Explosibility information sources

The literature of chemistry and associated fields has iacreased enormously siace 1980. Kstahlishment of subspecialties and newly defined disciplines as well as iacreased research output have led to an explosion of journals, books, and on-line databases, all of which attempt to capture, record, and disseminate this plethora of knowledge (1). Tertiary reference tools ia chemistry and technology (eg, KJrk-Othmer, 4th ed.) help track the primary Hterature. Excellent references that discuss basic chemical information tools are The Titerature Matrix of Chemistry (1), Chemical Information Sources (2), and Mow to Find Chemical Information (3). 

In working with highly inflammable or explosive fluids, it may not be safe to put the electric element directly in contact with the fluid. Therefore, the information source supplies a combination unit consisting of a vaporizer, an electric water heater, and a pump, with controls. 

Annual Proceedings of the Safety Seminars, Dept, of Defense, Explosive Safety Board, Washington, D.C. International symposia on explosives and closely related subjects are excellent sources of information, ie, international symposia on detonation symposia on combustion symposia on chemical problems connected with the stabiUty of explosives international pyrotechnics seminars symposia on compatibiUty of plastics and other materials with explosives, propellants, and pyrotechnics, and processing of explosives, propellants, and ingredients and symposia on explosives and pyrotechnics Mineral Industy Surveys, U.S. Bureau of Mines, Pittsburgh, Pa. Periodic pubhcations dedicated primarily to explosive studies in Propellants and Explosives Journal of Ha yardous Materials, and apparent consumption of industrial explosives and blasting agents in the United States. 

Sources of information on the testing evaluation and properties of explosives include the following ... 

Pb as the vessel burst pressure in bars. Other sources are Baker Explosion Hazards and Evaluation, Elsevier, 1983, p. 492) and Chemical Propulsion Information Agency Hazards of Chemical Rockets and Propellants Handbook, voT. 1 NTIS, Virginia, May 1972, pp. 2-56, 2-60). 

Our immediate and instinctive reaction to an impact or explosion leaves a mental image of utter chaos and destruction. There may be a fascination with the power of such events, but our limited time resolution and limited pressure-sensing abilities cannot provide direct information on the underlying orderly mechanical, physical, and chemical processes. As with other phenomena not subject to direct examination by our human senses, the scientific descriptions of shock and explosion phenomena rest upon a collection of images of the processes which are derived from a range of experiences. The three principal sources of these images in shock science—experiment, theory, and numerical simulation—are indicated in the cartoon of Fig. 3.1. 

A nonprofit organization that is the authoritative source for developing standards for minimizing the possibility and effects of fire and explosion conducts fire safety programs provides information on fire protection, prevention, and suppression develops systems for prevention and suppression offire and explosions arising from hazardous substances. 

The methods described in this chapter are meant for practical application background information is given in Chapter 4. If a quantity of fuel is accidentally released, it will mix with air, and a flammable vapor cloud may result. If the flammable vapor meets an ignition source, it will be consumed by a combustion process which, under certain conditions, may develop explosive intensity and blast. 

Except for large scale accidental releases (e.g. nuclear explosions or catastrophic accidents at nuclear plants), water will be the main transport medium of plutonium to man. Therefore the size and location of plutonium sources, its pathways to man and its behaviour in natural waters are essential knowledge required for the evaluation of its ecological impact. That information, combined with radiological health standards, allows an assessment of the overall risk to the public from plutonium e.g. from a waste repository for spent unreprocessed reactor fuel elements in deep granite bedrock (8, 9). ... 

Distances are recommended for zoning of electrical equipment, separation of storage from buildings etc. Distances are also proposed (on the basis of experience) to minimize the escalation or effects on site of fire, explosion, toxic relea.se or similar incident. Selected sources of information are summarized in Table 11.6. A typical example is given in Table 11.8 subject to the requirement of Table 11.7. 

Professor Martel s book addresses specifically some of the more technical eispects of the risk assessment process, mainly in the areas of hazard identification, and of the consequence/effect analysis elements, of the overall analysis whilst where appropriate setting these aspects in the wider context. The book brings together a substantial corpus of information, drawn from a number of sources, about the toxic, flammable and explosive properties and effect (ie harm) characteristics of a wide range of chemical substances likely to be found in industry eind in the laboratory, and also addresses a spectrum of dangerous reactions of, or between, such substances which may be encountered. This approach follows the classical methodology and procedures of hazard identification, analysing material properties eind... 

All telephone points can be considered a method of notification. Telephones can be easily placed in a facility but may be susceptible to ambient noise impacts and the effects of a fire or explosion. Additionally information from verbal sources can be easily misunderstood of spoken during an emergency. Simultaneous use of the phone system during emergency situations may also cause it to be overloaded and connections difficult to achieve. 

Many materials in common use today have obvious reactivity hazards, for example, explosives, laboratory chemicals, and raw materials to make plastics and other useful products. Yet they are handled safely every day. How Their hazards have been recognized and controlled so that undesirable events (those which can cause loss and harm) do not happen. Your first source of information for controlling hazards should always be your material supplier. 

Historical data from industrial explosions are hard to accurately quantify as these can only be approximated by back calculating from observed deformations of structures. Blast overpressures from vapor cloud explosions are especially difficult to quantify because they tend to be directional, come from multiple sources, and vary with site conditions. Additionally, there is less information available than for high explosives. In one company s review of five recent vapor cloud explosion incidents, as measured at a range of 200 to 1,000 feet (60 to 300 meters), peak reflected pressures in the range from 2 psi (14 kPa) with a 35 ms duration to 12 psi (83 kPa) with a 33 ms duration have occurred. These pressures correspond to side-on overpressures ranging from 1 psi (7 kPa) to 5.5 psi (38 kPa). An extensive list of this type of explosion data is included in Lenoir 1993. 

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