{"operation":"document","citation":"ERG 2024 Guide 139","title":"Guide 139: Substances - Water-Reactive (Emitting Flammable And Toxic 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 139: Substances - Water-Reactive (Emitting Flammable And Toxic Gases).","machine_formats":{"json":"https://regulus.evalyn.ai/document/phmsa-erg-2024-guide-139.json","markdown":"https://regulus.evalyn.ai/document/phmsa-erg-2024-guide-139.md"},"app_url":"https://regulus.evalyn.ai/document/phmsa-erg-2024-guide-139","source_url":"https://www.phmsa.dot.gov/erg/guide?number=139","body":"GUIDE\n139\nSubstances - Water-Reactive\n(Emitting Flammable And Toxic Gases)\nPOTENTIAL HAZARDS\nFIRE OR EXPLOSION\n•\nProduce flammable and toxic 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•\nContainers may explode when heated.\n•\nRunoff may create fire or explosion hazard.\n•\n•\n•\n•\n•\nHEALTH\nHighly toxic: contact with water produces toxic gas, may be fatal if inhaled.\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.\nSpill\n•\n•\nFor highlighted materials: see Table 1 - Initial Isolation and Protective Action Distances.\nFor non-highlighted materials: increase the immediate precautionary measure distance, in the downwind\ndirection, as necessary.\nFire\n•\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 208\nERG 2024\n\nSubstances - Water-Reactive\n(Emitting Flammable And Toxic Gases)\nGUIDE\n139\nEMERGENCY RESPONSE\nFIRE\n•\nDO NOT USE WATER OR FOAM. (FOAM MAY BE USED FOR CHLOROSILANES, SEE BELOW)\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•\nFOR CHLOROSILANES, DO NOT USE WATER; use alcohol-resistant foam; DO NOT USE dry\nchemicals, soda ash or lime on chlorosilane fires (large or small) as they may release large quantities of\nhydrogen gas that may explode.\n•\nIf it can be done safely, move undamaged containers away from the area around the fire.\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•\nCool containers with flooding quantities of water until well after fire is out.\n•\nDo not get water inside containers.\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•\nDO NOT GET WATER on spilled substance or inside containers.\n•\nUse water spray to reduce vapors or divert vapor cloud drift. Avoid allowing water runoff to contact spilled\nmaterial.\n•\nFOR CHLOROSILANES, use alcohol-resistant foam to reduce vapors.\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 209","truncated":false,"body_characters":4500}