Fittings leaks on chlorine tank cars and tank trucks rarely occur. Should a leak occur, however, prompt corrective action is required by trained, competent personnel with special equipment to stop the leak until the contents can be unloaded safely. The proven equipment to meet this critical need for more than 40 years has been the Chlorine Institute Emergency Kit “C,” which is specifically designed for use with standard U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) chlorine tank cars and cargo tanks.
What is in an Emergency Kit “C”?
The Chlorine Institute “C” kit contains devices and tools to stop leaks in and around the pressure relief device and angle valves used to load chlorine into and unload it from the tank. These valves are located within a steel enclosure mounted on the chlorine tank car or truck. The “C” kit is the chlorine emergency kit for chlorine tank cars and trucks that is manufactured to design specifications of The Chlorine Institute. Since being introduced in the late 1960s, more than 5,500 “C” kits have been supplied to emergency responders all over North America by Indian Springs Manufacturing Co. (www.indiansprings.com), Baldwinsville, N.Y.
Why “C” Kit; What Happened to “A” and “B”? The Chlorine Institute “A” and “B” emergency kits, also manufactured by Indian Springs Manufacturing Co., are used to stop leaks in 100- or 150-pound cylinders (“A” kit) and one-ton containers (“B” kit).
Who Typically Uses the “C” Kit and How Are These Personnel Trained?
Public- and private-sector emergency response organizations own “C” kits and are trained to use them. Public-sector responders typically would be fire departments, while private-sector responders could be CHLOREP (Chlorine Emergency Plan) teams from Chlorine Institute member companies or emergency-response contractors. The Chlorine Institute periodically provides free training for both public- and private-sector responders in “C” kit use through both TRANSCAER® (Transportation Community Awareness and Emergency Response) sessions and individual member outreach. For example, in October 2009 the Chlorine Institute in cooperation with the Union Pacific Railroad trained 140 Memphis-area emergency responders in how to deal with a chlorine emergency, including how to apply a “C” kit. The Chlorine Institute also has a video, “How to Use the Chlorine Institute Emergency Kit ‘C’ for Chlorine Tank Cars and Tank Trucks.” and an instruction booklet, Chlorine Institute Emergency Kit “C” for Chlorine Tank Cars & Tank Trucks, both of which are available via its Web site – www.chlorineinstitute.org — to all emergency responders. In addition, Chlorine Institute member companies provide training to local public-sector emergency responders upon request. TRANSCAER® participating organization conduct training nationwide on hazardous materials emergency response.