Toxic and Combustible Gasses – Safety is Paramount

 

On January 31, 2022, a fire at a North Carolina fertilizer manufacturing facility caused officials to urge residents living nearby to stay away from their homes due to an increased risk of a possible explosion at the facility. People with respiratory issues were likewise advised to take precautions to minimize their potential exposure to toxic gasses.

According to Winston-Salem fire chief William Mayo, there were nearly 600 tons of ammonium nitrate and 5,000 tons of finished fertilizer at the site, enough to cause one of the worst explosions in U.S. history.

Ammonium nitrate is widely used to manufacture fertilizers for commercial and residential use. However, when exposed to extreme heat, ammonium nitrate may produce nitric oxide and ammonia (NH₃), which can create not only a toxic environmental situation but also a catastrophic explosion.

What is Nitric Oxide?

Nitric oxide (NO) is a poisonous and highly reactive gas that is colorless at room temperature, with a strong, sweet odor; it can be toxic when inhaled. Although NO is non-flammable, it will react to combustible materials and may increase the risk of fire and explosions if it is exposed to chlorinated hydrocarbons, carbon disulfide, fluorine, alcohol, petroleum, toluene, or ammonia. Nitric oxide can quickly oxidize to form nitrogen dioxide (NO₂).

What is Nitrogen Dioxide?

Nitrogen dioxide is a red-brown gas with an irritating, sharp odor. Like nitric oxide, NO₂ is non-flammable but can accelerate the burning of combustible materials.

What is Ammonia?

Ammonia (NH3) is a colorless gas with a pungent odor. Ammonia is not highly flammable, but it may react violently when exposed to fluorine, chlorine, nitrogen dioxide, or hydrogen bromide, among other gasses. Ammonia can produce poisonous gas during a fire.

Health Hazards

Exposure to nitric oxide, nitrogen dioxide, and ammonia can irritate the eyes, nose, and throat. At higher concentrations, NO, NO₂, and NH₃ can cause pulmonary edema (a build-up of fluid in the lungs). Prolonged exposure to nitric oxide and/or nitrogen dioxide may reduce the blood’s ability to transport oxygen, causing headaches, fatigue, dizziness, nausea, vomiting, unconsciousness, and even death.

Continued exposure to ammonia may cause asthma-like allergy symptoms and, possibly, permanent lung damage.

Workplace Exposure Limits

According to the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), the permissible exposure limits (PELs) for nitric oxide, nitrogen dioxide, and ammonia are set forth below:

• Nitric Oxide: 25 parts-per-million (ppm) over an 8-hour work shift; it is immediately dangerous to health at 100 ppm
• Nitrogen Dioxide: 5 ppm, not to be exceeded at any time
• Ammonia: 50 ppm over an 8-hour shift.

Monitoring Hazardous Gasses

Nitric oxide, nitrogen dioxide, and ammonia can all react explosively if they mix with incompatible compounds. Further, exposure to fire may produce additional toxic and corrosive gasses. To help prevent an accidental leak and risk of explosion, gas cylinders should be stored in cool, well-ventilated areas, away from moisture and direct sunlight.

While nitric oxide, nitrogen dioxide, and ammonia all have strong odors, that is not necessarily an adequate warning of their presence, since prolonged exposure to NO₂, NO, and NH₃ can desensitize one’s sense of smell, thereby reducing awareness of the exposure.

To detect, and protect against, risks emanating from excessive concentrations of nitric oxide, nitrogen dioxide, or ammonia, best practices include placing gas detection monitors (containing visual and audible alarms) in locations where NO, NO₂, and NH₃ may accumulate. The gas detection system should continuously monitor the area and, if gas concentrations exceed the permissible exposure limit, activate an alarm, turn off the gas at the source, and turn on the ventilation system.

PureAire Monitors

PureAire Monitoring System's ST-48 Gas Detector is perfect for tracking levels of toxic and/or combustible gasses including, but not limited to, nitric oxide, nitrogen dioxide, and ammonia.

The ST-48 is housed in a NEMA 7 explosion-proof enclosure suitable for Class 1, Division 1 and 2, Groups A, B, C, and D, making it ideal for locations where toxic and/or combustible gasses are present or may accumulate.

PureAire’s ST-48 offers continuous readings of toxic and/or combustible gasses and features an easy-to-read screen, which displays current gas levels, in either ppm or lower explosive limit (LEL),  for at-a-glance observation. In the event of an accumulation of gasses to an unsafe level, the Detector will set off an alarm, complete with horns and flashing lights, alerting personnel to evacuate the area. The PureAire Gas Detector can likewise be programmed to tie into automatic shut-off valves, and ventilation systems when gas levels reach a user-selectable ppm or LEL.

The ST-48 Gas Detector can connect to multi-channel controllers, a remote display, or into building systems themselves.

Why Gas Distributors Play a Crucial Role in Most Everyday Businesses?

Inert gases power a wide range of industries, including pharmaceutical, automotive, manufacturing, and semiconductor. While argon, helium, nitrogen, and cryogenic gases have benefits and uses, there are also risks with other gases such as halogens, refrigerants, combustibles, or etching gases. Gas detectors can monitor storage areas and facilities where these gases are used to guard against gas leaks onsite. Learn why it's critical to use one of these monitors in combustible gases distribution facilities.

The Role of Gas Distributors

Unless companies are manufacturing their own gases onsite through, for instance, a nitrogen generator, they rely on prompt delivery of gases they need for operation.

Gas distributors store a range of inert gases for use by manufacturers. Industry regulations mandate that gas distributors follow certain guidelines for the storage and disposal of these substances to reduce the risk of fires, explosion, gas leaks, and other incidents.

When everything is working correctly, gas flows as its needed from the supply tank to, for instance, storage dewars which are then readied for delivery. If a supply line develops a leak or a storage tank is not properly sealed, gas will leak into the air.

Many of these gases have no smell, color, or odor. This means that even if a facility is following all regulations regarding gas storage, there is no way that an employee could detect a gas leak in the moment when something goes wrong.

If storage dewars are compromised, gas will leak in the storage truck and at the delivery site, spreading the risk to third parties.

When one of these toxic gases leaks into the air, the consequences are dangerous. Hydrofluoric acid, a highly corrosive substance, is harmful to the health when it's inhaled or in direct contact with skin. Ammonia, which is commonly used as a refrigerant and in paper making, irritates the skin, lungs, and eyes.

Some gases are flammable when in contact with oxygen, which elevates the risk of fire. Others, like nitrogen, deplete oxygen from the environment. When oxygen drops below a critical threshold, workers can experience respiratory distress, cognitive distress, and ultimately death via asphyxiation.

To provide fast notification and decrease the risk of health hazards, it is recommended to install a universal gas detector wherever toxic gases are used or stored. To further guard against leaks, gas distributors can invest in durable equipment and train staff on proper handling of substances and appropriate emergency responses.

How a Universal Gas Monitor Can Protect Your Staff

A universal gas monitor can detect levels of gases even when the eye and nose cannot.

OSHA, the Occupational Safety & Health Administration, oversees worker safety in all environments, including gas distribution plants. OSHA requirements to prevent workers from being harmed at work include the use of a gas monitor where dangerous substances are used. By installing a universal gas detector, you can bring your gas distribution plant in line with mandatory requirements to keep workers safe on the job.

Not all gas monitors are created equal. It's important to choose a gas monitor that is flexible, especially if you work with a range of substances, and reliable for continuous operation. Gas monitors that do not take accurate readings place worker health at risk, because they may fail to spot a low-level leak.

PureAire's universal gas monitor detects a wide range of gases, including:

·        Ammonia

·        Chlorine

·        Fluorine

·        Hydrogen chloride

·        Hydrogen fluoride

·        Nitrogen dioxide

·        Phosphine

·        and more

PureAire's universal gas monitor is designed to function optimally once set up with no routine maintenance. The renewable sensor lasts for 3 to 8 years on average. Unlike other monitors, PureAire's sensor is rechargeable onsite, to save your gas storage facility time and money. While employees can check interface readouts for peace of mind, the gas detector works 24/7 out of the box. If the unit experiences a problem, error readouts are related to the control room.

Since the monitor has a built-in LCD display, employees can check substance levels at a glance. Dual level alarm relay contacts allow gas distributors to choose the appropriate level for their purposes. Alarms provide employees with sufficient notification to close valves, exit the area, and reduce the risk of fire.

PureAire is an industry leader with more than 15 years of experience developing oxygen monitors and universal gas detectors. Our products provide reliable reports to increase safety and peace of mind. Learn more about our universal gas monitor and view full product specifications online.

 https://www.pureairemonitoring.com/universal-gas-detector/

https://www.pureairemonitoring.com/paint-booths-or-areas-using-combustible-gases/

https://www.chemicalsafetyfacts.org/ammonia/

PureAire Releases Universal Toxic Gas Monitor

PureAire Monitoring Systems manufactures and distributes toxic gas monitors for safety, and as of August 2013, releases new toxic gas monitor called the Universal Toxic Gas Monitor. Their monitors make sure areas where toxic gases exist the area remains at a safe and breathable level, some gasses included are chlorine, bromine, HCL, HF, ammonia, toxics, and hydrides. These gases, commonly known as toxic gases, can be hazardous or even deadly if used without the proper safety precautions. Typical areas where these gases are used include laboratories, pharmaceutical manufacturing plants, cryopreservation facilities, semiconductors, and cold food storage. The addition this product line insures PureAire’s products are the premium choice for your safety. Since their beginnings in 1997, PureAire has sold many thousands of toxic gas monitors to customers including (Northwestern University, Exxon Mobil, and NASA) and laboratories (Intel, Los Alamos National Labs, USDA). A release of toxic gases in a confined space can cause irritation, permanent damage, and even hospitalization making it direly important that every space with human occupancy be monitored. Though these gases can be highly dangerous, their universal gas monitors allow groundbreaking research to be done with the ease of knowing any leak will be immediately detected. PureAire Monitoring Systems provide the #1 universal toxic gas monitor in the industry. With a renewable sensor lasting 7+ years, no competitor can offer the same longevity or reliability. The universal gas monitor has a built in audible alarm, 2 user-selectable relays for signals to external fans/horns/strobes, and a 4-20 mA signal. The introduction of the universal gas monitor provides a newer easier solution for the customer. Still used is the STX-PA Smart Gas Transmitter, though PureAire is predicting the universal gas monitor will take the STX-PA’s place. Manufactured in the USA, there is no question they are the unparalleled company to go to for your toxic gas monitor safety needs. The STX-PA has been sold since PureAire started in 1997 along with there 4-20mA version Aircheck Lite, also trying to be replaced by the universal toxic monitor. As with most technology, a newer updated version of a product is necessary. While the universal monitor has many of the same functions as the STX-PA this product offers more. Integrated is software enabling the customer to change the sensors by a simple plug and play. If the customer has testing which requires using HF for a few days but needs to switch to chlorine for another experiment, he/she can simply unplug the HF sensor and replace with chlorine in matter of seconds. The STX-PA would also have capabilities of switching sensors, though sending in the monitor PureAire had to take place in order to switch. In addition to many more features listed for the universal monitor, now there is a considerable louder 90 dB audible alarm. Lastly, pricing is much more competitive starting at $1,390 for a complete system compared to a starting price of $1,990. For more information on the PureAire Oxygen Monitoring System, contact PureAire Monitoring Systems, Inc., 557 Capital Drive, Lake Zurich, IL 60047; phone 888-788-8050 or 847-726-6000; fax 847-726-6051; or email info@pureaire.net. You may also visit the company’s website at www.Pureairemonitoring.com.