385-Methanol Operations / 748
Met
h
anol
Op
erations
BOS-PRD-07.900609
x
Hoses
shall
be grounded in methanol loading and unloading situations. Methanol is not a static
accumulator. Electrical conductivity of methanol is relatively high when compared to that of most fuel
materials.
4
.1.
2 N
itro
g
en
N
itro
g
en
is a chemical element that has the symbol
N
, atomic number of 7 and atomic mass 14.00674 u.
Elemental nitrogen is a colorless, odorless, tasteless and mostly inert gas at standard conditions, constituting
78.08% by volume of Earth atmosphere.
UN number is 1066 (See
MSDS PRAXAIR P- 4631-H
).
Rapid release of nitrogen gas into an enclosed space can displace oxygen, and therefore represents an
asphyxiation hazard. This may happen with few warning symptoms, since the human carotid body relatively
slow and a poor low-oxygen (hypoxia) sensing system. An example occurred shortly before the launch of the
first Space Shuttle mission in 1981, when two technicians lost consciousness and died after they walked into
a space located in the Shuttle's Mobile Launcher Platform that was pressurized with pure nitrogen as a
precaution against fire. The technicians would have been able to exit the room if they had experienced early
symptoms from nitrogen-breathing.
Large volumes of nitrogen gas are evolved from small volumes of liquid nitrogen (1 litre of liquid giving 0.7 m
3
of vapour) and this can easily replace normal air in poorly ventilated areas leading to the danger of
asphyxiation. It
should
be noted that oxygen normally constitutes 21% of air. Atmospheres containing less
than 10% oxygen can result in brain damage and death (the gasping reflex is triggered by excess carbon
dioxide and not by shortage of oxygen), levels of 18% or less are dangerous and entry into regions with
levels less than 20% is not recommended (Notices are posted in the stairwell altering lab workers to the
dangers in case of Oxygen deficiency alarm sounding).
Oxygen Content
(Volume %)
Effects and Symptoms
21% Normal breathing
17% A candle is extinguished. Vision may be impaired
12-16%
Labored breathing, increased heart rate.
Lack of attention and coordination
11-14%
Unable to think. No longer perceives danger. Ability to self rescue is
impaired. Fatigue, injury to heart, fainting
8-11%
Fainting without warning. Nausea, vomiting, unable to stand, walk or
crawl. Person is dying but does not care. It’s all quite painless.
6-8%
Faint almost immediately, heart may continue beating for a few minutes,
resuscitation possible if immediate
0-6%
Fainting, almost immediate coma, convulsions, respiratory arrest, death,
brain damage even if resuscitated
4
.1.
3
Fire sa
f
et
y
Flammability: Methanol is defined by OSHA as a class IB flammable liquid.
Flash point is defined as the minimum temperature at which the vapor pressure of a liquid is sufficient to form
an ignition mixture with air near the surface of liquid. Pure methanol has a flash point of 12°C (54°F).
When the ambient temperature is less than the methanol flash point, the fire hazard is reduced. However,
local hot spots can exceed the flash point and methanol can be ignited. Warmer ambient conditions increase
the overall fire hazard. Cancel the operation if there are lightnings with storm in the vicinity, and make sure
there are no flame being spitted out by flarebooms (500m zone entry supposed to cover it)
Version 04. Original date: 22/06/2012. Version date: 31/12/2014. Valid version only on QMS site. Uncontrolled document when printed.
Procedure prepared by: BOS Head of Operations. Approved by: BOS Head of Operations. Validated by: BOS Quality Representative.
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