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Encouraging news for vinyl ..idustry com s from VI testing at Southwest R search Institute. I tyilMM|on rhlondn i:. .h In.illy i /. ul a Iki/.tiiJ IImii olhcr luu gases Animals exposed to 5.000 parts mj( million of hydrogen chloride do ioi sufler from long term effects these are two of lire encouraging iroitminary results from studies induttnknn l>y (tin Vinyl Instiliilo t,i*l n ir I ho studies. m progress at (lie southwest Research Institute m San 'Vilomu. IX involve two areas ol con :ern (ire safety and toxicity m fire .ilualKjns ffie two ureas of testing ire separate but the Vmyl Institute M'iievcs tti.it together tho results of hose tests wilt help put current mac uracies concerning PVC products in 0 .i more realistic pers|>eclivo Both (he medical and trie fire safety f.it.iu li at l>oulhwusl Research In .litute are providing valuable (iata lor ise m developing lire safety Measures and in prornolmg PVC as a .ale .tnd diversified product lor iiiildiiKj inalerials and luuiishings I tie VI s lire Vilely research at KHilhwest lias tor used on the lydrogen ctiloiKie (HCl) decay pro ess in Ilk; ( hanging cnviionmenl ol 1 In u situation Our tests on MCI Mi ay are designed to quantify the tualitalive observation that MCI con a-niruiion doesn l remam constant in tu> Ino environment explains Or Villiarn Carroll. Director of technology lor PVC ReSms and 'ompounds al Occidental Chemical mgKHjlton Or Carroll heads Ifte /inyl Insutute s Technical Subcomnm ee on Ftre Safely Rescarcfi I he Vi research is being coor- Itn.iied writ) the National Bureau of 4 MM i. in Is (NUS) to {MovMle IImmii willr lata lor ttieu hazard assessment n mlet fins complex and progressive node! will compile data to produce a oinpuler simulation of a fire situation iliii/mg information specifying (fie p-niiH-tiy ol 11m* room the room s fur u.hMKjs < onsliiictMNi and luiiiishing n itenals rale ot (tame spread, toxici i and other (actors the model will unulale the lire s progress and Ihe ypes of gases it wiU generate Ihe NBS hazard assessment model *nti provide assistant e m lire lighting i <d prevention building design and ooduci testing An architect could ise the model m designing a i.jildmy," Carroll explains changing geomMtry ol Ihe layout to lest smnkti p. illenis. Imu s|mu.mI and more * I lie model wiU also servo as a valuable tool for product devofoprnont and testing. comparing products and simulating their performance m a fire For lue lighters, (he hazard assess ment model wtfl operate as a kind of crysi.il UiU. UHltcahng wtuch .'irons of a buiUJmg are at risk and. with Uie ap(MOfMiale mfHJt. the rale and course tn whicti Ihe fru witi (Negress "II you have a lire of a certain size m a cer ium fkjM ol a budding." Carroll asked, what is the hazard lo the occupants ol tho rest of (lie tmiidmg?" I lie Vmyl Institute is also encourag ed by the medical research m pro gress <il boulhwost Research Institute which is disproving previously ac r epled IICI Ita/ard levels The resear cl i mvolvos a senes of cornbus {on loxicily tests ux|M>smg t>ai Minus and rodents lu varymy levels of MO These pute gas oxponmonts will be lollowcul by tests involving ogrosuro to MCI geneialed m a lire environ im-nt For these tests. tfiey are trying to gemi.jIo sl.ilitc coim ih illations ol MCI wtuch is contrary lo its normal tichnvior ` Carroll said Tltc studios are attempting to lest animal ex posure to a specific concentralion of MCt. judging ttie eltoct at Uvat given level Arthwf CMd Nil r*MNCh( ri loulliwNl fkMiich ImINuK rmaNmi MCI concinl'tlloM uunf continuous *nstymi Tho pnx*M la aUH w iht davtopruani tu^* al SouUioom Ha it aaMaiad by South. ITGoodtKli bdbn- t>i and Jom tadaC Mwytt e FMa Prter- manca TtUlaf lor SawiiiMM HoMorcft InoiHuM dewpoint The case for plastic conduit vs. steel conduit in construction by H.F. van der Voort A ConsHiumbki umount ol publicity lias appeared attacking the use ol plaslic rn.itun.ih. in < onslnit.tiou As a part of Hits general assault, there is either a direct or irnpltod allegation that plastic raceways included m the National Electric Code are dangerous and are nol suilablu replacements lor steel conduit Tins fUiMw.ily hkhr, a < urefuMy disguised cuinmercial promotion Plastic conduit is and has I won replacing metallic conduit materials in conslrucliun since it was first m liodocod in (he National Llccincul Code (Anticle 347) in 1962 For reasons ul lower to*.Is its non corrosive qualities and sujienor physical piojHUlies more PVC ton duit than steel is used in construction today A documentary compiled by Carton Electrical Sciences, Inc examines a number ol tests to determine (fie case for plastic conduit versus steel con duit The lusts were condor.lub by ex perts such as combustion tox icologists. third parly codifying organizations and testing laboratories Each sleel allegation regarding PVC has been addressed by a recognized authority and proven lo be lalse FoNowmg are a few examples ol the tests conducted involving electrical non metallic lubtng (ENT) TIkj Internalioiial Association ol Fire Cluels. Itui Marnoll Corporation and (lie San Francisco Fire Duparlmenl. together conducted a test titled "Operation San Francisco Smoke/Sprmkler Test" in Oclober 1963 Operation San Francisco was designed lo evaluate ihe performance ol certain developments in automatic fire detection, alarm and protection systems under actual fire conditions Test burns were conducted in various room configurations and ENT was useed for room and hallway circuit lighting ll was concluded lioui those losls that electrical nonmetallic tubing elec Iih al systems ojioi.ilud uIIh tenlly itiroughout a three day senes ot large srak) fire losls. oven when Hie rooms went to ttasliovui Factory Mutual Research ol Nor wood, Massachusetts conducted a tesl titled "Electrical Failure of Wires tl I'M ilj | MM.il CAHuhlli UfHitM Simulated Fire Conditions" in Oc lot mu 1064 Under each lesl condition, the nnmholdlltc raceway provided cirruil inlegnty lioni 4 0 limes loiiger than (hat of metallic conduits Factory Mutual com lot led I'VC nil uw.iy;. pio vide an extra margin ot saiely in a lire situation tM'Cair>c elm lu al cirri ills will continue lo lunclion much longer when protected by PVC conduit than by metallic raceways The smoke toxicity issue was ad dressed by S C P.K.khum. Pli L) ABT of BETR Sciences Inc and M B Crawlord P f ol Crawlord Con suiting. Inc in "An Evaluation ol Smoke Toxicity and Toxic Hazard of Electrical Nonmetallic lubmg Com bustion Products." appearing in the Journal uI hro Sciences in January/February. 1984 Packham and Crawlord conclude lhal even when large amounts of ek&lncal nonmolallic lulling are ex posed lo hie coikJiIhjiis severe enough lo cause product doslru:lM)n. the raceway malerial does not release lethal concentrations of HCl In examining Ihe case tor plaslic conduit versus steel conduit, nol only is plastic conduit snjMinor m mosl np plications but serious problems m volvmg steel conduit come to light ll is important lo recognize the al tack by the iron and steel industry for what it is -- an effort to protect a vested commercial inlorcsl without regard to the real issues ot saiely and economy (M F ** oxt n u VKt XinbiM ( MuMfy lx Cxtxi iHcUlcal klMCM, Inc TIM* - Met* M bwa TNa OudMura Tha Com tx PImMc fnwimi *r*M* St** Cxiawn C>imrbxi ' m--I hr k CM Xfmnilow f*OTCxlwt M yuMHA HM uctipl li MM) tl m U|i ) Update: PVC building products Since Mr van der Voort's Viewpoint (2) creation of a national data base piece was written, there have been a and procedures lor smoke toxicity numhor ol dovolofimonts minting to whI luu hazard assessment, HVC building products in general and (J) a study ol the cause ol death and electrical non metallic tubing (ENT) in injury, both acute and chronic, and particular (4) a national mformation/education At the December 12, 1985, hearing campaign about smoke toxicity in Rochester, N Y on the New York hazards of lire including information State-proposed combustion toxicity on prevention, detection and sup regulation. Jack Snell, Director ol the pression Cuntur tor Frro Huseoich, Nutmnul At the January 29 30 Toxicity Ad Bureau of Standards (NBS CFR), m- vtsory Committee (ol the NFPA), Snell vitod the Statu to consider an alter ropoited that throe ol the lour aspoi ts native to its proposed regulation, ol the "National Response" plan are which is based solely on the matter of underway loxicify Snell suggested joining in In a related matte/, ihe NFPA Fox support ol the National Response to icily Advisory Committee, in cooidma Public Concerns About Smoke Toxict (ion iu< ommondations lor the 1987 ty The '*National Response" is a National Electrical Code, reaffirmed cooperative ollort ot Ihe US firo Ad their earlier recommendation rernov ministration, NBS CFR, and the Na mg the three story Imut tor the use ol [tonal Fire Proloction Association Electrical Non metallic Tubing (found (NT PA) in Article 331) Alter a review ol the The "National Response" alter evidence presented, the committee native to the state's regulation in lull there was no valid technical eludes reason lor the three-story limitation It (!) development ol a national is hoped this action will lead to the "screen test " lor toxicity with a "cut elimination ol this restriction in the oil level" below which additional infer 1987 National Electrical Code mdtion should be generated. About Very Important people ... Dr Bari A DiLiddo. who has serv ed as Chairman ol lire Excculivu Board of Ihe Vinyl Institute since its organization in late 1962. retired Irom BFGoodnch Co on April 1 DiLiddo was honored at a dinner receplion on March 4 in Washington. D C . prior to Hie Fxoculive Board mooting field tlio following day Succeeding Of I JiIkJ do as Vinyl Institute Chairman is Steven W Schuoler. Senior Vice President of Occidental Chemical Corp `s Polymers and Plastics opera tions Robert C Sander Treasurer ol the Vinyl inslitulu Lxeculive Uoaid. has been promoted lo Vice President and General Manager ol Iho Manulactur mg Division at Air Products and Chemicals Air Products' PVC business, now part ol tls Industrial Chemicals Division, is managed by Fred Fisher. Business Manager and Vic Bonanni, Assistant General Manager Al the March 5 meeting ol the Ex ecutive Board, a nominating commit tee proposed (lie following new ot licers to succeed Schauler and Sander H Richard * Rick" Flammei ol Visld Polymers as Vice Chairman and Fred Timpe ol CerlainTeed Coip as Treasurer These nominees wcie unanimously approved by Ihe Ex cculivo Boaid and assumed Ihotr ol k.es lhal day David H flail, President ot UFGoodrrch's Goon* Vinyl Division, t the new Goodrich representative on the Executive Board CTL026412 Occic-ntal to acquire Tenneco PVC business Occidental Petroleum Corporation and Tenneco Inc jointly announced in late December that their chemical subsidiaries, Occidental Chemical Corporation and Tenneco Polymers Inc have signed a letter ol intent under which OxyChem would acquire 11>r* fiotyvinyl rhtnndn business nf li'immi Doth romp-uttes am members ol the Vinyl Institute Tenneco s current rVC resin capacity is approximately 700 million pounds per year This acquisition will bung Occidental's PVC resin capacity to about 1 35 btltion pounds per year, making the company Urn second largest U S producer of the material nrGoodrich is the largest producer of PVC. with a reported 1 60 billion pound annual capacity Tenneco produces PVC at plants in Burlington. New Jersey and Pasadena, Texas Occidental Chemical also produces PVC in Burl ington, with other plants in Pottslown. Pennsylvania (PVC headquarters). Addis. Louisiana, and Salisbury. Maryland "This investment will greatly enhance Occidental's position in the PVC business and represents another Mop m out program to strengthen and build our chemicals business," *.nid Or Aimaud Mummer, Chairman and Chief Execulive Officer of Oc cidental Petroleum Dr Hammer ex pected a final agreement to be reach od durinq the first quarter of 1986. subject to review by the appropriate governmental agencies and approval ol Txilti companies' boards of dime tors Steven W Schaefer, new Chairman of the Vinyl Institute's Executive Board, is Senior Vice President of Oc (.'denial's PVC ojrcratioiis Encouraging news .. fuvn fvttjr ? in brief Preliminary results from testing in In ale that animals exposed to 5,000 < ills jror million ol HOI do not stiller -.in long term efler l\ based no lung iih Ikm tests this dn*.ugo level is k (ally higher than that normally found i a lue situation Testing at lower and ugher levels has not been com Med but evidence suggests that ie hazardous nature ot HCI lias <*en overestimated traditionally, lethal levels ol MCI ere thought to be as low as 1.000 2 000 purls |>ei million and by umo even as low as 200 to 500 uts per million Unfortunately, these ublished levels were never tested irojrerly hut were accepted as truth " au oil said As the testing continues at > mlhwesl Besearch Institute, data om txith areas of study are on ouraginq to all in the vinyl industry vlthough ttic studies are separate in 'ufjxiso. both the fire research ting and the combustion toxicity .ting slrould help Hie Vinyl Institute prove that the hazard of HCI has grossly overestimated in the nsl through traditional beliefs and ` s than ac curate toxicity tests l Vinyl In'.lilule P xer ulivn Director TToy (.iotli-juan lias rosjxMidod to .w cusaltons linking lirefightefs" rise in aru.er to Hie use of plastics in con structmn GoMesman's letter to the r'ditor appeared recently m lire Cleveland Plain Dealer, the Chicago fiun Times anrt the New Yotk Journal <>/ Commerce Copies mu available Irom the Vinyl Institute at the address heU >w ^ The oflices of the Vinyl Institute relocated on January 20th to Wayne, New Jersey Our new address and phono number is The Vinyl Institute Wayne Interchange Plaza II 155 Route 46 West Wayne. NJ 07470 (201) 890 9299 * the Annual Mooting ol the Vinyl In stilute is scheduled lor May 27 and 28 in Washington. DC further mlor mation regarding the meeting will be provided shortly -5- J? "HE ViNYL '.3TITUTE A divison of Society of ne Plastics industrv *55 Rcue *6 -Vest. Wayne NJ 07470 201) 890-9299 "he Aavisorv s oubt'Shed ejartenv by ~e Ccmmurcations Comir see o* The Vinyl institute 'a serve as a `orum `or 2>scu$S'0n or ey issues affecting :he /inyt moustry *oday 3 lu u ,U debt u / fliS* u>& S-^f 3 8? 85P? I 8 Or O n (/> > THE VINYUNSTITUTE APRIL 1986 FDA issues proposal on PVC packaging Following over 10 years of efforts by (tie plastics industry to demonstrate the safety of polyvinyl chlondo (PVC). tl*e Food and Drug Administration pro(X)scd a ruling on February 3 to alk>w the use of PVC m food coniacf articlos sucti as bolftcs and packaging The proposed ruling came after a 1975 profms.il strictly limiting the use of PVC in food packaging was determined In lie out dated and was witltdrawn The FDA proposal amends 16 ex tslmg tood addrtrve regulations and establishes two new regulations In tnwnikinq the 1975 (xopn'.i'il ruk* the FDA is proposing to ' provide for |te safe use ol roilmn vinyl rhkmrle polyrners t)y establishing hmks on the amount of residual vinyl chloride monomer Ihey may contain.' accor ding to Ihe Federal Register It further proposes to "codily all known-ixxii sanctions tor vinyl chtonde polymers and to "provide tin the uv' nf * eil.im previously unregulated vmyl r.hkwxle polymers m manufacturing vinyl Chtonde hollies " T mally. Ihe f DA proposes lo ''delete vmyt chloride vmykdcno ctilorKle cofxtfymors Irom the bst of malerials lhal may be used as coatings on Iresti citrus fruits " Scientific and legal developments smee the 1975 proposed ruling have been credited In TDA'S turnaround In Ihe 1975 ruling, some uses ol vinyl chloride polymers (homo and copolymers), including uses m semirigid and rigid food contact ar ticles. were prohilxled T he F DA cites "vastly improved production technology which has made it jjossi bte for manutacturers to reduce the level of residual vmyl chloride monomer m vmyl chloride polymer by a factor of nearly one million " Tho nifnnry ahto rtfixl ndvriiN'r**. sewn lific technology wbch allows liiem lo determine Ihe safety level ol additives lhal may contain carcmogcmc im purities, ensuring safer products lor packaging The FDA is proposing a 5 pari per bilkon (ppb) limit on residual vmyl chloride monomer (RVCM) lor plasticized films and coalings while vmyt chloride vmylidone chkiude would be sutifocl lo a 50 ppb ITVCM limitation The proposal limits pifio us ed to carry water inside a food pro cessing flanl lo a 50 pph ITVCM level The new regulations inrlurte sh twin 177 1975 which sets a 10 ppb limit lor rigid and semi rigid PVC food con tact articles white section 181 37 recognizes Ihe prior sanctioned status ot I (oil i homof lolyi not ,iod < n|Hilyine* PVC resms used as films coatings water jmjw. flexible Ii thing guskcls.tjoltk* or jar lineis and rigid sheet The Fctjruary 3 proposal represents a major stop forward lor lle jrlnstics industry in efforts lo e* tend 11e lood par Wagtnri market lo m i tod' I*V(' pUMtui I*, lb** |riojx r .if ex lends PVC jiar kaqmq opjxrfluriitms lo a lull r ni(|o ol frxxf rnnt.H I art* h\ including a jrossibta market in liquor bottles Tfio rt)A has requested comments on Ihe proposed ruling drm April 4 1986, to uv.t'.t m Iheu r.'.uin*| a Imi.iI ruling In order to respond to (be FDA'S request. Hie Vinyl Institute has solicited comments Irom its member companies VI is working with its legal counsel. Jerome Heckman ol Keller and Heckman, to develop a unified industry response from tire Srx iety of Hie Plastics Industry CTL026411