Potential Fire Hazard

This type of mask supphes the worker with uncontaminated air, for a set period of time, for the cases where the worker is in an area filled with smoke (e.g., when escaping from a fire). It must be stressed here the fire hazard potential in these... 

Does your worksite have a fire hazard potential ... 

Although Hash point and fire point are not sufficient as the sole indices of a fire hazard, they have been used for comparative ratings of the fire hazard potential of different flammable liquids and for labelling their containers accordingly—liquids having flash points le.ss than 140°F are called FLAMMABLE LIQUIDS and those with flash points above 140°F are called COMBUSTIBLE LIQUIDS. 

This hydrolysis reaction is accelerated by acids or heat and, in some instances, by catalysts. Because the flammable gas hydrogen is formed, a potential fire hazard may result unless adequate ventilation is provided. Ingestion of hydrides must be avoided because hydrolysis to form hydrogen could result in gas embolism. 

Health and Safety Factors. The strontium ion has a low order of toxicity, and strontium compounds are remarkably free of toxic hazards. Chemically, strontium is similar to calcium, and strontium salts, like calcium salts, are not easily absorbed by the intestinal tract. Strontium carbonate has no commonly recognized hazardous properties. Strontium nitrate is regulated as an oxidizer that promotes rapid burning of combustible materials, and it should not be stored in areas of potential fire hazards. 

Storage tanks should be designed in accordance with the ASME code for unfited pressure vessels. AH-welded constmction is recommended. Ethylene oxide storage tanks should be electrically grounded, isolated from potential fire hazards, and equipped with pressure rehef devices. New equipment should be cleaned of iron oxide and immediately purged with inert gas. 

Quantitative Fire and Explosion Index (FExplosion Index Hazard Classification Guide, 1994 Lees, 1980, pp. 149-160). The F EI is used to rate the potential of hazard from fires and explosions. Its purpose is to quantify damage from an incident. It identifies equipment that could contribute to an incident and ways to mitigate possible incidents. It is a way to communicate to management the quantitative hazard potential. 

The drying of flammable solvents with sodium or potassium metal and metal hydrides poses serious potential fire hazards and adequate precautions should be stressed. 

Some gas processes use direct fired furnaces. Process fluid flows inside tubes that are exposed to a direct fire. In this case radiant energy is important. Furnaces are not as common as other devices used in production facilities because of the potential fire hazard they represent. Therefore, they are not discussed in this volume. 

Another common problem area is having open and closed drain systems tied together. Liquid which drains from pressure vessels flash at atmospheric pressures giving off gas. If this liquid flows in the same piping as open drains, the gas will seek the closest exit to atmosphere it can find, causing a potential fire hazard at any open drain in the. system. 

Potential Fire Hazard from Anaerobic Decomposition in Cooling Water System, Safety Note No. DOE/EH-0109, U.S. Dept, of Energy, Washington, D.C., Oct. 1989. 

The potential for fire hazards is rather liigh in tlie chemical industry. However, tliis potential is generally judged to be less tlicui that of an explosion or toxic release, as discussed later. The scale of a fire hazard can be deteniiined by assessing the following factors, ... 

Depending on the nature of tlie change, physical clianges occurring during operations may increase tlie potential for fire, explosion, and hcaltli liazards of a product. Some general factors tliat increase the hazard potential are ... 

Interaction is so vigorous and exothermic as to be a potential ignition source and fire hazard. 

In a study of explosive potential of 20 pharmaceutical products, Chloramine B was found to present the greatest fire hazard, decomposing explosively at 185°C. 

However, to focus attention on the potential hazards always associated with the use of flammable and especially highly flammable substances, some 560 gases and liquids with flash points below 25° C and/or autoignition temperature below 225°C have been included in the text, their names prefixed with a dagger. The numerical values of the fire hazard-related properties of flashpoint, autoignition temperature and explosive (flammability) limits in air where known are given in the tabular Appendix 2. Those elements or compounds which ignite on exposure to air are included in the text, but not in the Table. 

Smoke obscuration is an essential parameter related to fire hazard, because it may cause visual impairment both of the occupants of a fire scenario and of the rescue team, creating a potential danger. 

The questions may be divided into specific areas of investigation usually related to consequences of interest, such as electrical safety, fire protection, or personnel safety. Each area is subsequently addressed by a team of one or more knowledgeable individuals. The team answers each question and addresses each concern (or indicates a need for more information) and identifies the hazard, potential consequences, engineered safety levels, and possible solutions. During the process, any new what-if questions that become apparent are added. Sometimes the proposed answers are developed by individuals outside the initial meeting, and then presented to the team for endorsement or modification. 

A fire involving foam rubber mattresses in a storeroom led to an unexpected and serious explosion. Subsequent investigation showed that an explosion risk may exist when the flammable smoke and vapour from smouldering of large amounts of foam rubber are confined in an enclosed space. Suitable strict precautions are recommended [1], Methods of quantitatively evaluating potential fire hazards from release rates of heat, smoke and toxic gases from heated foam rubber and plastics materials were developed, and their application to real situations discussed [2],... 

The increasing use of disposable paper towels and wipes in chemical laboratories accentuates the potential fire hazards arising from the disposal of solid oxidising agents or reactive residues into a bin containing such towels or wipes. The partially wet paper, necessarily of high surface area and absorbency, presents favourable conditions for a fire to be initiated and spread. Separate bins for paper towels etc., and chemical residues seem advisable. 

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