Document DGbNqqDzBb1M00KD3JnnLYweB

r.QP r\uu ucci iain Lloyd Davison Deer Park (Safety) T. R. Lipscomb -Jfcer Park (.Works Manager) n * Interoffice Correspondence To: From. Ddte: ,, ... Subject: Ted Guth - Deer Park (Plastics) R. F. Adams - GCA (Environmental Services) February 1, 1978 " ~~ ~ ~ Environmental Services: Industrial Hygiene/Safety Plastics Plant - Deer Park Works Explosive Potential of PVC Dusts ~~ D 118-C Enclosed are copies of additional data on the explosive properties of PVC dust clouds. The tests were run on samples from Deer Park in the period 1970-1972. As previously indicated, the explosive hazard is very low and the material is considered safe by the testing laboratories. If you have any comments or questions regarding these reports, please let me know. RFA/gg Enclosure R. F. Adams Environmental Services File Ho.: Route -to. 11. UUTOs______a.........- .............................. ,, tmo 1 ina_____J,Z R. F. Adams................... J. M. Van Winkle..... B. H. Christensen.... G. H. Engelbretspn.. A. R. Swift........^2..... Lab Technicians ..... ai Diamond Shamrock OCC 11118 Alexander & Alexander, Inc. 1185 Avenue of the America': New York. N. Y. 10035 Telephone 212 575-8000 Alexander Jl&lexande April 11, 1972 Mr. Robert E. Frey, Director Safety & Environmental Engineering DIAMOND SHAMROCK CHEMICAL COMPANY 300 Union Commerce Building Cleveland, Ohio 44115 Re: EXPOLOSIVE CiiARACTEPvfSflCS^OI^FVC DUST Dear Bob: After reviewing your communication of April 5, 1972 on the captioned, I contacted Joe Zareraba and discussed this matter with him. His file indicates that this subject has been previously cohered by the Factory Mutual Engineering and himself, indicating that PVC resins will char, melt and burn in an ignition source by`self extinguishing when the source of ignition is removed. ' Tests were conducted on PVC samples from Deer Park, and we have test reports on this substance under the follow ing dates: 12/2/70; 1/14/71; and 2/4/72. In view of the contents of these ''testing" reports, it is my considered opinion, that / February 4, 1972 P.O Box 1350 Telex 044- 7254 Telephoto (314) 434-633Q Mr. J. E. Barlow, Process Engineer Plastics Diamond Shamrock Chemical Company P.O. Box 500 Deer Park, Texas 77536 *. . *- Dear Mr. Barlow: He have completed our testing of six samples of Diamond Shamrock's Proprietary FVC resins for combustion and explosion testing. These samples are the ones you sent in conjunction with your November 4, 1971 letter. These are the samples that weis marked by name and with the letters A through F. M Our lab reports the following: Combustion-Test These materials char; melt and burn in an" ignition source by self extinguishing vhen the source is removed. Black smoke and flammable vapors are produced as well as flame and heat contribution to existing fire. Explosion Test . In the Factory Mutual dust explosion apparatus under proper condition of igniation and dispersion and explosion cloud, could not be produced with these materials. Test were performed on the as received material, on the minus 100 mesh fill ^ive Section, and on double the normal sample sice, both in the unvented condition and with a vent ratio equivalent to 1 sq. ft. per ISO cu. ft. Thus, based on the above I i t _ fTir wlim ini 'MHTBBMMTM^TilTiTTfrntM^irTTITnHIHHWiii / We hope this covers the information you requested and wish to apologize for the lateness in getting this information to you; however, as the material was re ceived during the Christmas rush our labs were not able to get to this before now. He wish to thank you for your continued interest in these matters and if we can be of any further service, please advise. Very truly yours. J. L. Kosewell St. Louis District JLR:gm 7cc: ALL-Prov. - Morley lcc; ALL-Cleveland OCC 11120 V". <5nvf> Factory Muiuai oy^iem /. J. Resavail J. P. Martin ;, Diamond Slmrarock Corporation Door Park, Taxas Indax Ko. 74454________ ________ 86. Louis D. 0. smc ' Dscembar 2, 1970 * \ * . i-1 CV The throe propriotary FVC povdoro raceived from W. V. Mason of tha Insured ... hem bean tooted for combustion harard. The samples aro identified by . number and lot. . .. 0/^ 1* 3011-CR-02-AA lot /03S2 "; .' i$*0/*-/?-03--A* LcT Hr :' - 2. 3jttl-*lN-<yf lot 40327__ S. 52702- CR-02 lot 40342 . ; ; ^3 u ~ //J -o\ ` /lot q.obz.7 \ (M1,nJ ' G-R -0 3-. Lt>r If03 Combustion Tests ^^tena materials char in a match flsma but do not ignite. They contribute fir to n .Kokur; burner flaino, melt, cad char and burn briefly vith black Booty eaoko. All self-extinguish shortly after the ignition source ia removed. Pievo Sections - u.. Approximately 40% of these materials ar hold on a 100 mesh a leva. _.cro hold oa a 200 neah sieve. A trace posses the 200 mash siavo. - Dust Explosion Teats About A0% - ' . v? n. - J >' -* ;v rT Under favorable conditions of ignition end dispersion In the factory Mutual ' duet explosion apparatus, an explosive dust cloud could not be produced with the3a materials either in the unvented condition or vented at a ratio of I oq it tO 180 CU ft. `* :* . ' -* . Tha -5-200 mesh portions war subjected to tho same teat vith no pressures . being developed other than the normal blank pressure in tho unvanted aampla. JjTM/ph Homo - 1 ca 1 ec ct. Louis D.O. ca M?3 % ca LK & co Inop. X Co Chca Lab# *i l If . T"*" t *-5ffiCttra ESP 0 H 01H C M3-ta J. E. Zimmerman IP-349 fCOM DATE DJiA^ May 5, 1972 A. Kover In responce to your question regarding the customer request for a statement concerning the explosive properties of PVC resins, we submit the following: The Deer Park PVC Plant submitted samples of three different resins to Factory Mutual Engineering Systems to have them tested for combustion and explosive properties in their explosion, testing laboratories. Their laboratory report, contained in the attached letter to Deer Park, Indicates that ........................................................................................ aefu ^wTTrjPj - AKrmec Attach A. Kover It is my feeling that a copy of this letter should suffice to answer the customers request and put them at ease regarding this matter. If you prefer that this letter and information be forwarded from our t department rather than yours please call and advise. OCC 11122 .X /. February 4, 1972 Kr. J. E. Barlow, Process Engineer Plastics Diamond Shamrock Chemical Company P.O. Box 500 Deer Park, Texas 77536 P.O. Box 1350 Maryland M:.: ~` <;i 633-'-3 T^chor-^C' 3 5' Telex 0-44- 7254 Telephone (314) 434-63-iQ -- - Dear Mr. Barlow; '' . We have completed our testing c six samples of Diamond Shamrock's'Proprietary FVC resins for combustion and explosion testing. These samples are the ones you sent in conjunction with your November 4, 1971 letter. These are the samples that were marked by name and with the letters A through F. * Our lab reports the following: 1. - Combustion Test - V' . .- These materials chaq melt and burn in an ignition source by self extinguishing when the source is removed. Black smoke and flaimaole vapors are produced as well as flame and heat contribution to existing fire. Explosion Test /- .. In the Factory Mutual dust explosion apparatus under proper condition of igniation and dispersion and explosion cloud, could not be produced with these materials. Test were performed on the as received material, on the minus 100 mesh fill ~ive Section, and on double the normal sample size, both in the unvented condition and with a vent ratio equivalent to 1 sq. ft. per 180 cu. ft. Thin jin Wind : Htw i"iu,aw4.'al- "ia;fgae'('is^.'dt.i.nl"Lu he. suIl PfCjlUlti - - ."/ We hope this covers the information you requested and wish to apologize for the lateness in getting this information to you; however, as the material was re ceived during the Christmas rush our labs were not able to get to. this berore now. . "- -V We wish to thank you for your continued interest in these matters and if we can be of any further service, please advise. Very truly yours. J. L. Rosewell St. Louis District JLR:gm 7cc: ALL-Prov. - Korley lec: ALL-Cleveland " ' ` ' OCC 11123 /toA' / -- r l0 Interoffice Correspondence Copies to: Rod Beck^k- Deer Park (Plastics) T. R. Li^^omb - Deer Park (Works Manager) 11 Lloyd Davison - Deer Park (Safety) Hhs___________________________________ Ted Guth - Deer Park (Plastics) R. F. Adams - GCA (Environmental Services) January 23, 1978 Subject: Environmental Services: Industrial Hygiene/Safety Plastics Plant - Deer Park Works Explosive Characterics of PVC Dust D 1 13-C Attached is information regarding explosibility tests which were run on various PVC dusts from the Delaware City Plant. Note that the compounding area samples gave positive results in the tests, but that a very energetic ignition source was required to initiate the combustion. Also, it is significant that the explosion hazard can be reduced to near zero if the airborne dust levels can be kept below the Explosive Limit (about 65,000 mg/m^). Since measurements have shown the worst conditions to be lower than this by a factor of 100 or more, the hazard seems minimal In the Compounding Area. Let me have your comments on the enclosed information, and If you have questions or want to test samples from Deer Park, please give me a call. RFA/gg Attachment R. F. Adams Environmental Services File No........................................................... Route to: J. C. Molina. R. F. Adamllo............................ ....... --Jt M.'^Van Winkle- ~^TMs=:aT^n36n.:''-t^ G. H. Engelfcrotson..................A. R. Swift....................-..............- Lab Technicians ...... -- Diamond Shamrock OCC 11124 April 5, 1972 Mr. James J. Kolchin Alexander & Alexander, Inc. 1185 Avenue of the Americas New York, New York 10036 Dear Jim: Explosive Characteristics of P~VC. Dust I must confess that when I reviewed Aetna's industrial hygiene study on the Delaware City Plastics plant dated April 5, 1971, 1 became concerned about the potential lead exposure to the employees, while largely over looking the comment that the dust sample was found to be explosive.when tested in their laboratories. We have recently made a series of industrial hygiene studies on all of the dusty areas in the Plastics plant and are returning this VJeek to check a specific compound that is reputed to be more dusty than others. We do not have the analytical results of this testing as yet, but should have the information complete in a week to 10 days. Of an immediate concern, hov;ever, is the need to better evaluate the dust hazard from an explosive standpoint, and we are requesting the complete description of the testing that was performed at Aetna last year and their measure of the explosive pressures developed during the testing. In addition, by copy of this letter, I am asking Joe Zaremba if he could ma>e arrangements through FIA to test several dust samples that we collected last week to verify the potential danger from explosion or fire. If FIA will not undertake to do this checking for us, we x^ould like your recommendations on where we could send the samples and the type of infor mation we should be asking for. Sincerely yours, DIAMOND SHAMROCK CHEMICAL COMPANY REF:c ts cc: H. E. Birr J. Zarem.ba J. Zimmerman Safety 6- Environmental Engineering OCC 11125 ` --` r'f'irooir'OtiOn