Subpart H

Hazardous Materials

Designed by:
PARACELSUS (1493-1541)
“All substances are poisons.
What matters is the dose.”

Even water can be a poison.

 Major Components
 Definitions
 Flammable & Combustible Liquids
 Storage
 Handling Liquids
 Refineries, Chemical Plants, & Distilleries
 Explosives & Blasting Agents
 Storage and handling of anhydrous
ammonia
 Definitions
 Permissible Exposure Limit (PEL): the
maximum time weighted concentration at
which 95% of exposed, healthy adults
suffer no adverse effects over a 40 hour
work week. An 8 hour time weighted
average concentration, unless otherwise
noted.
 Definitions
 Time-weighted average limit (TWA): The
average amount of a substance a healthy
adult can be exposed to over an eight-hour
period.
 Definitions
 Threshold Limit Value (TLV): The airborne
limits of permitted concentrations of
hazardous chemicals that represent
conditions under which it is believed that
nearly all workers may be repeatedly
exposed day after day without adverse
effect.
 Definitions

 Boiling point: boiling point of a liquid at a

pressure of 14.7 pounds per square inch
absolute (psia)

 Flash point: minimum temperature at

which a liquid gives off vapor in sufficient
concentration to form an ignitable mixture
with air near the surface of the liquid.
 Definitions

 Flammable liquid: flash point below 100°F

(37.8°C), must be known as Class I liquids

 Class IA: flash point below 73°F (22.8°C)

and a boiling point below 100°F (37.8°C)

 Class IB: flash point below 73°F (22.8°C)

and a boiling point at or above 100°F
(37.8°C)
 Definitions

 Class IC: flash point at or above 73°F

(22.8°C) and below 100°F (37.8°C)
 Examples of Class I Liquids
Class IA Class IB Class IC

Ethylene Oxide Acetone Paraldehyde

Ethyl Chloride Ethyl Alcohol Butyl Alcohol

Propylene Oxide Benzene Chlorobenzene

N-pentane Gasoline Turpentine

 Definitions
 Combustible liquid: any liquid having a
flash point at or above 100°F (37.8°C).

 Class II liquids: flash point at or above

100°F (37.8°C) and below 140°F (60°C),
except any mixture having components
with a flash point of 200°F (93.3°C) or
higher, the volume of which make up 99%
or more of the total volume.
 Definitions

 Class III liquids: flash point at or above

140°F (60°C)

 Class IIIA liquids: flash point at or above

140°F (60°C) and below 200°F (93.3°C)

 Class IIIB liquids: flash point at or above

200°F (93.3°C)
 Examples of Class II &
Class III Liquids

Class II Class IIIA Class IIIB

Diesel Fuel Home Heating Cooking Oils

Oil

Paint Thinner Acetic Acid Motor Oil

Flammable & Combustible
Liquids
 When a combustible liquid is heated to
within 30°F (16.7°C) of its flash point, it
must be handled with the requirements for
the next lower class of liquids.
Flammable (Explosive) Limits
 Flammable range: The proper proportion of
air and vapor from a flammable or
combustible liquid in which an explosion
can occur
Flammable (Explosive) Limits
 Lower flammable limit: minimum
concentration of vapor in air below which
propagation of flame does not occur

 Upper flammable limit: maximum

concentration of vapor in air above which
propagation of flame does not occur
 Container & Portable
Tank Storage
 Only approved containers and portable
tanks may be used for storage

 Portable tanks must have provisions for

emergency venting
 Storage Cabinets
 Not more than 60 gallons of Class I or
Class II liquids, or 120 gallons of Class III
liquids may be stored in a cabinet

 Internal temperature must not exceed

325°F when subjected to a 10 minute fire
test

 Conspicuously labeled, “Flammable –

Keep Fire Away”
 Storage Cabinets
 The bottom, top, door, and sides of metal
cabinets must be at least No. 18 gage
sheet metal and double walled with 1½”
air space

 Door provided with a 3 point lock

 Door sill raised at least 2” above the

cabinet bottom
 Storage Rooms
 Must comply with test specifications
included in NFPA 251-1969,

“Standard Methods of Fire Tests of Building

Construction and Materials”
 Storage Rooms
 Openings to other rooms must be provided
with liquid-tight raised sills or ramps at
least 4” in height, or

 Floor in storage area at least 4” below the

surrounding floor

 Room must be liquid-tight where the walls

join the floor
 Storage Rooms
Rating & Capacity
Fire Fire Maximum Total
Protection Resistance Floor Allowable
Provided Area(ft2) Quantities
(gal/ft2)
Yes 2 hr 500 10

No 2 hr 500 4

Yes 1 hr 150 5

No 1 hr 150 2
 Storage Rooms
 Class I liquids approved under Subpart S

 Class II & III liquids must be approved for

general use
 Ventilation
 Every inside storage room must be
provided with either a gravity or a
mechanical exhaust ventilation system

 Must provide a complete change of air at

least 6 times per hour
 Storage Rooms
 Aisle at least 3’ wide

 Containers over 30 gallons must not be

stacked

 Dispensing only by approved pump or self-

closing faucet
 Storage Inside Buildings
 Flammable or combustible liquids must
not be stored so as to limit the use of
exits, stairways or areas used for egress
 Storage Inside Buildings
Office Occupancies
 Storage prohibited except what is required
for operation of equipment

 Kept in closed metal containers in a

storage cabinet, safety cans, or an inside
storage room not having a door used by
the public
 Fire Control
 Suitable fire control devices such as small
hose or portable fire extinguishers must
be available where flammable or
combustible liquids are stored
 Fire Control
At least one 12-B fire extinguisher must be
located:
 Outside of, but not more than 10 ft from
the door to any storage room

 Not less than 10ft, nor more than 25 ft,

from any Class I or II liquid storage area
located outside a storage room but inside
a building
 Fire Control

 Open flames and smoking not permitted

in storage areas

 Materials that react with water must

not be stored in the same room as
flammable and combustible liquids
 Industrial Plants
Applies to plants where:
 Flammable liquids are incidental to the
principal business; or

 Flammable liquids are used only in unit

physical operations which do not involve
chemical reaction

 Does not apply to chemical plants,

refineries or distilleries
 Industrial Plants
Containers
 Flammable or combustible liquids must be
stored in tanks or closed containers.
 Industrial Plants
Containers
The quantity of liquid that may be stored
outside of an inside storage room or
cabinet must not exceed:
 25 gallons of Class IA liquids in containers
 120 gallons of Class IB, IC, II, or III
liquids in containers
 660 gallons of Class IB, IC, II, or III
liquids in a single portable tank
 Handling Liquids at Point
of Final Use
 Flammable liquids must be kept in
covered containers when not actually in
use.
 Handling Liquids at Point
of Final Use
Liquids may be transferred into containers
within a building only in the following
manner:
 Through a closed piping system
 From safety cans
 By means of a device drawing through the
top
 From containers by gravity through an
approved self closing valve
 Unit Physical Operations
 One side accessible for fire control
purposes

 Drainage provided to direct flammable or

combustible liquid leakage to safe location

 Adequate ventilation provided in operating

areas
 Tank Vehicle Loading &
Unloading
 Separated from above-ground tanks,
warehouses, and similar facilities by 25 ft
for Class I liquids

 Separated by 15 ft for Class II & III liquids

 Bonding
 Class I liquids must not be dispensed
into containers unless the nozzle and
container are electrically interconnected
Refineries, Chemical Plants,
& Distilleries
 Plants must be protected from
catastrophic fire, explosion and/or release
of toxic materials

 Refer to 29 CFR 1910.119, “Process Safety

Management of Highly Hazardous
Chemicals”
Refineries, Chemical Plants,
& Distilleries
 Process units located so they are
accessible from at least one side for fire
control

 Fire control provisions must be provided

(i.e. extinguishers, water supply)
Explosives & Blasting Agents
 Class A explosives- Maximum hazard;
dynamite, black powder, blasting caps

 Class B explosives- Flammable hazard;

explosives, flash powders, some fireworks

 Class C explosives-Manufactured articles

which contain Class A or Class B explosives,
or both, but restricted quantities.
 Storage of Explosives
 All explosives shall be kept in suitable
magazines

 Blasting caps, detonating primers, etc.

must not be stored in the same
magazine with other explosives
 Storage of Explosives
 Ground around magazines shall slope
away for drainage

 Land surrounding magazines kept clear

of brush and other materials for 25 feet
 Magazines
 Class I magazines required where
quantity of explosives stored exceeds
50 pounds

 Class II magazines may be used where

the quantity stored is 50 pounds or less

 Class I magazines shall be located away

from other magazines in conformity
with Table H-21
 Storage of Explosives
 Class II magazines may be permitted in
buildings when the magazine is not
more than 10 feet from the entrance at
ground level

 Two Class II magazines may be located

in the same building when one is used
only for blasting caps in quantities less
than 5000 and a distance of 10 feet is
maintained between magazines
 Temporary Storage for
Blasting Operations
 Class II magazines must be located away
from other magazines

 Class II magazines and the work area

must be separated by 150 ft for quantities
over 25 pounds

 50 feet for quantities less than 25 pounds

Construction of magazines
Class A Explosives
 Bullet resistant

 Weather resistant

 Fire resistant

 Ventilated sufficiently
Construction of magazines
Class B & C Explosives
 Weather resistant

 Fire resistant

 Ventilated sufficiently
 Outside Storage
Posting requirements
 Signage must be posted stating
"Explosives-Keep Off."
Magazines Requiring Heat
 Heated by either hot-water radiant
heating; or

 Air directed into the magazine building

over hot water or low pressure steam
(15 p.s.i.g.) coils located outside
Magazine Heating Systems
 Radiant heating coils cannot contact
explosives

 Hot-air discharge from heating ducts

must not be directed against explosives

 Building temperature not to exceed

130° F
Magazine Heating Systems
 Electric fans or pumps must be mounted
outside and grounded

 Fan motor and controls shall have

overloads and disconnects

 Electrical switch gear located at least 25

feet from the magazine
Magazine Heating Systems
 Heating source separated from
magazine by 25 feet for electrical and
50 feet for fuel
 Area between heating unit and
magazine clear of all combustible
materials
 Uniform air circulation for temperature
uniformity in the magazine
 Electric safety flashlight, or electric
safety lanterns used for lighting
Transportation of Explosives
 No flame-producing device, firearms or
loaded cartridges while in or near a
motor vehicle transporting explosives

 Never drive, load, or unload the vehicle

in a careless manner
 Anhydrous Ammonia
 Applies to the design, construction,
location, installation, and operation of
anhydrous ammonia systems including
refrigerated ammonia storage systems

 Does not apply to ammonia

manufacturing plants or refrigeration
plants where ammonia is used solely as
a refrigerant
 Approval of Equipment

 ANSI K61.1 - Storage and Handling of

Anhydrous Ammonia

 Fertilizer Institute Standards M-1 -

Storage and Handling of Agricultural
Anhydrous Ammonia

(both incorporated by reference as

specified in Sec. 1910.6)
 Approval of Equipment
 Must be certified, or listed, or labeled,
or otherwise determined to be safe by a
nationally recognized testing laboratory
 Marking Non-refrigerated
containers
 Notation "Anhydrous Ammonia."

 Compliance with the rules of the Code

 Underground or aboveground installation

 Name and address of supplier or trade

name

 Date of fabrication
 Marking Non-refrigerated
containers
 Water capacity of the container in pounds
at 60° F. or gallons, U.S. Standard

 Design pressure in pounds per square inch

 All thickness of the shell and heads

 Maximum level at temperatures between

20° F. and 130° F

 Total outside surface area in square feet

Other Specific Requirements
There are other specific requirements for
certain liquids and gases in the standard.
Examples include:

Oxygen
Acetylene
Hydrogen
Nitrous oxide
Liquefied petroleum gases