Substances

CSB Recommends Cleaning Pipes with Air, Not Gas

In an effort to prevent fires and explosions caused when natural gas is used to clean or purge gas pipes of debris, air or other substances, typically during facility construction and maintenance, the U.S. Chemical Safety Board (CSB) in a 4-1 vote last week approved a list of “urgent recommendations” for the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) and others.

July 5, 2010

Chemical Safety Board Recommends Cleaning Pipes with Air, Not Gas

In an effort to prevent fires and explosions caused when natural gas is used to clean or purge gas pipes of debris, air or other substances, typically during facility construction and maintenance, the U.S. Chemical Safety Board (CSB) in a 4-1 vote Monday night approved a list of “urgent recommendations” for the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) and others. Among the recommendations is to require “the use of inherently safer alternatives such as air blows or pigging with air in lieu of flammable gas.”

June 30, 2010