MILWAUKEE, Wis. - Six new ISO documents are available from the National Fluid Power Association (NFPA):
ISO 8778:2003
Pneumatic fluid power - Standard reference atmosphere (second edition, superseding ISO 8778:1990). ISO 12151-2:2003
Connections for hydraulic fluid power and general use - Hose fittings - Part 2: Hose fittings with ISO 8434-1 and ISO 8434-4 24 cone connector ends with O-rings. ISO 15218:2003
Pneumatic fluid power - 2/3 solenoid valves - Mounting interface surfaces. ISO 15407-2:2003
Pneumatic fluid power - Five-port directional control valves, sizes 18 mm and 26 mm - Part 2: Mounting interface surfaces with optional electrical connector. ISO/TR 16806:2003
Pneumatic fluid power - Cylinders - Load capacity of pneumatic slides and their presentation method. This report explains how to calculate loading limits for a pneumatic slide based on external forces and torque. ISO 16902-1:2003
Hydraulic fluid power - Test code for the determination of sound power levels using sound intensity techniques: Engineering method - Part 1: Pumps.To order, contact NFPA at (414) 778-3353; fax: (414) 778-3361; e-mail: [email protected]. They also can be ordered online at www.nfpa.com.
Safety analysis underscores the dangers of dust
Tragic accident has lessons for plant O&M
Last month, the U.S. Chemical Safety Board released preliminary results from a study that shows how easyand fatalit can be to ignore dust and fine particulates in process plant maintenance and operations. The February fire and explosion at the CTA Acoustics plant in Corbin, Ky., claimed the lives of seven and injured more than 30 people. The plant manufactured automobile insulation.
According to the CSB, the disaster occurred at a production line that was being cleaned. Temperature-control devices on ovens used to dry the insulation had been malfunctioning, and one or two oven doors had been left open to allow them to cool. Flames escaped through the open doors and ignited phenolic resin dust that had been disturbed during cleaning. The initial explosion stirred up more dust, creating more secondary explosions in a runaway reaction.
The Board has pointed out that U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Admin. has set standards to prevent explosions in grain elevators but not in other types of manufacturing facilities. This was one of the issues addressed at a roundtable discussion in late June covering potentially reactive chemicals. While OSHA considers the issue of dust and reactives, it is working with EPA, the American Chemistry Council and the Synthetic Organic Chemical Manufacturers Association to make available the Center for Chemical Process Safety's book "Essential Practices for Managing Chemical Reactivity Hazards." Users will be able to download the publication for free from the OSHA Web site during a three-year period.
