The tragic fatal explosion that claimed a Firefighter’s life last week has a lot of folks claiming this was a COM DUST event. But after close examination of scene photos, I am confident this event was a syn-gas explosion with possibly some “fines” igniting during the event. These events are not all that rare and […]
Storing Methyl Methacrylate (MMA) requires a delicate engineering balance. Because it is both a Class IB Flammable Liquid and a Class 2 Unstable Reactive, the storage design must simultaneously mitigate the vapor-fire hazard while actively feeding the chemical inhibitor to prevent thermal runaway. When evaluating bulk storage tanks from a Process Safety Management (PSM) perspective,
The simple answer is yes, we can use ACGIH TLVs or NIOSH RELs to calculate the Maximum Use Concentration (MUC), but with one ABSOLUTE regulatory caveat: The resulting limit must be more protective (stricter) than what the OSHA standard dictates, or be applied to a chemical that OSHA does not currently regulate. Under 1910.134(b), OSHA
For those curious, it will take around 27 pounds of Phenothiazine (PTZ) to successfully QUENCH the reaction, or, as some may call it, “short-stopping”. But these events usually occur in a “process vessel” that has an agitator. These tanks in CA do NOT appear to have agitators; however, they may be able to “mix” the
A lot of folks are angry that they have been forced from their homes, especially over a holiday weekend when families travel to visit families. I understand their anger, and I applaud the OCFA for their communication efforts to explain their decisions. So, for those of you who do not live and work in the
We keep hearing all these different temps from the media and OCFA. I am pretty sure they are both using Farenheit and Celsuis interchangably in their remarks and this can be confusing as heck. I just heard a media update state that “50 degrees is the happy place” for MMA. 50°F is the Flash Point
Methyl Methacrylate (MMA) is a flammable liquid used to manufacture plastics and resins. While it is regulated by OSHA and the EPA for occupational safety and toxic release reporting, it is currently NOT included on the EPA’s Risk Management Program (RMP) regulated list. It is a PSM Covered Chemical with a TQ of 10,000 pounds. MMA monomer weighs approximately 7.84 pounds per
Following its September 19th-20th, 2024 inspection, EPA alleges Respondent’s failure to:
An uncontrolled polymerization event in a Methyl Methacrylate (MMA) storage tank is a classic, catastrophic thermal runaway scenario. When the monomer begins linking into polymer chains, the system enters a self-accelerating feedback loop that can rapidly overwhelm the vessel’s pressure-relief systems, leading to a violent rupture that often resembles a Boiling Liquid Expanding Vapor Explosion
5/29/262 UPDATED using NFPA 30, Tables 22.4.1.5 and 22.4.1.1(b). It was brought to my attention that CA has more stringent requirements, so I have updated my post using NFPA 30, Chapter 22 – Storage of Ignitible (Flammable or Combustible) Liquids in Tanks — Aboveground Storage Tanks. My previous post was using IFC Tables. Using Google
While routine, closed-loop transfers are inherently safe from internal static ignition, bonding and grounding become critical whenever the system is opened to the atmosphere or when specific maintenance activities generate massive static charges. When we break the closed loop or introduce external energy, the hazard profile shifts from NFPA 58 back to the static mitigation
This post is a follow-up to my earlier post about NH3 being a CAT 2 Flammable Gas, as there are still businesses that dont fully grasp the full hazard profile of NH3. The fact that the facility is under the OSHA/RMP TQ of 10,000 pounds has NOTHING to do with needing the engine/mechanical room to
