Rationale for classification of combustible gases, vapors, and dusts with reference to the National Electrical Code.

Details

• Description:
  The classification procedure used by the Committee on Evaluation of Industrial Hazards to classify gases, vapors, liquids, and dusts is reviewed and assessed. Steps that can be taken to develop a more sound and easily applied classification process are recommended. The present committee's approach relies on the physical, chemical, and flammability properties of the chemicals. Tests of some chemicals are conducted in an apparatus which simulates the flange gap of an explosion proof enclosure. The committee suggests that a classification procedure that is not apparatus dependent is desirable so that the ordering of the chemicals to be classified is completely independent of the apparatus used. Concern is also expressed about the system used to classify dusts and their potential combustibility. An idealized model is suggested for the classification of chemicals through use of their physical, chemical, and flammability/combustion properties. A classification scheme for dusts is proposed which involves the use of two factors, ignition sensitivity and explosion severity. The committee recommends that industry or an appropriate US government agency fund a research program for the purpose of generating a realistic, easily applied method for classifying gases, vapors, and dusts. [Description provided by NIOSH]
• Subjects:
  Air Pollutants, Occupational Electricity Environmental Exposure Environmental Pollution Hazardous Substances Manufacturing And Industrial Facilities Occupational Health Safety
• Keywords:
  Contract-210-78-0120 Electrical-industry Environmental-exposure Environmental-hazards Fumes Health-hazards Industrial-exposures Industrial-safety NIOSH-Contract Pollution
• Document Type:
  Text
• Funding:
  Contract
• Genre:
  Report ; Report
• Place as Subject:
  OSHA Region 10 ; Washington
• CIO:
  National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) ; National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH)
• Topic:
  Workplace Safety & Health ; Workplace Safety & Health
• Location:
  North America ; North America
• Pages in Document:
  1-24
• NIOSHTIC Number:
  nn:00135103
• NTIS Accession Number:
  PB82-263179
• Citation:
  National Materials Advisory Board, Commission on Engineering and Technical Systems, National Research Council, Washington, D.C., Report No. NMAB 353-6, 1982; :1-24
• Federal Fiscal Year:
  1982
• Peer Reviewed:
  False
• Source Full Name:
  National Materials Advisory Board, Commission on Engineering and Technical Systems, National Research Council, Washington, D.C., Report No. NMAB 353-6, NTIS PB82-263-179, 24 pages, 11 references
• Collection(s):
  National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health
• Main Document Checksum:
  urn:sha-512:17a7576fceab5cd1aa8255d66b7c5ac85b6c524f9d9911b7ea84f3ccba89b97092e71aaf5e0e4a8fb08be0cad6002c5c434073632c512914d12ad77542943f16
• Download URL:
  https://stacks.cdc.gov/view/cdc/184674/cdc_184674_DS1.pdf
• File Type:
  [PDF - 1012.69 KB ]