{"operation":"document","citation":"ERG 2024 Guide 138","title":"Guide 138: Substances - Water-Reactive (Emitting Flammable Gases)","source_type":"guidance","agency":"U.S. DOT / Transport Canada / SICT","status":"guidance","official":true,"published_on":"2024-04-04","effective_on":null,"summary":"ERG2024 response Guide 138: Substances - Water-Reactive (Emitting Flammable Gases).","machine_formats":{"json":"https://regulus.evalyn.ai/document/phmsa-erg-2024-guide-138.json","markdown":"https://regulus.evalyn.ai/document/phmsa-erg-2024-guide-138.md"},"app_url":"https://regulus.evalyn.ai/document/phmsa-erg-2024-guide-138","source_url":"https://www.phmsa.dot.gov/erg/guide?number=138","body":"GUIDE\n138\nSubstances - Water-Reactive\n(Emitting Flammable Gases)\nPOTENTIAL HAZARDS\nFIRE OR EXPLOSION\n•\nProduce flammable gases on contact with water.\n•\nMay ignite on contact with water or moist air.\n•\nSome react vigorously or explosively on contact with water.\n•\nMay be ignited by heat, sparks or flames.\n•\nMay re-ignite after fire is extinguished.\n•\nSome are transported in highly flammable liquids.\n•\nRunoff may create fire or explosion hazard.\n•\n•\n•\n•\nHEALTH\nInhalation or contact with vapors, substance or decomposition products may cause severe injury or\ndeath.\nMay produce corrosive solutions on contact with water.\nFire will produce irritating, corrosive and/or toxic gases.\nRunoff from fire control or dilution water may cause environmental contamination.\nPUBLIC SAFETY\nCALL 911. Then call emergency response telephone number on shipping paper. If shipping paper\nnot available or no answer, refer to appropriate telephone number listed on the inside back cover.\nKeep unauthorized personnel away.\nStay upwind, uphill and/or upstream.\nVentilate closed spaces before entering, but only if properly trained and equipped.\n•\n•\n•\n•\nPROTECTIVE CLOTHING\n•\nWear positive pressure self-contained breathing apparatus (SCBA).\n•\nWear chemical protective clothing that is specifically recommended by the manufacturer when there is\nNO RISK OF FIRE.\n•\nStructural firefighters' protective clothing provides thermal protection but only limited chemical protection.\nEVACUATION\nImmediate precautionary measure\n•\nIsolate spill or leak area in all directions for at least 50 meters (150 feet) for liquids and at least 25 meters\n(75 feet) for solids.\nLarge Spill\n•\n•\nConsider initial downwind evacuation for at least 300 meters (1000 feet).\nFire\nIf tank, rail tank car or highway tank is involved in a fire, ISOLATE for 800 meters (1/2 mile) in all\ndirections; also, consider initial evacuation for 800 meters (1/2 mile) in all directions.\nPage 206\nERG 2024\n\nSubstances - Water-Reactive\n(Emitting Flammable Gases)\nGUIDE\n138\nEMERGENCY RESPONSE\nFIRE\n•\nDO NOT USE WATER OR FOAM.\nSmall Fire\n•\nDry chemical, soda ash, lime or sand.\nLarge Fire\n•\nDRY sand, dry chemical, soda ash or lime or withdraw from area and let fire burn.\n•\nIf it can be done safely, move undamaged containers away from the area around the fire.\nFire Involving Metals or Powders (Aluminum, Lithium, Magnesium, etc.)\n•\nUse dry chemical, DRY sand, sodium chloride powder, graphite powder or class D extinguishers; in\naddition, for Lithium you may use Lith-X® powder or copper powder. Also, see GUIDE 170.\nFire Involving Tanks, Rail Tank Cars or Highway Tanks\n•\nFight fire from maximum distance or use unmanned master stream devices or monitor nozzles.\n•\nDo not get water inside containers.\n•\nCool containers with flooding quantities of water until well after fire is out.\n•\nWithdraw immediately in case of rising sound from venting safety devices or discoloration of tank.\n•\nALWAYS stay away from tanks in direct contact with flames.\nSPILL OR LEAK\n•\nELIMINATE all ignition sources (no smoking, flares, sparks or flames) from immediate area.\n•\nDo not touch or walk through spilled material.\n•\nStop leak if you can do it without risk.\n•\nUse water spray to reduce vapors or divert vapor cloud drift. Avoid allowing water runoff to contact\nspilled material.\n•\nDO NOT GET WATER on spilled substance or inside containers.\nSmall Spill\n•\nCover with DRY earth, DRY sand or other non-combustible material followed with plastic sheet to\nminimize spreading or contact with rain.\n•\nDike for later disposal; do not apply water unless directed to do so.\nPowder Spill\n•\nCover powder spill with plastic sheet or tarp to minimize spreading and keep powder dry.\n•\nDO NOT CLEAN-UP OR DISPOSE OF, EXCEPT UNDER SUPERVISION OF A SPECIALIST.\nFIRST AID\nRefer to the “General First Aid” section.\nSpecific First Aid:\n•\nat least 20 minutes.\nIn case of contact with substance, wipe from skin immediately; flush skin or eyes with running water for\nIn Canada, an Emergency Response Assistance Plan (ERAP) may be required for this product.\nPlease consult the shipping paper and/or the \"ERAP\" section.\nERG 2024\nPage 207","truncated":false,"body_characters":4134}