Why Ammonium Nitrate, Should be Added to EPA list of EHS

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Ammonium Nitrate, Fertilizer Grade

Why Ammonium Nitrate, fertilizer grade, Should be Added to the Canada Environmental

Protection Act (CEPA) Environmental Emergency Regulations (E2)

Jean-Paul Lacoursiere, Eng.Associate Professor

Université de Sherbrooke 2005

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Outline

Part 1: Ammonium Nitrate AccidentsPart 2: Risks of Ammonium Nitrate,

Fertilizer GradePart 3: Other Countries Threshold

QuantitiesPart 4: 2002 NFPA Code 490 for the

storage of Ammonium Nitrate

Part 5: Conclusion

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Part 1: Ammonium Nitrate Accidents

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AZFToulouse, 2001-09-21

400 t offspec AN 40 to 80 t

involved in explosion

30 fatalities 2500 injured 15000 damaged

appartments Loss €2.3 billion

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Fire in a Farm Supply StoreSt-Romain, France, 2003/10/02

View of building of origin before the accident

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2003 - Fire in a Farm Supply Store View of building ruins after the

explosion

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2003 - Fire in a Farm Supply StoreDamages

•3-5 t AN•Fire involving plastic container and AN•26 casualties including 18 firemen (3 of which suffering injuries compromising life), 3 policemen et 5 civilians•82 houses suffering structural damage of varying severity

greenhouses

Metallic Beam element missiles found up to 500 m

Crisis managementControl room installed in townhouse 4 helicopters

used

Advanced medicalteams

Fire hydrant

Evacuationmeans(12 vehicles)

Fire enginedestroyed

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Part 1: Ammonium Nitrate Accidents 2004 Sainte-Catherine, Quebec: person

exposed to toxic fumes of ammonium nitrate fertilizer and was hospitalized and released

2004 Mihailesti, Romania: 18 deaths and 10 critically wounded during a road accident involving 50 kg sacks resulting in a fire and explosion

Many others

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Part 1: More AN AccidentsDate Location Quantity

Tons

P S T Information Fire Decomp Explosion Building

Collapse

1904/04/29 Tessebderloo

Belgia

150 x •Use of explosive to break pile X

1920/04/14 New York

USA

900 x •Nitrate that caught fire •No explosion

x

1921/09/21 Oppau

Germany

450 x •Use of explosive to break pile x x

1922/09/10 Pennsylvania

USA

2 x •Organic coating•No explosion

x

1925/05/03 Alabama

USA

50 x •Friction of AN impregnated containers

x

1916 – 1944

x •6 major accidents involving AN melted•Overheating

x x

1940/04 New Jersey

USA

67 x •Fire•No explosion

x

1946/09/01 Toulouse

France

200 x •Fire of a wooden structure•No explosion

x x

• P Production•S Storage•T Transport

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Part 1: More AN Accidents (contd)

Date Location Quantity

Tons


Collapse

1947/01/01 Canada 400 x •No details x x

1947/04/15 Texas City

USA

800 x •Nitrate caught in ship fire•Explosion

x x x x

1947/07/28 Brest 450 x •Contact of melted AN with organic material

x x x

1949/10/14 Kansas

USA

1400 x •No details x x x

1925/05/03 Alabama

USA

50 x •Friction of AN impregnated containers

x

1954 Red Sea

Tirrenia

4000 x •Fire on confinement of ammonium nitrate

x x

1960 Traskwood

USA

80 x •Train derailment•Explosion of AN car

X

1960 USA 20 x •Fire of a wooden structure•No explosion

x x


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Part 1: More AN Accidents (contd)

Date Location Quantity

Tons


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1961 France 8000 x •No details x x

1962/02/25 Joplin

USA

N.A. x •No details x

1963 Arkansas

USA

N.A, x •Train derailment•Fire

x

1963 Finland N.A. x •Overheating x x x

1966/04/07 Amboy

USA

4.5 x •TNT explosion nearby x

1967 USA N.A. X •Fire in railcar X x

1968/07/05 El Cayo

Spain

N.A. x •Explosion in process x

1969/01 Switzerland N.A. x •Overheating x x x


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Part 1: More AN Accidents (contd)Date Location Quantity

Tons


Collapse

1970/10 France N.A. x •No details x

1972/05 France N.A. x •Contamination of tank insulation with organic material and AN

x

1972/08/30 Taroom

Australia

18.5 x •Truck fire•Explosion

x x

1973/01/01 Cherokee

USA

3 – 6 x •Failure of belt carrier x

1976/12 Norway N.A. x •Decomposition in reactor x

1978/01/01 USA 500 x •Fire no detail x

1978/04/01 Canada N.A. x •Contamination with organic material

x

1978/07/07 La Manouba

Tunesia

60 x •Contamination with wood dust•Spontaneous fire

X x


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Tons


Collapse

1978/08 UK N.A. x •No details x x

1979 UK N.A. x •AN in bearing x

1979 Norway N.A. x x •Use of organic lubricant x

1979/06 UK N.A. x •Evaporator upset x

1979/07 Canada N.A. x •Contamination with organic substance

x

1982/10 UK N.A. x •Contamination with coal x

1984/11 Canada N.A. x •Use of steam to unplug a line x

1985 Canada N.A. x •Spill of melted AN X


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Tons


Collapse

1988 South Africa N.A. x x Use of steam to unplug a line x

1990/11/17 France 400 x •400 t AN in plastic bags in a store•Molten AN

x x

1990/11/17 France 400 x •400 t AN in plastic bags in a store•Molten AN

x x

1994/12/13 Iowa

USA

N.A. x •Explosion during maintenance x

1997 Brazil N.A. x •Fire•Explosion of a truck

x

1998/01/04 Maysville

USA

420 x •Explosion x

1999/07/28 France 10 x •10 t in bags in a farm x x

199/08/29 Fort Pierce

USA

N.A. x •No details x


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Tons


Collapse

2000 Florida

USA

N.A. x Road accident x x

2000/03/22 France N.A. x •Fire in belt conveyor X x

2001/09/21 Toulouse

France

350 x •Explosion of offspec AN x

2004 Mihailesti

Romania

N.A. x •Explosion during maintenance X

2004 Mihailesti

Romania

N.A. x •Explosion during maintenance X


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Part 2: Risks of Ammonium Nitrate, Fertilizer Grade

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Part 2: Risks of Ammonium Nitrate, Fertilizer Grade

1) Ammonium nitrate is capable of detonating with the blast effect of about half the quantity of explosives if heated under confinement that permits high-pressure build-up or if subjected to strong shocks, such as those from an explosive (NFPA Code 490, A.4.1.4) 2) The sensitivity of ammonium nitrate to detonation is increased by elevated temperatures or by contamination (NFPA Code 490, A.4.1.4)3) Capable of releasing toxic fumes during storage fire

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Part 2: National Fire Code of Canada 1995

1) This subsection of the code apply to the storage of class 5.1 ammonium nitrate mixtures that contains 60% or more by weight of ammonium nitrate in quantities exceeding 100 kg inside buildings2) Buildings shall not be more than on story, shall not have basement and shall not have open floor drains3) Building and bins where ammonium nitrate is stored shall not cause contamination

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Part 2: National Fire Code of Canada 1995 (contd)

4) Building shall be equiped with ventilation to dissipate gas generated by ammonium nitrate5) There are dimensions for storing bags in pile6) Storing of bagged ammonium nitrate in excess of 600,000 kg requires sprinklers7) Fuelling of industrial trucks shall not be carried out in buildings in which ammonium nitrate is stored.

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Part 2: National Fire Code of Canada 1995 (contd)

8) When industrial trucks powered by internal combustion engines are parked in buildings in which ammonium nitrate is stored, they shall be separated from the storage area by fire separations having a fire-resistance rating not less than 1 h9) Industrial trucks transporting ammonium nitrate shall be cleared of remaining material following use.

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Part 3: Other Countries Threshold Quantities

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Switzerland: 20 tonnes due to substance capacity to detonate

Sweden: -forbidden to store more than 50 tonnes in the same storage area

-must obtain a permit if quantities are equal to or greater than 10 tonnes

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France: 24.5% to 28% « N » with less 0.4%

combustible material, or more 28% « N » with less 0.2% combustible

material ≥ 2500 t, Safety Case (Risk Assessment) ≥ 350 t to 2500 t, Autorisation ≥ 100 t to 350 t, Declaration

Offspec AN ≥ 50 t, Safety Case (Risk Assessment) ≥ 10 t, Autorisation

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United States: - NFPA 490 applied by authority having juridiction Fertilizer grade, technical grade (explosive), etc 454 kg, permit for storage 54.4 t, location and storage facility must be

approved by authorities taking into account Proximity of residential occupencies Places of public assemblies Railroad, highways Limitation of quantities may be required

function of neighborhood

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Part 3: Other Countries Threshold Quantities United States: - NFPA 490 applied

by authorities having juridiction Approval by authorities having

juridiction

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Part 5: Conclusion

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Part 5: Conclusion

It is prudent to include ammonium nitrate fertilizer into the CEPA E2 regulations due to the recent accidents, and its inherent potential to detonate.

Most countries have created regulations on ammonium nitrate, and subsequently dropped their threshold quantities due to the recent accidents.

At present, in Canada, there is a need raise awareness and require emergency plans for ammonium nitrate.

It is recommended to create an E2 plan for 20 tonnes storage, excluding Transportation of Dangerous Goods, which will not include spreaders.

Why Ammonium Nitrate, Should be Added to EPA list of EHS

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