Safety Shower in Water Reactives Room

[jtewksbury]

I want to install a safety shower in a 96% H2SO4 room, but the IBC code identifies:

Piping for conveying liquids shall not be over or through areas containing water reactives, unless isolated by approved liquid-tight construction. Exception: Fire protection piping.

Section:
[F] 415.5 Special provisions for Groups H-2 and H-3 occupancies.

Is there an exception for a safety shower provided that it is required by OSHA codes? Please assist, thank you.

 

[bimr]

I believe the key word is "areas". It does not say "rooms". There are areas in the room where the sulfuric acid is located. You can located your shower in other areas.

Why do you have sulfuric acid in a room anyway? It is usually stored outside.

 

[EmmanuelTop]

The code makes perfect sense. It prevents the designer from locating safety equipment immediately next to the sources of hazard, where the risk can actually increase by use of safety equipment. It is almost the same as storing matches and lighters next to flammable liquid containers. Reaction of H2SO4 with water is extremely violent.

Exposure of person to Sulfuric Acid likely means that a loss of containment has occurred prior to the incident, and that there is no effective control of acid inventory in the affected area. Safety layouts should clearly reflect this area, together with evacuation routes.

Safety shower must be located outside of the affected area and as conveniently close as possible to the place where Acid injuries may occur, since timely reaction on acute exposure to H2SO4 is of vital importance. The room where the Acid is stored also must be provided with adequate ventilation, to aid in evacuating hazardous fumes released upon loss of containment.

Dejan IVANOVIC
Process Engineer, MSChE

 

[gr2vessels]

Would a self contained type of safety shower made of acid resistant material qualify for a liquid tight construction? Closed door shower with exit to the outside of the acid room? Like one built with interlocked doors that shuts behind you and another opening only to the outside safe area?
My two cents.
Cheers,
gr2vessels

 

[dogtop]

DISCLAIMER. This information is given "as is" and is not intended as advise or suggestion or recommendation.

I worked in a sulfuric acid plant making 3,000 metric tons a day of 96% H2SO4. It was IMPERATIVE to wear Personal Protection Equipment specially designed for sulfuric acid operations. Sulfuric acid goes after water wherever it can find it. Atmosphere, soil, human body. As already mentioned, the reaction is extremely exothermic and could be extremely violent is specific circumstances. There were water safety showers everywhere in the plant with the purpose of diluting any acid spills onto your protective equipment. Anyone walking around 96% sulfuric acid with no protective equipment, either, in storage or in process should be "shot" on the spot for irresponsibility, ignorance, incompetence, and negligence.

You could install a shower. But before you do that, consult with competent specialists who KNOW how to set up such things.

DISCLAIMER. This information is given "as is" and is not intended as advise or suggestion or recommendation.

 

[bimr]

The safety shower has to be accessible not liquid tight.

http://www.sulphuric-acid.com/techmanual/Plant_Safety/safety_showers.htm