{"operation":"document","citation":"ERG 2024, Fire and Spill Control","title":"Fire and Spill Control","source_type":"guidance","agency":"U.S. DOT / Transport Canada / SICT","status":"guidance","official":true,"published_on":"2024-04-04","effective_on":null,"summary":"Official ERG2024 fire and spill control guidance, pages 355-357.","machine_formats":{"json":"https://regulus.evalyn.ai/document/phmsa-erg-2024-fire-spill-control.json","markdown":"https://regulus.evalyn.ai/document/phmsa-erg-2024-fire-spill-control.md"},"app_url":"https://regulus.evalyn.ai/document/phmsa-erg-2024-fire-spill-control","source_url":"https://www.phmsa.dot.gov/sites/phmsa.dot.gov/files/2024-04/ERG2024-Eng-Web-a.pdf#page=355","body":"FIRE AND SPILL CONTROL\nFIRE CONTROL\nWater is the most common and generally most available fire extinguishing agent. Use caution\nin selecting a fire extinguishing method, as there are many factors to consider. Water may\nbe ineffective in fighting fires that involve some materials.\nFires Involving a Spill of Flammable Liquids\nThese fires are usually controlled by applying a firefighting foam to the surface of the burning\nmaterial.\nFighting flammable liquid fires requires:\n•\nfoam concentrate that is chemically compatible with the burning material\n•\ncorrect mixing of the foam concentrate with water and air\n•\ncareful application and maintenance of the foam blanket\nThere are two general types of firefighting foam: regular and alcohol-resistant. Examples of\nregular foam are protein-base, fluoroprotein, and aqueous film-forming foam (AFFF).\nYou can control some flammable liquid fires, including many petroleum products, by applying\nregular foam. Other flammable liquids, including polar solvents (flammable liquids that are\nwater soluble), such as alcohols and ketones, have different chemical properties. You cannot\neasily control a fire that involves these materials with regular foam, and should use alcohol-\nresistant foam instead.\nPolar solvent fires may be difficult to control and require a higher foam application rate than\nother flammable liquid fires (see NFPA Standards 11 for further information). Refer to the\nappropriate guide to determine which type of foam to use. For flammable liquids which have\nsubsidiary corrosive or toxic hazards, it is difficult to make specific recommendations. However,\nalcohol-resistant foam may be effective for many of these materials.\nContact the emergency response telephone number on the shipping paper, or the appropriate\nemergency response agency, as soon as possible for guidance on the proper fire extinguishing\nagent to use.\nHow you decide to control the fire depends on factors such as:\n•\nincident location\n•\nexposure hazards\n•\nsize of the fire\n•\nenvironmental concerns\n•\navailability of extinguishing agents and equipment at the scene\nWATER-REACTIVE MATERIALS\nWater is sometimes used to flush spills and reduce or direct vapors in spill situations. Some\nof the materials covered by this guidebook can react violently or even explosively with water.\nIn these cases, consider letting the fire burn or leaving the spill alone (except to prevent its\nspreading by diking) until you can get more technical advice.\nPage 353\n\nThe applicable guides clearly warn you of these potentially dangerous reactions. Technical\nadvice is required for these materials since:\n•\n•\n•\n•\nWater getting inside a ruptured or leaking container may cause an explosion.\nYou may need to cool adjoining containers with water to prevent them from rupturing\n(exploding), or to prevent the fire spreading further.\nWater may be effective in mitigating an incident involving a water-reactive material,\nbut only if you can apply it at a sufficient flooding rate for a long period.\nProducts from the reaction with water may be more toxic, corrosive or undesirable\nthan the product that caused the fire.\nWhen you respond to an incident involving water-reactive materials, take into account:\n•\nexisting conditions, such as wind, precipitation, location and accessibility to the incident\n•\navailability of agents to control the fire or spill\nBecause there are variables to consider, base your decision to use water on fires or spills\ninvolving water-reactive materials on information from a reliable source. For example, consult\nthe material’s manufacturer through the emergency response telephone number or the\nappropriate emergency response agency listed on the inside back cover.\nVAPOR CONTROL\nLimiting the amount of vapor released from a pool of flammable or corrosive liquids is an\noperational concern. It requires proper protective clothing, specialized equipment, appropriate\nchemical agents and skilled personnel. Before you engage in vapor control, seek advice on\ntactics to be used from qualified personnel.\nThere are several ways to minimize the amount of vapors escaping from pools of spilled\nliquids, such as special foams, adsorbing agents, absorbents, and neutralizing agents. To\nbe effective, you must select a method for the specific material involved, and use it in a way\nthat mitigates, not worsens, the incident.\nWhere specific materials are known, such as at a manufacturing or storage facilities, the\nhazardous materials/dangerous goods response team should prearrange with the facility\noperators to select and stockpile these control agents before a spill.\nIn the field, first responders may not have the most effective vapor control agent for the material\navailable. They will be more likely to have only water, and only one type of firefighting foam\non their vehicles. If the available foam is not appropriate, they will probably use water spray.\nBecause water is being used to form a vapor seal, care must be taken not to churn or further\nspread the spill during application. Vapors that do not react with water may be directed away\nfrom the site using the air currents surrounding the water spray. Before using water spray\nor other methods to safely control vapor emission or suppress ignition, get technical advice\nbased on a specific chemical name.\nPage 354\n\nLIQUID SPILL CONTROL\nSpill control is an important part of any hazardous materials/dangerous goods incident. Spills\ncan have serious health, safety, and environmental consequences. There are many ways to\ndeal with a liquid spill, like:\n•\ndiking\n•\ndamming, and\n•\nabsorbing\nA liquid spill can be controlled by setting up a barrier around the spill area. Depending on the\nproduct involved, the spill can be contained with either inert or non-combustible absorbent\nmaterials.\nInert absorbent materials are granular. The most common types are:\n•\nsand\n•\ndiatomaceous earth (a fine powder made from sedimentary rock)\n•\nvermiculite, or\n•\nclay\nNon-combustible absorbents are usually not very flammable and can absorb a lot of liquid.\nThese materials are usually made from synthetic materials, like:\n•\npolypropylene\n•\npolyethylene, or\n•\nother synthetic fibers\nOther absorbent materials that are easy to find include sawdust or clay litter. Please note\nthe following:\n•\n•\nSawdust should not be used to absorb flammable liquids or oxidizers since it can\ncatch fire\nClay litter should not be used to absorb acids since it may contain baking soda, which\nwill react with acids\nBefore using an absorbent material, get technical advice to confirm its compatibility or test\na small amount on the spill.\nPage 355","truncated":false,"body_characters":6599}