Why Ammonium Nitrate, Should be Added to EPA list of EHS
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For example, Canada added ammonium nitrate to Schedule 1 of the Environmental Emergency Regulations (E2) in 2011. We can do the same here in the USA, adding A-N to the list of extremely hazardous substances (EHS) defined in Section 302 of the U.S. Emergency Planning and Community Right-to-Know Act (42 U.S.C. 11002). Appendix 40 C.F.R. 355. 2005 presentation by Jean-Paul Lacoursiere, Eng., Associate Professor, Université de Sherbrooke, Canada. Excellent insight on the explosion hazards of ammonium nitrate resulting in the need for facility and community emergency planning, prevention, preparedness, and mitigation. This information assisted immensely with A-N added to Schedule 1 of the Canada Environmental Emergency Regulations (E2) six years later. NOTE: NFPA 490 Code for the Storage of Ammonium Nitrate was withdrawn in Annual 2009 and incorporated into NFPA 400 Hazardous Materials Code.
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Why Ammonium Nitrate, Should be Added to EPA list of EHS
- 1. 1 Ammonium Nitrate, Fertilizer Grade Why Ammonium Nitrate, fertilizer grade, Should be Added to the Canada Environmental Protection Act (CEPA) Environmental Emergency Regulations (E2) Jean-Paul Lacoursiere, Eng. Associate Professor Université de Sherbrooke 2005
- 2. 2 Outline Part 1: Ammonium Nitrate Accidents Part 2: Risks of Ammonium Nitrate, Fertilizer Grade Part 3: Other Countries Threshold Quantities Part 4: 2002 NFPA Code 490 for the storage of Ammonium Nitrate Part 5: Conclusion
- 3. 3 Part 1: Ammonium Nitrate Accidents
- 4. 4 AZF Toulouse, 2001-09-21 400 t offspec AN 40 to 80 t involved in explosion 30 fatalities 2500 injured 15000 damaged appartments Loss €2.3 billion
- 5. 5 Fire in a Farm Supply Store St-Romain, France, 2003/10/02 View of building of origin before the accident
- 6. 6 2003 - Fire in a Farm Supply Store View of building ruins after the explosion
- 7. 7 2003 - Fire in a Farm Supply Store Damages •3-5 t AN •Fire involving plastic container and AN •26 casualties including 18 firemen (3 of which suffering injuries compromising life), 3 policemen et 5 civilians •82 houses suffering structural damage of varying severity greenhouses Metallic Beam element missiles found up to 500 m Crisis management Control room installed in townhouse 4 helicopters used Advanced medical teams Fire hydrant Evacuation means (12 vehicles) Fire engine destroyed
- 8. 8 Part 1: Ammonium Nitrate Accidents 2004 Sainte-Catherine, Quebec: person exposed to toxic fumes of ammonium nitrate fertilizer and was hospitalized and released 2004 Mihailesti, Romania: 18 deaths and 10 critically wounded during a road accident involving 50 kg sacks resulting in a fire and explosion Many others
- 9. 9 Part 1: More AN Accidents Date Location Quantity Tons P S T Information Fire Decomp Explosion Building Collapse 1904/04/29 Tessebderloo Belgia 150 x •Use of explosive to break pile X 1920/04/14 New York USA 900 x •Nitrate that caught fire •No explosion x 1921/09/21 Oppau Germany 450 x •Use of explosive to break pile x x 1922/09/10 Pennsylvania USA 2 x •Organic coating •No explosion x 1925/05/03 Alabama USA 50 x •Friction of AN impregnated containers x 1916 – 1944 x •6 major accidents involving AN melted •Overheating x x 1940/04 New Jersey USA 67 x •Fire •No explosion x 1946/09/01 Toulouse France 200 x •Fire of a wooden structure •No explosion x x • P Production •S Storage •T Transport
- 10. 10 Part 1: More AN Accidents (contd) Date Location Quantity Tons P S T Information Fire Decomp Explosion Building Collapse 1947/01/01 Canada 400 x •No details x x 1947/04/15 Texas City USA 800 x •Nitrate caught in ship fire •Explosion x x x x 1947/07/28 Brest 450 x •Contact of melted AN with organic material x x x 1949/10/14 Kansas USA 1400 x •No details x x x 1925/05/03 Alabama USA 50 x •Friction of AN impregnated containers x 1954 Red Sea Tirrenia 4000 x •Fire on confinement of ammonium nitrate x x 1960 Traskwood USA 80 x •Train derailment •Explosion of AN car X 1960 USA 20 x •Fire of a wooden structure •No explosion x x • P Production •S Storage •T Transport
- 11. 11 Part 1: More AN Accidents (contd) Date Location Quantity Tons P S T Information Fire Decomp Explosion Building Collapse 1961 France 8000 x •No details x x 1962/02/25 Joplin USA N.A. x •No details x 1963 Arkansas USA N.A, x •Train derailment •Fire x 1963 Finland N.A. x •Overheating x x x 1966/04/07 Amboy USA 4.5 x •TNT explosion nearby x 1967 USA N.A. X •Fire in railcar X x 1968/07/05 El Cayo Spain N.A. x •Explosion in process x 1969/01 Switzerland N.A. x •Overheating x x x • P Production •S Storage •T Transport
- 12. 12 Part 1: More AN Accidents (contd) Date Location Quantity Tons P S T Information Fire Decomp Explosion Building Collapse 1970/10 France N.A. x •No details x 1972/05 France N.A. x •Contamination of tank insulation with organic material and AN x 1972/08/30 Taroom Australia 18.5 x •Truck fire •Explosion x x 1973/01/01 Cherokee USA 3 – 6 x •Failure of belt carrier x 1976/12 Norway N.A. x •Decomposition in reactor x 1978/01/01 USA 500 x •Fire no detail x 1978/04/01 Canada N.A. x •Contamination with organic material x 1978/07/07 La Manouba Tunesia 60 x •Contamination with wood dust •Spontaneous fire X x • P Production •S Storage •T Transport
- 13. 13 Part 1: More AN Accidents (contd) Date Location Quantity Tons P S T Information Fire Decomp Explosion Building Collapse 1978/08 UK N.A. x •No details x x 1979 UK N.A. x •AN in bearing x 1979 Norway N.A. x x •Use of organic lubricant x 1979/06 UK N.A. x •Evaporator upset x 1979/07 Canada N.A. x •Contamination with organic substance x 1982/10 UK N.A. x •Contamination with coal x 1984/11 Canada N.A. x •Use of steam to unplug a line x 1985 Canada N.A. x •Spill of melted AN X • P Production •S Storage •T Transport
- 14. 14 Part 1: More AN Accidents (contd) Date Location Quantity Tons P S T Information Fire Decomp Explosion Building Collapse 1988 South Africa N.A. x x Use of steam to unplug a line x 1990/11/17 France 400 x •400 t AN in plastic bags in a store •Molten AN x x 1990/11/17 France 400 x •400 t AN in plastic bags in a store •Molten AN x x 1994/12/13 Iowa USA N.A. x •Explosion during maintenance x 1997 Brazil N.A. x •Fire •Explosion of a truck x 1998/01/04 Maysville USA 420 x •Explosion x 1999/07/28 France 10 x •10 t in bags in a farm x x 199/08/29 Fort Pierce USA N.A. x •No details x • P Production •S Storage •T Transport
- 15. 15 Part 1: More AN Accidents (contd) Date Location Quantity Tons P S T Information Fire Decomp Explosion Building Collapse 2000 Florida USA N.A. x Road accident x x 2000/03/22 France N.A. x •Fire in belt conveyor X x 2001/09/21 Toulouse France 350 x •Explosion of offspec AN x 2004 Mihailesti Romania N.A. x •Explosion during maintenance X 2004 Mihailesti Romania N.A. x •Explosion during maintenance X • P Production •S Storage •T Transport
- 16. 16 Part 2: Risks of Ammonium Nitrate, Fertilizer Grade
- 17. 17 Part 2: Risks of Ammonium Nitrate, Fertilizer Grade 1) Ammonium nitrate is capable of detonating with the blast effect of about half the quantity of explosives if heated under confinement that permits high-pressure build-up or if subjected to strong shocks, such as those from an explosive (NFPA Code 490, A.4.1.4) 2) The sensitivity of ammonium nitrate to detonation is increased by elevated temperatures or by contamination (NFPA Code 490, A.4.1.4) 3) Capable of releasing toxic fumes during storage fire
- 18. 18 Part 2: National Fire Code of Canada 1995 1) This subsection of the code apply to the storage of class 5.1 ammonium nitrate mixtures that contains 60% or more by weight of ammonium nitrate in quantities exceeding 100 kg inside buildings 2) Buildings shall not be more than on story, shall not have basement and shall not have open floor drains 3) Building and bins where ammonium nitrate is stored shall not cause contamination
- 19. 19 Part 2: National Fire Code of Canada 1995 (contd) 4) Building shall be equiped with ventilation to dissipate gas generated by ammonium nitrate 5) There are dimensions for storing bags in pile 6) Storing of bagged ammonium nitrate in excess of 600,000 kg requires sprinklers 7) Fuelling of industrial trucks shall not be carried out in buildings in which ammonium nitrate is stored.
- 20. 20 Part 2: National Fire Code of Canada 1995 (contd) 8) When industrial trucks powered by internal combustion engines are parked in buildings in which ammonium nitrate is stored, they shall be separated from the storage area by fire separations having a fire-resistance rating not less than 1 h 9) Industrial trucks transporting ammonium nitrate shall be cleared of remaining material following use.
- 21. 21 Part 3: Other Countries Threshold Quantities
- 22. 22 Part 3: Other Countries Threshold Quantities Switzerland: 20 tonnes due to substance capacity to detonate Sweden: -forbidden to store more than 50 tonnes in the same storage area -must obtain a permit if quantities are equal to or greater than 10 tonnes
- 23. 23 Part 3: Other Countries Threshold Quantities France: 24.5% to 28% « N » with less 0.4% combustible material, or more 28% « N » with less 0.2% combustible material ≥ 2500 t, Safety Case (Risk Assessment) ≥ 350 t to 2500 t, Autorisation ≥ 100 t to 350 t, Declaration Offspec AN ≥ 50 t, Safety Case (Risk Assessment) ≥ 10 t, Autorisation
- 24. 24 Part 3: Other Countries Threshold Quantities United States: - NFPA 490 applied by authority having juridiction Fertilizer grade, technical grade (explosive), etc 454 kg, permit for storage 54.4 t, location and storage facility must be approved by authorities taking into account Proximity of residential occupencies Places of public assemblies Railroad, highways Limitation of quantities may be required function of neighborhood
- 25. 25 Part 3: Other Countries Threshold Quantities United States: - NFPA 490 applied by authorities having juridiction Approval by authorities having juridiction
- 27. 27 Part 5: Conclusion It is prudent to include ammonium nitrate fertilizer into the CEPA E2 regulations due to the recent accidents, and its inherent potential to detonate. Most countries have created regulations on ammonium nitrate, and subsequently dropped their threshold quantities due to the recent accidents. At present, in Canada, there is a need raise awareness and require emergency plans for ammonium nitrate. It is recommended to create an E2 plan for 20 tonnes storage, excluding Transportation of Dangerous Goods, which will not include spreaders.