USM Ice Arena

Ammonia Chiller/Emergency Response Refresher

2015

Objectives:

• Identify and understand the hazard(s)

• Review operational requirements

• Review emergency response procedures

A Brief History of Ammonia:

• Romans: Mined ammonium chloride

• Europeans: Used for alchemy

• Germans: First industrial use (WWI)

• Today:

• Fertilizers

• Pharmaceuticals

• Commercial cleaning products

• Refrigeration

What Is It?

• Ammonia - compound of Nitrogen and Hydrogen (NH3)

• Anhydrous- without water

Boiling Point -28°F

Weight per gallon of liquid at -28°F 5.69 pounds

Weight per gallon of liquid at 60°F 5.15 pounds

Specific gravity of the liquid (water=1) 0.619

Specific gravity of the gas (air=1) 0.588

Flammable limits in air 16-25%

Ignition temperature 1204°F

Vapor pressure at 0°F 16 psi

Vapor pressure at 68°F 110 psi

Vapor pressure at 100°F 198 psi

One cubic foot of liquid at 60°F expands to 850 cubic foot of gas

Properties:• Becomes a liquid when pressurized/cooled. Colorless

gas at standard pressure/temperature

• Expands 850 times when evaporating

• Easily absorbed by water

• Lighter than air and will rise in dry air, but reacts immediately with humidity in the air and may remain close to the ground

• DOT: Nonflammable

• Alkali (irritant/corrosive)

• Can corrode copper, zinc, and many alloys. Incompatible with mercury

Hazards:

• Repeated exposure does not produce chronic effects

• “The dose makes the poison”

• Eyes: Mild irritation to destruction of eye tissue

• Throat/Lungs: Irritation, convulsive coughing, difficult or painful breathing, pulmonary congestion, death

• Skin: Freezing burns, liquidation of skin tissue

OSHA PEL (8 hr)

Basic First Aid:

• Exposure to Eyes/Skin:

• Decontaminate all affected areas with water immediately. Flush for at least 15 minutes.

• Ingested:

• Have victim drink large amounts of water. Do not induce vomiting.

• Inhaled:

• Go to a clean, uncontaminated area.

Remember- in the event of any significant exposure, seek advanced medical care immediately.

Ammonia at USM

•Anhydrous ammonia system

•Provides cooling for Ice Arena

•Approx. 725 lbs. of ammonia (99% concentration) on site in compressor.

Basic Monitoring Available:

• Building is equipped with ammonia detection. The Manning meter is located in the Olympia Room. The detection module is located behind the control panel in the lower level compressor room.

• The meter offers a visual indication of ammonium concentration in parts per million (ppm).

• At 25ppm, building alarm and exhaust fan (low) are activated.

• At 50 ppm, building alarm, exhaust fan (high), and exterior warning lights are activated.

• A separate Cimco detector/alarm activates at 150ppm

Preventative Maintenance:

• Establish and maintain up-to-date records of system readings and equipment maintenance.

• Space and equipment should be kept reasonably clean with minimal rust and corrosion.

• Equipment should be cleaned and lubricated according to manufacturers recommendations.

• All leaks should be repaired ASAP.

• Annual servicing required;

• Electrical connections

• Pressure gauges

• Ammonia detection system

• Room ventilation system

• Safety controls and interlocks

Ammonia Chiller RoomAccess Authorization

• Employee and vendor access is limited.

• A minimum of two authorized people may enter the space at any one time.

• The Ammonia Chiller room access log is maintained by Ice Arena management.

• The Log requires the following information:

• Employee/Vendor name

• Reason for Access

• Date/Time entering space

• Date/Time exiting space

• The access log will be checked regularly by EHS & DFM.

• Notify Public Safety before entering and after exiting.

• Annual training is required for Ammonia Chiller room access.

Ammonia Chiller RoomAuthorized Employee/Vendors

• Ice Arena Manager

• Ice Arena Maintenance staff

• Miller Refrigeration Technicians

• USM Public Safety

• Gorham Fire Department

• USM EH&S Director & Staff

• Trained DFM Management and Trades

• Card Services

Emergency Response Outline:

University of Southern Maine

Ice Arena

Gorham, Maine

Ammonia Chiller System

EMERGENCY RESPONSE PLAN

Alarm Activation:

• Alarm system activates. Strobe lights are triggered, and audible alarm states:

“MAY I HAVE YOUR ATTENTION PLEASE

MAY I HAVE YOUR ATTENTION PLEASE

THERE HAS BEEN A FIRE REPORTED IN THE BUILDING

PLEASE PROCEED TO THE NEAREST EXIT AND LEAVE THE BUILDING”

• All spectators, officials, athletes, coaches and personnel are to evacuate the arena and adjoining rooms immediately.

Emergency Evacuation:

• Upon hearing the alarm and announcement, arena occupants are to exit the front doors and proceed immediately out onto the sidewalk and to the side of Hill Gym.

• USM employees are asked to assist in facilitating the evacuation.

• Evacuees are to proceed down the sidewalk to the front end of the gym and wait for further instructions.

• Evacuees need to be aware of rescue vehicles approaching.

• This process is vital to ensure that emergency response personnel, equipment and units can respond without crowd interference.

Emergency Evacuation:

• Before leaving the ice and/or locker rooms, ice skating participants are to remove their skates.

• Parents/guardians may wish to wait for small children before evacuating the ice arena.

• Coaches/instructional personnel are to accompany their athletes/participants out of the arena.

Emergency Evacuation:• Upon evacuation, ice arena personnel are to assist evacuating

arena occupants outside, and wait outside the arena front doors for the arrival of the USM Police and the Gorham Fire Department.

• Alternate Evacuation:

• If downwind of an outdoor ammonia release, or faced with a hazardous weather condition, alternative refuge may be taken in the Fieldhouse or the Brooks Dining Center.

Note: Gorham FD can require evacuation of all Athletic facilities depending on the state of the emergency.

• Off-campus evacuation routes are to be determined by the Police/Fire when necessary.

Incident Command:• Incident Commander:

Gorham Fire Department Chief

• Response Team:

Gorham FD

• Alternate Emergency Response Coordinators (USM):

1st – Duty Officer, Police

2nd – John Reed, Director, EH&S

• Site Security:

USM Public Safety

• Liaison Officers (Athletic Department):

1st - Brian Bishop – Ice Arena Maintenance

2nd - Vinnie Degifico – Ice Arena Manager

** Notify: Facilities Management – Dan Warren ,

Athletic Director/Facilities Coordinator - Al Bean

Incident Command:

• Information Officer:

Christopher Quint

• Operations Section Chief:

Vinnie Degifico – Ice Arena Manager

• Duty Dispatcher

USM Police Department

• Safety Officer:

John Reed

Incident Command Tree:Incident Coordinator:

Gorham FD Chief

Alternate Emergency Response Coordinators (USM):1st - Duty Officer, USM Police2nd - John Reed, Director , University EHS

Response Team:Gorham FD

Initial POC & Site Security:USM Police Dept.

Operations Section Chief:Chad Wilkins

Information Officer:Robert Caswell

Liaison Officers (Athletic Department):

Ice Arena Ops. Coordinator:Chad Wilkins

Ice Arena Manager:Vinnie Degifico

Safety Officer:John Reed

Planning Section Chief Logistics Section Chief Finance Section Chief

Incident Coordinator:Gorham Fire Department Chief

Alternate Emergency Response Coordinators (USM):1st - Duty Officer, USM Police2nd - John Reed, Director , University EHS

Response Team:Gorham FD

Operations Section Chief:

Information Officer: Christopher Quint

Liaison Officers (Athletic Department):

Ice Arena HVAC:Brian Bishop

Ice Arena Manager:Vinnie Degifico

Safety Officer:John Reed

Planning Section Chief Logistics Section Chief Finance Section Chief

Notification:• Upon notification, USM Police will immediately contact the

following parties in this order:• Gorham Fire Department - Incident Coordinator, Fire Chief Robert

LeFebvre (839-5581)

• USM Police - Duty Officer

• USM EH&S Director - John Reed (780-5338 or 420-4831).

• USM Ice Arena Manager – Vinnie Degifico (423-5114)

• USM Ice Arena Maintenance – Brian Bishop (615-6384/671-4029)

• USM Facilities Manager – Dan Warren (780-4176)

• Miller Refrigeration – Jesse, Dan, or Dave (657-3691)

• Liaison Officers ensure that the following persons have been notified:• Facilities Management – Dan Warren (780-4176)

• Athletic Director – Al Bean (671-2502)

• Facilities Coordinator – Al Bean (671-2502)

Notification:

• Information Officer notifies:

• USM President & Vice President for Finances’ office.

• University of Maine Systems’ office in Bangor.

• Local Emergency Planning Committee (LEPC).

• Local Emergency Management Agency (LEMA).

• State Environmental Agency.

• National Response Center.

• Possible Other Contacts: - County HAZMAT, State Police, Local Police, Cumberland County Sheriff’s Department, news media, etc.

• NOTE: The Information Officer is the only person authorized to distribute information to the news media.

For More Information:

• OSHA’s Ammonia e-Tool:

http://www.osha.gov/SLTC/etools/ammonia_refrigeration/emergency/index.html#firstaid

• Ammonia Chiller System - EMERGENCY RESPONSE PLANRevised 2015.

• Contact the University Environmental Health and Safety Office for a copy: 780-5406/5338

THANK YOU