I would like to point out that American Chemical Society (ACS) Committee on Chemical Safety has recently updated its recommendations on Safe Transportations for Chemical Used in Demonstrations and Educational
Activities. This document can be downloaded at
www.acs.org/ccs - please look for it in the Publications and Resources section of the committee website.
Marta Gmurczyk
ACS Safety Programs
From: ACS Division of Chemical Health and Safety <DCHAS-L**At_Symbol_Here**PRINCETON.EDU>
On Behalf Of Eugene Ngai
Sent: Thursday, January 16, 2020 7:44 AM
To: DCHAS-L**At_Symbol_Here**PRINCETON.EDU
Subject: [EXT] Re: [DCHAS-L] Transporting Hazardous Chemicals on an Elevator - Surprising Statement California Fire Code
[Actual Sender is owner-dchas-l**At_Symbol_Here**princeton.edu]
I'm new to this issue. To me there are many laboratories above or below the 1st floor. How are the cylinders moved to them? Freight elevator? I assume that this regulation is for regular passenger elevators. A 1 lb water capacity
is a lecture bottle which is 440 cc (440 gms water capacity). For any good MOCVD research a cylinder containing at least 10 times that amount of arsine or phosphine is required for purity reasons. Otherwise it is a waste of time.
I was shocked to audit a University lab in the US that had graduate students physically slide/bump 200 lb cylinders of a highly toxic reactive gas up 2 flights of stairs since there was not an elevator. There was no option.
I assume that the transport of these cylinders are done after leak checking using a electronic leak detector. A leak to spontaneously occur during the brief time it is in the elevator is impossible without some severe physical event.. I
did drop testing of 49 liter cylinder valves without a cylinder cap from a height of 7 ft and never succeeded in loosening or breaking the valve.
Eugene Ngai
Chemically Speaking LLC
www.chemicallyspeakingllc.com
From: ACS Division of Chemical Health and Safety <DCHAS-L**At_Symbol_Here**PRINCETON.EDU>
On Behalf Of Edith Kippenhan
Sent: Wednesday, January 15, 2020 9:30 PM
To: DCHAS-L**At_Symbol_Here**PRINCETON.EDU
Subject: Re: [DCHAS-L] Transporting Hazardous Chemicals on an Elevator - Surprising Statement California Fire Code
Our academic institution had a similar ruling when transporting gas cylinders and dewars, especially LN2.
Most of our hazardous chemicals were transported in hand carry totes, with a maximum size of 1 L bottle, Max 6 bottles. I don't think there was a passenger limitation for those transports.
?
I had an interesting conversation about transporting hazardous chemicals this morning. My co-worker mentioned that the CA Fire Code would allow the transport of a certain quantity of hazardous chemicals when someone is riding the elevator
at the same time. I was skeptical, so I looked it up.
"5003.10.4 Elevators utilized to transport hazardous materials.
5003.10.4.1. When transporting hazardous materials,
elevators shall have no other passengers other than the
individual(s) handling the chemical transport cart.
5003.10.4.2. Hazardous materials liquid containers
shall have a maximum capacity of 20 liters (5.28 gal).
5003.10.4.3. Toxic and highly-toxic gases shall be limited
to a container of a maximum water capacity of 1
pound."
This is a very concerning.
I would appreciate your comments!
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--- For more information about the DCHAS-L e-mail list, contact the Divisional membership chair at
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