In my Process Safety, HAZMAT, and Emergency Response course, I always walk the students through an exercise to demonstrate just how dangerous chemicals such as Cl2 and NH3 are. So many have come to believe that these chemicals are hazardous only when we exceed the OSHA/EPA Thresholds for PSM/RMP.
In a 40 ft × 40 ft space with an 8ft ceiling, we need only 111.5 mL (0.0303798 gallons) of liquid NH3 to make the room an IDLH Atmosphere (e.g., 300 ppm). A far cry from OSHA’s and EPA’s PSM/RMP TQ of 10,000 pounds.
How much liquid NH3 does it take to achieve 300 ppm in a room that is 40′ X 40′ X8′?