GUIDE TO ATMOSPHERIC TESTING IN

CONFINED SPACES
This application note is • Underground utility vaults
intended to provide • Agriculture silos
general information and
to act as a reminder of • Railcar tanks
the dangers associated • Marine vessel tanks
with atmospheric hazards • Tunnels
in a confined space. It
outlines the following: • Grain elevators

• What is a confined space? ATMOSPHERIC HAZARDS IN CONFINED SPACES

• Atmospheric hazards found in a confined space. Atmospheric hazards in a confined space are those that
expose entrants to a risk such as death, entrapment,
WHAT IS A CONFINED SPACE? injury, or acute illness from one or more of the following
The confined space entry causes:
standard was established by Oxygen
OSHA 29CFR 1910.146 in April An atmospheric oxygen concentration below 19.5%
of 1993. The standard was (oxygen deficiency), or above 23.5% (oxygen
developed to provide a enrichment).
defined work plan for confined space entry.
Confined space entries are part of a daily routine Potential Effects of Oxygen Enriched and Deficient Atmospheres
throughout the industrial workplace. Oxygen
Effects and Symptoms ( At Atmospheric
Content
A Confined Space Is Defined As a Space That: Pressure )
( % by Vol. )
• Is large enough for an employee to enter and > 23.5% Oxygen enriched, extreme fire hazard
perform work. 20.9% Oxygen concentration in normal air
• Has limited or restricted means for entry or exit. 19.5% Minimum permissible oxygen level
• Is not designed for continuous human occupancy. Decreased ability to work strenuously; may
impair coordination and may cause early
15% to 19%
A Permit-Required Confined Space Is Defined symptoms for persons of coronary, pulmonary
or circulatory problems
As: A confined space, plus one of the following:
Respiration further increases in rate and depth;
10 % to 12%
• Contains, or has a known potential to contain, a poor judgment, blue lips
hazardous atmosphere. Mental failure, fainting, unconsciousness,
8% to 10%
ashen face, nausea, and vomiting
• Contains material with the potential for Recovery still possible after four to five
engulfment. 6 % to 8% minutes. 50% fatal after six minutes. Fatal after
• Has an internal design that could entrap or eight minutes.
asphyxiate the entrant. Coma in 40 seconds, convulsions, respiration
4% to 6%
ceases, death
• Contains any recognized safety or health hazard.
These values are approximate and vary, due to an individual’s state
of health and physical activity.
Examples of confined spaces:
Combustible Gases
• Storage tanks and vessels
• Sewers and manholes
A flammable gas or vapor in excess of 10% of its COMBUSTIBLE GAS - PERCENT BY VOLUME
lower explosive limit (LEL) yet still remaining below Surveying monitors read out in both % LEL and % by
the upper explosive limit UEL). volume. For example the LEL of methane is 5% by
volume, and the UEL is 15% by volume. When a confined
Lower Explosive Limit (LEL) Vs. Upper Explosive
space reaches 2.5% methane by volume this would be
Limit (UEL)
equal to 50% LEL. (5% methane by volume would be
100% LEL.) Between 5 to 15% by volume, a spark could
cause an explosion.
Different gases have different % by volume
concentrations to reach 100 % LEL. Some examples are:

Propane’s LEL is 2.1% by volume; Pentane’s LEL is 1.5%

by volume; Hexane’s LEL is 1.1% by volume and
• The lowest concentration (air-fuel gasoline’s LEL is 1.3% by volume.
mixture) at which a gas can ignite is TOXIC GASES
called lower explosive limit (LEL).
An atmospheric concentration of any toxic compound
Concentrations below this limit are
above the permissible exposure limit established by
too lean to burn.
OSHA, NIOSH or ACGIH. Here are examples of common
• The highest concentration that can toxic gases found in a confined space.
be ignited is its upper explosive
limit (UEL). Above that Toxic Gas TWA STEL Ceiling IDL
concentration, the mixture is too Ammonia 25 ppm 35 ppm -- 500
rich to burn. ppm
Carbon monoxide 25 ppm -- 200 1 ,500
THE FIRE TETRAHEDRON ppm ppm
Chlorine 0.5 ppm 1 ppm -- 30 ppm
For combustion to occur, there must be four
elements: Hydrogen -- -- 4.7 ppm 50 ppm
cyanide
1. Fuel Hydrogen sulfide 10 ppm 15 ppm -- 300
2. Oxygen to support ppm
combustion Nitric oxide 25 ppm -- -- 100
ppm
3. Heat or a source of
Sulphur dioxide 2 ppm 5 ppm -- 100
ignition
ppm
4. Chain reaction, Life-Threatening Effects: CO and H2S
i.e., the above
Effects Of Carbon Monoxide Exposure
three must be
ppm Time Effects & Symptoms
present in such
proportions as to 35 8 hours Permissable Exposure Level
allow a flame to propagate. 200 3 hours Slight headache, discomfort
400 2 hours Headache, discomfort
This is called the fire tetrahedron
(formerly known as the fire triangle). 600 1 hours Headache, discomfort
If any of the four elements are missing, combustion 1000 to 2000 2 hours Confusion, discomfort
cannot occur. The fourth element, chain reaction, 1000 to 2000 ½ to 1 hour Tendency to stagger
means that not any mixture of fuel and oxygen can 1000 to 2000 30 Slight heart palpitations
sustain a flame if heated. The proportions must 2000 to 2500 30 Unconsciousness
allow a flame to propagate. For normal air, this 4000 > 1 hour Fatal
means that the fuel concentration must be between Effects Of Hydrogen Sulfide Exposure
the LEL and the UEL.
 ppm Time Effects & Symptoms
10 8 hour Permissable exposure level
50 to 100 1 hour Mild eye and respiratory
irritation
200 to 300 1 hour Marked eye and respiratory
irritation
500 to 700 ½ - 1 hour Unconsciousness, death
> 1000 Minutes Unconsciousness, death
MONITORING CONFINED SPACES FOR Before entering the confined space, take samples at
ATMOSPHERIC HAZARDS
several levels, and after entering, monitor the space
Monitoring the air inside a confined space is continuously because conditions can change.
required prior to entering. Testing a confined space wide variety of interchangeable toxic sensors
for atmospheric hazards should be done remotely supplementable with a PID for applications such as
before entering, and should be done in this order: confined space entry.
• Oxygen. Ensure that proper oxygen levels
are present. ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
Federal Register
• Combustible gases. Ensure that combustible
29 CFR 1910.146 Permit Required Confined Spaces for
gases are not present.
General
• Toxic Gases. Ensure that toxic gases Industry
are below the OSHA permissible exposure http://cos.gdb.org
limit. Common toxic gases in a confined space
could be hydrogen sulfide (H2S) and carbon OSHA
monoxide (CO), but other toxic compounds U.S. Department of Labor http://www.osha-
could be present. slc.gov
In a confined space, it is important to take samples
at the top, middle, and bottom to locate varying OSHA Regulations (Standards - 29 CFR) - 1910.146 -
concentrations of gases and vapors. Highly Permit-required confined spaces. www.osha-
concentrated gases can accumulate at the top or slc.gov/OshStd_data/1910_0146.html
bottom of a confined space depending on whether
OSHA Regulations (Standards - 29 CFR) - 1910.146 App C
they are less or more dense than air. Dilute gases
- Examples of Permit-required Confined Space Programs.
and vapors in the ppm range distribute evenly
www.osha-slc.gov/OshStd_data/1910_0146_APP_C.html
throughout a confined space. It is especially
important to sample at a distance from the opening OSHA Regulations (Standards - 29 CFR) - 1910.146 App
because air intrusion near the entrance can give a A - Permit-required Confined Space Decision Flow
false sense of adequate oxygen presence. Chart. www.osha-
slc.gov/OshStd_data/1910_0146_APP_A.html
As the remote air monitoring is completed and the
area is safe for entry, confined space entry permits
Disclaimer: This application note contains only a
should be completed and followed. After the initial
general description of atmospheric testing in a
entry, monitoring the air in the confined space
confined space and equipment used to monitor a
should be continuous. A confined space entry
confined space. Under no circumstances should a
attendant or hole watch should carry out the
confined space be entered or monitoring equipment
continuous monitoring. Conditions in a confined
used except by qualified and trained personnel, and
space can change without warning, due to leakage,
after all instructions have been carefully read and
toxic vapor release, or disturbing the contents of the
understood and all precautions followed.
space.