHAS.ORG> |
Next by Date: Subject: Re: [DCHAS-L] JCHAS Transition to ACS Publications Date: Wed, 26 Jun 2019 08:24:17 -0400 Author: Doug Walters |
The problem with blast radius or explosive equivalent is what is the basis for the incident. I am sure it will be a very big number if you start from assuming ALL the cylinders fail simultaneously which is a difficult situation to be credible. How about one cylinder failing? Even that is exceptionally rare. A more likely scenario is a leak which – assuming the area is properly ventilated per code requirements – is probably going to result in nothing to a fire. And yes, even a small fire could set off another cylinder which could then add to the conflagration.
A closed gas room is actually one of the code recommended ways to store gas cylinders particularly toxic or highly toxic materials. While the cylinders and piping should be grounded, the chance of an ESD setting off the cylinders is incredibly low so I know of no such installation that would require ESD shoes.
Recognizing that the AV is in the room might suggest several mitigative measures that are prudent, credible, and reasonable (albeit not free)).
In effect, do an adequate hazard analysis and risk assessment.
Richard Palluzi
PE, CSP
Pilot plant and laboratory consulting, safety, design,reviews, and training
www.linkedin.com/in/richardppalluzillc/
Richard P Palluzi LLC
72 Summit Drive
Basking Ridge, NJ 07920
rpalluzi**At_Symbol_Here**verizon.net
908-285-3782
From: ACS Division of Chemical Health and Safety <DCHAS-L**At_Symbol_Here**PRINCETON.EDU> On Behalf Of Yaritza Brinker
Sent: Tuesday, June 25, 2019 1:48 PM
To: DCHAS-L**At_Symbol_Here**PRINCETON.EDU
Subject: Re: [DCHAS-L] Compressed gases and sparking electronics
Nora,
Have you tried to have your professors calculate the explosive power stored in that room and translate it to something relatable to your management, like blast radius.
A few questions… largely out of my ignorance…
Is it prudent to store all of those cylinders in a closed room?
If you have cylinders in a closed room, wouldn’t it be prudent to have gas monitoring in place to alert you if a tank leaks?
Wouldn’t you be required to have ESD shoes to enter such room?
If the AV rack is hardwired to the wall, is it properly grounded?
Thank you,
Yaritza Brinker
260.827.5402
From: ACS Division of Chemical Health and Safety <DCHAS-L**At_Symbol_Here**PRINCETON.EDU> On Behalf Of Nora Dunkel
Sent: Tuesday, June 25, 2019 12:08 PM
To: DCHAS-L**At_Symbol_Here**PRINCETON.EDU
Subject: [DCHAS-L] Compressed gases and sparking electronics
** External Email **
Hello all,
Curious to get this group’s input… I recently discovered a large A/V rack in the gas cylinder room of my university’s science building. The A/V rack is hardwired into the wall, and is NOT spark-proof/hospital grade. It could make sparks at any time. In the same room, we have full cylinders of compressed oxygen, nitrous oxide, and air. The room itself likely has flammable construction. We probably have about 50 employees in the building, plus hundreds of students during the academic terms.
All the science faculty are (rightly) having a conniption fit and demanding that the A/V rack be moved to another room. However, the city fire chief inspected and said that “cylinders were properly stored and there was no open flame in the room”, so no move was necessary, as no code was violated. So now the administration is dragging its feet, saying that the rack doesn’t need to be moved (and IT suggested that we should just plug it back in).
Are there resources out there to convince the higher level of Administration that this situation is inherently hazardous and worth the resources to correct? Besides pedantically explaining the fire triangle/tetrahedron to them and bringing up the Apollo 1 fire? Or are the entire biology, chemistry, physics and nursing faculty (and I) all over-reacting?
Thanks for your help,
Nora Dunkel
Chemical Safety Officer
Webster University
314-246-2244 (office)
noradunkel51**At_Symbol_Here**webster.edu
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