Carbon
Dioxide Reporting Exemption
Note: This exemption has been eliminated effective 7/24/2015. All carbon dioxide is now HMBP-reportable when handled at or above the reporting thresholds specified in Article 1 of Chapter 6.95 of California Health and Safety Code.
Originally Posted
October 18, 2004.
Pursuant to California
Health and Safety Code section 25503.5(c)(2), Unified Program
agencies in Santa Clara County, consisting of the Santa Clara
county fire department hazardous materials programs and the
County Environmental Health Department (also defined as Administering
Agencies) have determined that carbon dioxide, used for the
dispensing of food or beverage, is exempt from reporting on
a Hazardous Materials Business Plan in quantities less than
6,000 cubic feet. This statement constitutes the required
public notice.
Rationale: Establishments
that dispense food and beverages are known by the public and
by emergency response personnel to routinely have sources
of carbon dioxide for the dispensing of food and beverages.
Preparation of a Hazardous Materials Business Plan to alert
the community or emergency responders is unnecessary and would
not significantly enhance emergency response activities. The
California Fire Code permit threshold for carbon dioxide is
6,000 cubic feet, thirty times greater than the reporting
threshold for a Hazardous Materials Business Plan. The primary
hazard of carbon dioxide is as a simple asphyxiant. With respect
to carbon dioxide dewars, a catastrophic release from a dewar
is unlikely as the sudden
release of the gas
would result in condensation freezing and restricting the
rate of release.
Note: This exemption
applies to Hazardous Materials Business Plan reporting only.
Requirements for storage and use still apply. Below is a
summary of these requirements.
Storage
and Use Requirements
REQUIREMENT
|
CODE
REFERNCE
|
CO
2 containers, cylinders and tanks shall be secured to
prevent falling due to contact, vibration or seismic
activity.
|
CFC
7401.6.4
|
CO
2 containers, cylinders and tanks designed for protective
caps, collars or other protective devices shall have
the caps or devices in place except when in use or being
serviced or filled.
|
CFC
7401.7.2
|
Storage
areas for CO 2 containers, cylinders or tanks shall
be secured against unauthorized entry and safeguarded
with such protective facilities as public safety requires,
|
CFC
8001.11.2
|
CO
2 cylinders or tanks shall be marked in accordance
with CFC Standard 79-3. Markings shall be visible
from any direction of approach
|
CFC
7401.5.2
|
CO
2 piping shall be marked at intervals no greater than
every 20 feet with the name “Carbon Dioxide” and the
direction of flow. Piping shall also be labeled at each
point where changes in direction occur and where wall,
ceiling or floor penetrations occur.
|
CFC
7401.5.3, 8001.4.3.2
|
CO
2 containers, cylinders and tanks shall not be placed
near elevators, unprotected platform ledges or other
areas where falling would result in the container dropping
a distance exceeding half the height of the container.
|
CFC
7401.8.4
|
REQUIREMENT
|
CODE
REFERNCE
|
CO
2 containers, cylinders and tanks shall not be heated
by devices which could raise the surface temperature
of the containers, cylinders or tank above 125 F.
|
CFC
7401.8.7
|
CO
2 containers, cylinders and tanks shall not be located
where they could become part of an electrical circuit.
CO 2 containers, cylinders and tanks shall not be
used for electrical grounding.
|
CFC
7401.9
|
Service,
repair, modification or removal of valves, pressure-relief
devices or other appurtenances shall be performed by
trained personnel in accordance with nationally recognized
standards. See Article 90 standard u.3.3 of the 2000
CFC.
|
CFC
7401.10
|
CO
2 containers, cylinders and tanks shall not be used
for any purpose other than to serve as a vessel for
containing CO 2.
|
CFC
7401.11
|
Leaking,
damaged or corroded CO 2 containers, cylinders and tanks
shall be removed from service.
|
CFC
7401.13
|
|
