Domain III: Store Materials with Hazards

Question 1

What is combustion?

Answer 1

Combustion can be defined as the rapid chemical reaction of oxygen with a fuel. when a fuel has burned the carbon in the fuel reacts with oxygen to form either carbon dioxide or carbon monoxide.

There are four elements required for combustion. These are oxygen, fuel, source of ignition or sufficient heat, and chemical chain reaction.

Fuel is a necessary component of all combustion reactions. The fuel can be present in solid, liquid, vapor, or gaseous form. Examples of solid fuels that can support combustion are wood, coal, textiles, paper, plastics, and some metals such as magnesium and cesium.

Question 2

What is BLEVE?

Answer 2

Boiling Liquid-Expanding Vapor Explosion

BLEVE refers to the failure of a container at atmospheric pressure holding a liquid above its boiling point.

Question 3

What are some of the common gases generated from fires and what are their dangers?

Answer 3

Carbon monoxide - As a result of the incomplete combustion of carbon-containing compounds, CO is produced in large amounts during a fire. Although CO is not the most toxic fire gases, it is 210 times more reactive with blood than oxygen. Thus, CO poisons humans by a form of asphyxiation.

Carbon Dioxide - Fires produce large amounts of CO2. CO2 itself is not a toxic gas. Its major contribution to death and injury results from its reducing the relative concentration of oxygen in the air.

Hydrogen Cyanide - Hydrogen cyanide, a deadly gas, can be produced from the combustion of wool, silk, acrylonitrile, acrylates, agricultural chemicals, rodenticides, and polyurethane.

Sulfur Dioxide - This gas can be produced from fires from the combustion of sulfur-containing materials. A strong irritant, it is intolerable well below lethal concentrations.

Ammonia - During fires, ammonia can be generated from the combustion of materials such as wool, silk, fertilizers, explosives, acrylonitrile, and nylon.

Hydrogen Chloride - This gas can be generated by the combustion of materials such as PVC, dyes, perfumes, agricultural chemicals, and some fire-retardant materials.

Hydrogen Sulfide - During fires, hydrogen sulfide can be generated as a result of the incomplete combustion of sulfur-containing compounds such as wool and rubber.

Nitrogen dioxide - This gas can be generated from the combustion of nitrogen-containing compounds such as fabrics, cellulose nitrate, celluloid, catalysts, and polymerization inhibitors.

Question 4

What is an exothermic and endothermic reaction?

Answer 4

Exothermic reactions release energy to their surroundings.

Give off heat

combustion is an exothermic reaction

Endothermic reactions absorb energy from their surroundings

Question 5

What is the NFPA 704?

Answer 5

National Fire Protection Association

704

Standard System for the Identification of the Hazards of Materials for Emergency Response

This standard presents a simple, readily recognized, and easily understood system of markings (commonly referred to as the “NFPA hazard diamond”) that provides an immediate general sense of the hazards of a material and the severity of these hazards as they relate to emergency response.

This uses the standard NFPA Diamond.

Question 6

What does each section of the NFPA Diamond represent?

Answer 6

Blue - Health Hazard

Red - Fire Hazard

Yellow - Reactivity

White - Specific Hazard

Question 7

What are grounding and bonding?

Why are grounding and bonding important for flammable liquids?

Answer 7

Bonding is the mechanism of connecting two conducting bodies by means of a conductor.

Grounding provides a conducting path between the charged object and the earth.

Many flammable liquids can build up electrostatic charges when agitated or during transfer; so it is imperative to ensure that proper bonding and grounding procedures have been followed before any attempt is made to transfer a flammable liquid.

Question 8

What is the NFPA definition of a flammable liquid?

Answer 8

The NFPA defines a flammable liquid as any liquid that has a closed cup flash point below 100°F and a vapor pressure not exceeding 40 psia (pounds per square inch absolute) at 100°F.

Question 9

What is the NFPA definition of a combustible liquid?

Answer 9

A combustible liquid is one whose flash point is 100°F or higher.

Question 10

What is the definition of a flashpoint?

Answer 10

Flash point is defined as the lowest temperature at which a liquid can generate enough vapor above its surface to support combustion in the presence of a source of ignition.

Question 11

What is vapor pressure?

Answer 11

The pressure exerted by vapor on its liquid at equilibrium is called the vapor pressure of the liquid at the temperature of the system.

Vapor pressure of a liquid always increases with an increase in temperature.

Question 12

What is a fire point?

Answer 12

The fire point is the lowest temperature at which a flammable liquid in an open container gives off vapors to continue to burn once it has been ignited. The fire point usually is higher than the flash point.

Question 13

What is explosive or flammable range?

Answer 13

The explosive or flammable range encompasses those concentrations of flammable vapor or gas in air that can ignite in the presence of a source of ignition.

The term Lower Flammability Limit (LFL) is used to describe the minimum concentration of vapor in air below which a flame will not propagate through the mixture.

The term Upper Flammability Limit (UFL) is used to describe the maximum concentration of flammable vapor in air above which a flame will not propagate.

Question 14

What is autoignition temperature?

Answer 14

Autoignition temperature is the lowest temperature that will produce combustion in the absence of an ignition source.

Question 15

What is specific gravity?

Answer 15

Specific gravity describes the density of a liquid relative to the density of water. Most flammable liquids have a specific gravity less than water and will float on top. There are a few that are heavier and will sink.

Question 16

What is vapor density?

Answer 16

Vapor density is a measure of the relative densities of vapors and gases compared to air under the same conditions of temperature and pressure. Vapors generated by most flammable liquids are heavier than air, so the ventilation for flammable liquids should be at or near floor level.

Most flammable gases have a vapor density lighter than air. Ventilation systems for these flammable gases should be placed above the floor depending on point of generation.

Question 17

What is evaporation rate?

Answer 17

The evaporation rate is the rate at which a liquid is converted to vapor at a given temperature and pressure. The evaporation rate of most liquids is reported relative to butyl acetate. A liquid with an evaporation rate of less than 1 evaporates more slowly than butyl acetate.

Question 18

What is water solubility?

Answer 18

Many flammable liquids, such as alcohols, ethers, and ketones, are completely or partially soluble in water, and micing these liquids with water reduces their flammability and eliminates static hazards.

Question 19

What is boiling point?

Answer 19

The boiling point of a liquid is defined as the temperature at which the liquid transforms into vapor at a given pressure. It should be understood that boiling point is a strong function of ambient pressure and always decreases with a decrease is ambient pressure. boiling point is usually stated at sea level pressure (1 atmosphere), which is called Normal Boiling Point.

Question 20

What is a flammable gas?

Answer 20

A gas is considered to be flammable is it satisfies any of the following criteria:

• At ambient temperature and pressure it has a UFL of 13% or less by volume
• At ambient temperature and pressure has a flammability range that is wider than 12%
• Any gas that will burn in the normal concentration of oxygen in the air

Question 21

What are the requirements for secondary containment for underground storage tanks systems?

Answer 21

Secondary containment systems must be:

1) designed, installed, and operated to prevent any migration of waste or accumulated liquid out of the system to the soil, ground water, or surface water

2) capable of detecting and collecting releases and accumulated liquids until the collected material is removed

Question 22

What are the two types of catholic protection systems?

Answer 22

Galvanic System

A sacrificial anode is connected to a metal component in a underground storage tank system. The anode usually made of zinc or magnesium is wired to the metal component in the Anneka roads instead of a tank or piping. This method is usually used on smaller structures, such as flexible, connectors, or other metallic piping components.

Impressed Current

Anodes connected to the system through a rectifier introduce electrical current that will inhibit the corrosion of metal components. The anode is wired to the tank in the same manner as the sacrificial system but the metal component has such a large surface area that it requires greater protection. A rectifier pushes a low voltage current through the impressed current cathodic system. The rectifiers, usually located on the wall the facility, and has a gauge capable of reading the amperage output of the system. Federal regulations require that the cathodic protection systems be design by corrosion specialist.

Question 23

How long can hazardous waste be stored on -site?

Answer 23

The length of time hazardous waste can be stored depends on generator status.

A Large Quantity Generator (LQG) are those who generate more than 1000kg of hazardous waste per month and may accumulate any quantity of hazardous waste in containers, tanks, drip pads, and containment buildings for up to 90 days without a RCRA permit provided that they meet the technical standards for the containment unit.

A small quantity generator (SQG) are those who generate less than 1000kg of hazardous waste per month and may store hazardous waste in storage for 180 days if the TSD facility is less than 200 miles away, and for a period of 270 days if the TSD facility is more than 200 miles away..

Conditionally exempt small quantity generators (CESQG) is a site that, in any calendar month, generates 100 kg (220lbs) or less of hazardous waste or generates 1 kg (2.2 lbs) or less of acute hazardous waste. These generators can store their waste indefinitely as long as they do not store more than 1000 kg (2200 lbs) of hazardous waste or 1 kg (2.2lbs) of acute hazardous waste on site at any time.

Any accumulation of hazardous waste at a satellite area must be limited to 55 gallons or one quart of acutely hazardous waste listed in 40 CFR 261.33(e). When the generator does not exceed the regulatory volumes and other requirements such as labeling are met, the hazardous waste can be stored at the satellite area indefinitely.

Question 24

What is a “RCRA empty” container?

Answer 24

The definition of a “RCRA empty” container depends on the type of container and its contents.

Gases: Containers holding compressed gases that are hazardous wastes are considered empty when the pressure in the container approaches atmospheric pressure (261.7(b)(2))

Acutely Hazardous Waste: A container or inner liner of a container holding acutely hazardous waste is empty when one of the following conditions is met:
1) The container has an inner liner that prevents contact with the container and the inner liner is removed
2)The container has been triple rinsed with a solvent appropriate for removing the acutely hazardous waste
3)When triple rinsing is inappropriate, an alternate method is used

Container of other hazardous waste: A container or an inner liner removed from a container holding nonacute hazardous waste as identified in Part 261, Subpart D, is empty when:
1) All waste have been removed using practices commonly employed industry-wide to remove wastes from containers or liner, such as pouring, pumping, aspirating, and draining
2) No more than 2.5 cm (1in) of material remains in the container or liner
2) No more than 3 percent by weight of the container remains for container with a capacity of 110 gallons or less, and no more than 0.3 percent by weight remains for container with a capacity greater than 110 gallons

Question 25

What are the storage rules for pesticides?

Answer 25

The storage of pesticides is regulated under the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act (FIFRA), which coverns the sale, distribution, and use of pesticides in the U.S. Pesticides are regulated under FIFRA until they are disposed of, after which they are regulated under RCRA which ensures responsible management of hazardous and nonhazardous waste.

For pesticides in small portable containers, such as 55-gallon drums or smaller containers, EPA regulates storage through specific storage instruction on pesticide labels.

Question 26

What are the storage rules for PCBs?

Answer 26

Storage for disposal within one year of the date removed from service must ensure PCBs achieve final disposition - meaning they are incinerated, detoxified, or otherwise manages. include the time needed to transport and dispose of the equipment in this time limit. Therefore, one year minus transport and disposal, is the maximum time that the item can be stored. Since actual disposal of PCBs can take several months, budget enough time for transport, intermediate storage, and final disposal. PCBs can be stored for disposal for up to 30 days from the date removed from service in a temporary PCB storage area. However, they must be transported off site for disposal or be moved to a permanent PCB storage area. PCBs can also be directly stored in permanent PCB storage areas.

PCB management under Title 40 CFR Part 761 is dependent upon the PCB concentration with concentration of PCBs that exceed 500 ppm facing the most stringent regulatory requirements and concentrations between 50 and 500 ppm having less restrictive requirements. EPA’s action will subject all substances containing over 50 ppm PCBs to regulatory control except PCB-contaminated waste oil which is prohibited at any level.

Question 27

Under RCRA, an underground storage tank is defined as any tank with at least WHAT percent of its volume below the ground, including any pipes attached to the tank?

Answer 27

10 percent.

A tank can be completely above ground and still be considered an underground storage tank if the volume of the underground piping is 10 percent or greater.

Question 28

Underground storage tanks that contain either petroleum or hazardous substances are regulated by……

Answer 28

RCRA