fire and explosion hazards handbook of industrial chemicals

491 Pages·2004·31.83 MB·English

FIRE AND EXPLOSION
HAZARDS HANDBOOK
OF INDUSTRIAL
CHEMICALS
Tatyana A. Davletshina
Nicholas P. Cheremisinoff, Ph.D.
NOYES PUBLICATIONS
Westwood, New Jersey, U.S.A.
Copyright 0 1998 by Noyes Publications
No part of this book may be reproduced or utilized in
any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical,
including photocopying, recording or by any informa-
tion storage and retrieval system, without permission
in writing from the Publisher.
Library of Congress Catalog Card Number: 98-22341
ISBN: 0-8155-1429-8
Printed in the United States
Published in the United States of America by
Noyes Publications
Fairview Avenue, Westwood, New Jersey 07675
10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1
Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data
Davletshina, Tatyana.
Fire and explosion hazards handbook of industrial chemicals / by
Tatyana k Davletshina, Nicholas P. Cheremisinoff.
p. cm.
Includes bibliographical references and index.
ISBN 0-8155-1429-8
1. Chemicals--Safety measures. 2. Chemicals--Fires and fire
prevention. 3. Explosions. I. Cheremisinoff, Nicholas P.
II. Title.
TP149.D34 1998
660'.2804--dc21 98-22341
CIP
About the Authors
Tatyana A. Davletshina is consultant to the United States Agency for International
Development on environmental and safety management issues for industrial operations in the
republics of the former Soviet Union. For the last two years she has been on assignment in
Ukraine, assisting in industrial waste management issues at steel plant operations and in the
chemical manufacturing sector. Miss Davletshina is a safety engineer with degrees from the
Donetsk State University, Ukraine, and West Virginia University, where she obtained a
masters degree. She is also a member of the faculty of the Donetsk State Technical University,
Ukraine and visiting professor to West Virginia University. She has worked extensively with
Ukraine's National Academy of Sciences and has interacted on environmental issues with the
Russian Academy of Sciences. She has contributed to the industrial press extensively and is
the author of Noyes Publication's Industrial Fire Safety Deskbook.
Nicholas P. Cheremisinoff is consultant to the United States Agency for International
Development on world health and environmental issues impacting on sustainable development
in transitioning countries. At the writing of this volume, he was on assignment in Ukraine as
Manager of the Donetsk Industrial Waste Management Program under the Environmental
Policy and Technology Project (EPT), addressing sustainable development and environmental
policy issues. Under the EPT Program, he additionally assisted the United Nations
Development Program and the United States Environmental Protection Agency - Agency for
International Affairs, in establishing a Regional Environmental Center, now serving Eastern
Europe. Dr. Cheremisinoff has nearly twenty years of industry experience, providing technical
consulting to major international corporations and governments. Additionally he has
established and assisted several academic institutions in developing training programs dealing
with worker safety, hazardous materials handling, and remediation operations. He has
contributed extensively to the industrial press as the author, co-author or editor of more than
100 technical books. Dr. Cheremisinoff received his B.S., M.S. and Ph.D. degrees in chemical
engineering from Clarkson College of Technology. Contacts with the author can be made
through Noyes Publications.
NOTICE
To the best of our knowledge the information in this pub-
lication is accurate; however, the Publisher does not assume
any responsibility or liability for the accuracy or completeness
of, or consequences arising from, such information. This book
is intended for informational purposes only. Mention of trade
names or commercial products does not constitute endorsement
or recommendation for use by the Publisher. Final determ-
ination of the suitability of any information or product for use
contemplated by any user, and the manner of that use, is the
sole responsibility of the user. We recommend that anyone in-
tending to rely on any recommendation of materials or pro-
cedures mentioned in this publication should satisfy himself as
to such suitability, and that he can meet all applicable safety
and health standards.
Preface
This book is a compendium of chemical specific fire and chemical reactivity data and information.
More than 1000 chemicals have been researched and organized into a reference handbook for fire
specialists, chemical handling specialists, and plant safety engineers. The specific information
provided for chemicals includes the flammability characteristics, recommended fire extinguishing
practices, fire extinguishing agents not to be used, behavior in fires, burning characteristics,
chemical reactivity with regard to water and common materials, incompatible chemical mixtures,
containment and neutralization methods for spills. This reference book has been designed as a data
bank for the hazardous materials handling specialist and industrial safety managers dealing with
large chemical inventories. It is intended to be used by fire and loss prevention specialists and as
a basis for developing procedures for safe storing and handling of chemicals. The authors have
included an extensive physical properties section on chemicals, with information most pertinent to
fire response situations.
The intent of the volume is to provide easily understood information that can assist in the proper
management and handling of chemicals, as well as providing basic information and guidance that
can aid first responders to a hazardous materials incident involving spills and fires. There are
numerous data bases and publications on hazardous materials. Depending on the nature and extent
of the reader’s chemical handling, management and or level of responsibilities for chemicals and
worker safety issues, these other references, including electronic data bases may have to be
consulted. Additionally, authoritative organizations such as the NFPA, ACGIH, OSHA, NIOSH,
IARC, UNDP, USDOT and others, as well as local and company specific safety practices should
be heavily consulted when dealing With fire safety issues. Chemical specific tire safety information
is provided along with an explanation of important terms used throughout the handbook along with
detailed explanation on the organization of materials and how to apply them. The reader is provided
detailed explanation of these terms and the limitations of data that have been organized. A
substantial Glossary of Terms is also provided in the handbook for the reader’s convenience. The
data and information was derived from reviews of company specific material safety data sheets
(MSDS).
Tatyana A. Davletshina, M.S.
Nicholas P. Cheremisinoff, Ph.D.
V
Table of Contents
Chapterl.0rganizationoftheBook 1
1.llntroduction 1
1.2lndextoChemicalNamesandSynonyms 2
1.3 Organization of Fire, Explosion and Chemical Reactivity Data 2
1.4ImportantTerms 2
1.4.1ResponsetoDischarges 3
1.4.2Chemica1Designations 4
1.4.3Hea1thHazards 4
1.4.4FireHazards , 5
1.4.5Chemica1Reactivity 7
1.4.6HazardC1assifications 7
1.4.7Physica1andChemica1Properties 9
1.4.8lntormationSystems 11
1.5 References and Recommended Readings. 12
17
17
17
95
110
Chapter 3. Chemistry of Fire and Toxic Materials. 153
3.1lntroduction 153
3.2ChemistryofFire 153
3.2.1Isomers 155
3.2.2Alkenes 157
3.2.3Alkynes 159
3.2.4 Straight-Chain Hydrocarbon Nomenclature. 160
3.2.5AromaticHydrocarbons 161
vii
Contents
viii
3.2.6HydrocarbonDerivatives 164
3.2.7HalogenatedHydrocarbons 164
3.2.8Alcohols 166
3.2.9Ethers 168
3.2.10Ketones 168
3.2.11Aldehydes 169
3.2.12Peroxides 169
3.2.13Esters 169
3.2.14Amines 170
3.2.15TheoryofFlammabilityandPyrolysis 170
3.2.16 Classifying Petroleum Liquids with Respect to Fire Characteristic. ..174
3.2.17FireExtinguishment 176
3.2.18FlammabilityProperties 177
3.2.19 Estimating Lower Flammability Limits. 183
3.2.20VaporDensity 188
3.2.21SpecificGravity 188
3.2.22WaterSolubility 192
3.2.23RespondingtoFires 192
3.3ChemistryofhazardousMaterials 199
3.3.1ChemicalProperties 199
3.3.2KeyConceptsandDefinitions 201
3.3.3 Hazard Categories and Chemistry Principles. 203
3.3.4 Properties ofOrganics 205
3.3.5Functiona1Groups 208
3.3.6Flammables 209
..
3.3.7WaterReactlveChemlcals 212
3.3.8ToxicMaterials 215
3.3.9ChemicalComparability 216
3.3.10Toxicology 217
3.4 Glossary of Fire and Hazardous Materials Handling Terminology. 219
Chapter 4. Fire, Explosion and Chemical Reactivity Data for Industrial Chemicals 265
444...123 GCInhuteirdmoeditcouaCcltShioepnme cicifaiclICnofomfDpa1raatiboinlit y ",. 265
265
279
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Index . 470
Organization of the Book
1.1 INTRODUCTION
The handbook provides ready information on the fire and chemical reactivity of commonly used
chemicals. Its purpose is to provide basic information important to the safe handling of chemicals
and to help provide guidance in responding to a hazardous materials incident, in particular,
incidents involving reactive chemicals and materials posing fire and explosion hazards. The data
and information on each chemical have been compiled from several sources, including the CHRIS
data base, material safety data sheets from chemical manufacturers and suppliers, and various
references cited at the end of this first chapter. This first chapter provides an explanation of the
terms used in chemical specific discussions and also provides basic guidance on how to extract
information from the handbook.
The volume has been written for chemical handling specialists, first responders to hazardous
materials incidents, and firefighters. The basic demtion used for a hazard materials incident is any
situation that may potentially lead to catastrophic fire or explosion, and or human exposure to a
toxic chemical. This situation may result from a spill of a hazardous material, a leak from a storage
vessel or shipping container, or the mixing of incompatible chemicals whereby a chemical reaction
could occur resulting in the release of energy and generation of toxic and perhaps flammable by-
products. The volume provides chemical specific information, providing the reader with rigorous
information on the chemical of interest.
There are four chapters to the handbook with specific terms, acronyms and terminology pertinent
to each section and the data contained therein. This chapter provides first an overview of the
informational data base and second, it provides specific description of the terms pertinent to the
four chapters.
1
2 Fire and Explosion Hazards Handbook of Industrial Chemicals
1.2 INDEX TO CHEMICAL NAMES AND SYNONYMS
Chapter 2 provides an index of synonyms for chemical compound names. Data sections of the
lmidbook that provide chemical specific information on fire and explosion, and chemical reactivity
identify the chemical compound by its most common chemical name. Therefore, if a synonym
name is known, the reader may refer to Chapter 2 for a listing of synonyms that cross reference
the name to the most common chemical compound name.
Additionally, Chapter 2 provides a listing of regulated chemicals that are known to be flammable
or combustible products. This listing is derived from the Hazardous Materials Table of of the Code
of Federal Regulations (49 CFR, Parts 100 to 177, Section 173). This information lists chemicals
according to their proper slliDDhg name, as designated by the U.S. Department of Transportation,
along with their 4-digit shipping number designation. The chemical listing is organized according
to the UN hazard class and division, and only those chemicals representing fire and explosion
hazards, or are chemically unstableheactive are listed. Finally, Chapter 2 provides a table that
gives the NFPA hazard rating for a large list of chemicals.
1.3 ORGANIZATION OF FIRE, EXPLOSION AND CHEMICAL REACTIVITY DATA
The handbook contahis information needed to help personnel make the proper response to handling
chemicals aid in particular during an emergency situation; as such, this handbook could be carried
to the actual scene of a hazardous materials incident. In the latter case, it is intended for use by
personnel aid others who may be the first to amve at the site of an accidental discharge or fire and
who need readily available and easily understood information about the hazardous properties of the
chemical involved. The information provided can assist in determining the proper actions that
should be take11 immediately to safeguard life and property and to prevent contamination of the
environment.
General information on fire safety and toxic chemicals is provided in Chapter 3. This chapter also
provides an extensive glossary of fire and hazardous materials handling terminology that the reader
may refer to. Chapter 4 contains detailed information on specific chemicals. In particular, Chapter
4 provides chemical specific information on fire and explosion hazards, which represents a class
of situations which can be referred to being immediately dangerous to life and health (IDLH).
Chemicals that fall into this category pose imminent danger to human health and the environment.
Information on the fire characteristics of common chemicals can be found in Chapter 4. Basic fire
property data on chemicals is included. Fire terms and terminology that are used in the information
in Chapter 4 can be found in the section below. Information on chemical reactivity can also be
found in Chapter 4. This information is particularly useful for assessing chemical compatability .
1.4 IMPORTANT TERMS
This section explains the special terms used in the handbook, gives the sources of specific items,
and includes other information that will be useful to the reader in interpreting the data.
Organization of the Book 3
The expression "Not Pertinent" means that the data item either has no real meaning (such as the
flash point of a inflammable chemical) or is not required for assessing a hazardous situation. The
expression "Data Not Available" means that the information sought was not found in the general
data sources consulted during the preparation of this handbook. In a few cases where important data
were not available, values were estimated by usually reliable procedures; all such values are labeled
"(est.)". If more accurate values for those items are found, they will be included in later revisions.
The name used for each of the chemicals included is either (1) that specified in the Code of Federal
Regulations (CFR), Titles 46 and 49 or (2) a common name for those chemicals known to be
hazardous during shipment. In this regard, for most chemical names, the shipping name recom-
mended by the USDOT is used as it appears in Title 49 of the CFRs. The data are arranged in
alphabetical order by chemical name.
1.4.1 Response to Discharges
In every case of a discharge or leak, it is obvious that an effort should be made to reduce, stop, or
contain the flow of material at its source if this can be done safely. The purpose of the terms used
in this section is to describe in a general way the cautionary and corrective responses that are well
recognized by trained emergency response personnel.
"Issue warning is used when the chemical is a poison, has a high flammability, is a water
"
contaminant, is an air contaminant (so as to be hazardous to life), is an oxidizing material, or
is corrosive. This type of response warning is most often applied for cautionary purposes to
restrict ignition, and to restrict contaminated water for human use, farm use, and industrial
use,
"Restrict access" is used only for those chemicals that are unusually and immediately
hazardous to personnel unless they are protected properly by respirators, eye goggles,
protective clothing, etc. This type of cautionary response is sometimes used in a broader sense
to ensure exclusion of spectators and others who might ignite flammable compounds.
"Evacuate area is used primarily for unusually poisonous chemicals or those that ignite
"
easily. The same expression can be used for a cautionary response.
"MechanicaZ containment" is used for water-insoluble chemicals that float and do not evaporate
readily. The corresponding corrective response is "Contain".
"Shmldb e removed" is used for chemicals that cannot be allowed to disperse because of their
harmful effect on humans or on the ecological system in general. The term is not used unless
there is a reasonable chance of preventhg dispersal, after a discharge or leak, by chemical and
physical treatment.
"Chemical and physical treatment is recommended for them-icals that can be removed by
'I
skimming, pumping, dredging, burning, neutralization, absorption, coagulation, or
precipitation. The corrective response may also include the use of dispersing agents, sinking
agents, and biological treatment.