If you are attending the National Safety Council Congress and Expo in Philadelphia this week, stop by the Ventis Diner at Industrial Scientific, Booth 1323. Bring your questions to AskDave live at the booth from 3:30 – 6:00 on Monday afternoon and from 10:30 to 1:30 on Tuesday.
I would love to get a chance to meet you there. See you in Philadelphia!
Dave
2 comments
Charles Wilson says:
November 10, 2011 at 5:52 pm (UTC 0)
Greetings,
I am a Region 10 EPA inspector for Clean Air Act 112(r) Risk Management Programs. We strive to prevent a Bhopal-type disaster as well as close-call minor incidents harming the human and natural environment, as do your products and services. We influence prevention and you provide necessary hardware.
During an EPA 112(r) risk management program inspection, I noticed a modern-technology ammonia detector in an ammonia compressor room. It was plugged into a conventional 120 volt / 20 amp quad-plex electrical outlet — as may be found in a home or common commercial wiring.
I felt this was an inadequate attempt to use available technology — poor execution. Subsequently, I’ve begun asking gas detection folks and local electrical code enforcement persons, “what guidelines and codes are advisable in using toxic/hazardous chemical detection?” My expectation is installation instructions for gas detectors should indicate this is a life-safety system (especially those signaling hazard presence and need to evacuate). Additional this use should be protected from service interruption, including human errors. During the inspection I mentioned, I envisioned a worker with minimal english-language skills, inadvertently disabling or unplugging a gas detector. Also mechanical and other outage potentials come to mind.
From semiconductor factory experience background, I can imagine a number of good practice or even regulation possibilities which I have NOT seen codified, so far, i.e.:
- electrical conduit protection for power supply lines (hardwired in conduit or NEMA-appropriate protection)
- uninterruptable power supply back-up for hazardous gas detection system if a hazard source is “guaranteed up” or if residual hazard, (ex. pressurized vessel), remains dangerous after the power goes out.
- protection of input sensor wiring – conduit for low signal level – to protect it from material handling, etc.
- protection of output annunciator wiring (whether 120 volts or signal-level output to lights or horn), providing protection as above.
- electric supply panel warning of “life safety device – do not power down without alternate provisions” and appropriate power-off provisions for alternate protection or administrative remedies (alternate portable monitors? human monitor radio/cell backup or procedure to run vent fans during monitor outage?, where appropriate).
My purpose is to ask, Do you have recommendations for your products’ use covering these concerns and ideas?
Do you advise customers to consult regulations of best practices guidelines?
Do you offer peripheral products (i.e. UPS options, to enhance your products efficacy for real-life application concerns — a total system product?).
My goals are: to educate myself for advising the regulated community, provide professional inspections with awareness of real-life application details and understand hard -regulation versus best practices distinction. Your response may help me with potential benefit of stimulating better-alignment of your products and services with evolving expectations.
I hope you have some good information for me or advice on who I might discuss this with.
Charles Wilson BSME, CQE
EPA RMP Inspector
206.553.8315
Dave Wagner says:
November 16, 2011 at 6:28 pm (UTC 0)
Charles,
I just saw your comment on this post today. Sorry for the delay.
I agree completely with what you are saying here. That type of ammonia detector hardly seem appropriate for the environment or the application.
We try hard to direct users to the appropriate regulations, particularly for fixed type detection equipment such as this. They certainly need to be aware of the applicable installation requirements. We do also offer a number of periphal products such as alarms, power supplies, UPS systems, etc. that are appropriate to use in these applications.
The ISA has a number of standards and working standards committees that address these typese of concerns. Most applicable to this situation would be the ANSI/ISA SP92 standards which are guidelines for both portable and fixed toxic gas detection equipment, with substandards for each particular gas. Ammonia is one of the gases that is addressed.
Certainly there needs to be more guidelines, standards and enforcement of the same regarding use of this type of equipment. We would support any and all efforts toward making this happen.
Dave