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While recently
reading an issue of "Safety and Health" in the Plano (TX) Fire Department
Library, I happened upon a comment to the effect that the fire fighters,
under potential personal danger and urgency, usually are entering a
structure that others are fleeing. As a former volunteer fire fighter, I
remember all to well the unfamiliar building interiors and the emotions
of: "What surprises are waiting for me this time."
I
believe there are many lead-acid battery "surprises" waiting for today’s
emergency responder and, due to the proliferation of these battery
systems, the responder will encounter them.
The number of
significant size lead-acid batteries installed in buildings in the United
States is estimated to be in the tens of millions of cells. They are in
telephone company installations, business offices and data centers,
electric forklift charging areas, electric utility substations, high-rise
office buildings, and more. This translates into well over 100,000,000
gallons of sulfuric battery acid and 100,000 tons of battery lead in just
the "business" classified occupancies. An office building may contain
anywhere from 200 to 20,000 gallons of sulfuric acid. Although battery
sulfuric acid is classified as an extremely hazardous substance under the
Emergency Planning and Community Right-to-Know Act (EPCRA), it is
estimated that over 95% of the batteries reportable under EPCRA do not
even have a spill control system installed as other liquid hazardous
materials have. I am personally hard pressed to understand how there might
be a reasonable and prudent emergency response plan, as required by law,
when there is no spill management in place.
We can gain
further insight into what may be awaiting the emergency responder by the
following quote from the NFPA Fire Investigation Report on the Los Angeles
Grand Telephone Exchange Fire of March 15, 1994:
"One
of the threats was sulfuric acid (28 percent solution, similar to a car
battery) that had been released from damaged batteries. The batteries
were not in diked areas so the leaking acid formed pools covering the
floor near the batteries. Since typical protective gear for structural
fire fighters is not effective against acids, injury could have resulted
had fire fighters been crawling as they approached the fire or slipped
and fallen while walking through the acid pool."
Additional
insights may be gained from the "Lead/Acid Battery" brochure published and
distributed by the Texas Department of Heath Hazard Communication Branch.
The brochure
explains the following:
Lead/acid batteries pose a substantial risk to the community at large
and to emergency responders in a fire or other emergency. It is
important to note that the sulfuric acid contained in these batteries
has been listed by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) as an
Extremely Hazardous Substance.
This information
has to be communicated to emergency planners and responders so that the
proper types of protective gear and equipment can be used in any emergency
responses that might involve batteries. State and federal laws require
facilities to report the storage of significant quantities of hazardous
chemicals.
"Danger" related
safety precautions for all lead-acid batteries tell of sulfuric acid
burns, explosive hydrogen gas, and electrical shock and burns. Warnings
include:
Avoiding the creation of sparks, static electricity discharges, or open
flames that could ignite the hydrogen produced by the battery.
Inspection for crazing or cracked battery containers and covers (caused
by improper manufacturing annealing of the plastic materials, improper
cleaning of the battery with solvents other than water, physical growth
of the anode plate against the container, and other failure mechanisms).
Battery fires may be started due to a cell failure, loose or corroded
terminal(s), or even an acid film electric conduction path on the
outside of the battery jar.
Gel/sealed/maintenance free battery thermal runaway conditions can
result in generation of substantial amounts of hydrogen gas, explosions,
battery fires, and other failure mechanism hazards.
The
use CO2 fire extinguishing methods can cause substantial thermal shock
and "… will crack most plastic jars and/or covers."
In order to
further the safety and health of the emergency responders, a new section
specifically addressing battery systems has been proposed for the NFPA 1
Fire Prevention Code Part 5. The proposal addresses topics including
permitting, safety venting, spill control and acid neutralization,
disconnection means, hydrogen gas management, and signs.
This proposal
may be reviewed at:
NFPA 1 Fire Prevention Code Part 5
Additional
information for your consideration may be found at the following Internet
web page addresses:
Texas Department of Health
EPCRA Lead-acid Battery Brochure
Texas Commission on Fire Protection, "NewsLine" article on batteries
EPA and OSHA Regulation References
NOTE FROM THE WEBMASTER: This
article was published by the Fire Department Safety Officers Association
(FDSOA) in their October 1998 issue of "Health & Safety for Fire and
Emergency Service Personnel" and is posted here with their permission. For
additional information on FDSOA, please visit their home page at:
http://www.fdsoa.org/ |
