WAC 296-826-600 Operations

For printing

YOUR RESPONSIBILITY:

To protect employees while transporting, transferring, loading and unloading anhydrous ammonia

WAC 296-826-60005

Mounting containers on trucks, semi-trailers and trailers

You must

• Make sure the method for attaching any container to the cradle, frame, or chassis of a vehicle is based on both of the following:
  • -Two "g" loading in either direction
  • -Using a safety factor of at least 4 based on the maximum strength of the material used.

You must

• Secure both ends of the hose during transit.
• Follow the requirements in Table 14, Additional Container Mounting Requirements.

WAC 296-826-60010

Mounting containers on farm trucks or trailers for transporting ammonia

You must

• Make sure tanks mounted on farm trucks and trailers meet all of the following:
  • -Are securely attached using drawbars and safety chains
  • -Follow behind the towing vehicle without swerving
  • -Have at least 5 gallons of readily available clean water.
• Do all of the following when mounting containers on farm trucks:
  • -Use suitable material between the cradle and the container to eliminate metal-to-metal friction
    • This isn't necessary if the cradle and container are welded together
  • -Use stops and hold down devices to prevent displacement.
• Distribute the container's weight, when mounted on 4-wheel farm trucks or trailers, evenly over both axles.

WAC 296-826-60015

Tank car loading or unloading

You must

• Establish a location for tank car loading and unloading operations.
• Assign employees and instruct them in the unloading of tank cars.
• Make sure, when unloading cars, to set the brake and block the wheels.
• Make sure the track of tank siding is level.
• Place caution signs on the track or car to warn approaching persons of loading and unloading operations that are:
  • -Kept in place until the car is unloaded and disconnected from discharge connections.
• Make sure these caution signs meet all of the following:
  • -Are made of metal or other suitable material
  • -Are at least 12 to 15 inches in size
  • -Read either "Stop -Tank Car Connected" or "Stop Men
    at Work" meeting the following criteria:
    • "Stop" at least 4 inches high
    • All other words at least 2 inches high
    • All with white letters on a blue background.

TRANSFERRING LIQUIDS

WAC 296-826-60020

General specifications

You must

• Get owner authorization to use transfer containers.
• Make sure transfer containers are gauged and filled in either:
  • -Open atmospheres
  • or
  • -Buildings approved for that purpose.
• Make sure pumps used to transfer ammonia meet all of the following:
  • -Have a manufacturer's label for ammonia service
  • -Are designed for at least 250 psig working pressure
  • -Have a constant differential relief valve discharging into the suction port that:
    • Is installed on positive displacement pumps
      and
    • Meets the pump manufacturer's recommendation for the settings and installation
  • -Have a pressure gauge graduated zero to 400 psig installed on the discharge side before the relief valve line.
• Make sure plant pipes with shut off valves are located as close as possible to the pump connections.
• Make sure meters used for measuring liquid anhydrous ammonia:
  • -Are recommended and labeled for ammonia service by the manufacturer
  • -Are designed for a minimum working pressure of 250 psig
  • -Incorporate devices that prevent unintended measurement of vapor.
• Do the following when transferring ammonia:
  • -Maintain ammonia at a temperature suitable for the receiving container
  • -Have at least one attendant supervise the transfer from the time connections are made to when disconnection occurs
  • -Don't use flammable gases or gases that will react with ammonia, such as air to unload tank cars or transport trucks.
• Make sure compressors used for transferring ammonia meet all of the following:
  • -Have a working pressure of at least 250 psig when transferring ammonia.
  • -If crank cases of compressors aren't designed to withstand system pressure, then provide protection with a suitable safety relief valve
  • -Are connected to plant piping with shut off valves located as close as practical to compressor connections
  • -Have a safety relief valve that's both:
    • Large enough to discharge the full capacity of the compressor
      and
    • Connected to the discharge before any shut off valve
  • -Have an oil separator on the discharge side, where necessary to prevent contamination
  • -Have a drainable liquid trap or other adequate method on the compressor suction to minimize the entry of liquids into the compressor
  • -Pressure gauges on the suction and discharge ends graduated to at least one and one-half times the maximum pressure that can develop.
• Protect loading and unloading systems in the event of hose severance by suitable devices where necessary, such as:
• - Backflow check valves



or

• - Properly sized excess flow valves.

WAC 296-826-60025

Additional requirements for systems mounted on trucks, semi-trailers, and trailers for transporting ammonia

You must

• Make sure the content of vehicle containers is determined by one of the following:
  • -Weight
  • -Liquid-level gauging devices
  • -Meters
    or
  • -Other approved methods.
• Use a thermometer well when the content of a container is determined by liquid-level measurement.   Make sure of the following:
  • -The volume, when converted to weight, doesn't exceed the DOT filling density requirement.
• Protect pumps and compressors against physical damage when mounted on trucks or trailers.
• Unload tank motor vehicles with a water capacity greater than 3,500 gallons at approved locations.

FILLING DENSITIES

WAC 296-826-60030

Nonrefrigerated containers

You must

• Make sure filling densities for nonrefrigerated containers are below or equal to the requirements in Table 15, Filling Densities.

WAC 296-826-60035

Refrigerated tanks

You must

• Make sure refrigerated tanks aren't liquid full at a liquid temperature so that the vapor pressure is below the "start-to-discharge" pressure setting of the safety relief valve.

WAC 296-826-60040

Welding

You must

• Permit welding only on the saddle plates, lugs, or brackets attached to the container by the manufacturer.