10-6-41 142 1. Purpose. The purpose of this manual is to present for the guidance of property officers instructions for storing, handling, pack- ing, shipping, and surveillance of all classes of chemicals stored and used by the Chemical Warfare Service. 2. Classification.-The chemicals stored by the Chemical War- fare Service are usually grouped in four classes: class I, chemicals; class II, gases; class III, smokes; and class IV, incendiaries. This classification has not been employed in this manual, however, since the problems involved in the storage and shipping of chemicals can be more readily presented by grouping chemicals according to their hazardous nature based on the classification employed by the Inter- state Commerce Commission in their regulations for the transporta- 2-3 CHEMICAL WARFARE SERVICE tion of explosives and other dangerous articles. For the purpose of this manual, chemicals have therefore been divided into the following classes: explosives, inflammable liquids, inflammable solids, oxidizing materials, corrosive liquids, compressed gases, toxic chemicals, semihazardous chemicals, and unclassified chemicals. In presenting regulations for each of these classes, there will first be given general information concerning storing, handling, packing, shipping, and surveillance, followed by detailed information concerning each chemical. 3. References.-Property officers should be familiar with the following publications and, if possible, should always have them available for reference: a. Interstate Commerce Commission Regulations for Transportation by Rail of Explosives and Other Dangerous Articles in Freight, Express, and Baggage Services, Including Specifications for Shipping Containers, Revised. (1) All regulations in regard to packing and shipping contained herein have been taken from the Interstate Commerce Commission Regulations and since these regulations are constantly being changed and revised, every property officer should see that he is supplied with all changes as soon as they are authorized by the Interstate Commerce Commission. (2) The Interstate Commerce Commission publishes only a limited number of copies of its regulations, the main supply being published by the Bureau of Explosives which cooperates with the Interstate Commerce Commission in their preparation. (3) Regulations are ordinarily prepared by the Bureau of Explosives after consultation with shippers and others interested and then submitted to the Interstate Commerce Commission for approval and publication. These regulations and the act of March 4, 1921, place upon the shipper of a dangerous article the duty of properly preparing a shipment for transportation, knowing its characteristics, and instructing his employees in the requirements of the regulations and securing compliance therewith. If a shipper has no knowledge of the dangerous characteristics of the material which he desires to ship, he should confer with the Bureau of Explosives and, if necessary, submit a sample for examination and report. Copies of these regulations may be obtained under various plans on application to the Bureau of Explosives, 30 Vesey Street, New York, N. Y. These regulations are amended periodically as new data are obtained and such amendments are described in supplements issued from time to time by the Bureau of Explosives. STORAGE AND SHIPMENT OF DANGEROUS CHEMICALS 3 b. Interstate Commerce Commission Regulations, Part b, Regulations for Transportation of Explosives and Other Dangerous Articles on Freight and Freight-Passenger Vessels by Water, as amended. c. AR 30-1270, Transportation by Water of Explosives and Inflammables and Chemical Warfare Materials. When any chemicals are to be shipped by water, reference should be made to these regulations and to the publication given in b above. The regulations in this manual cover only shipment by rail. d. Handbook of Fire Protection, Eighth Edition, 1935, Crosby, Fiske, and Forster. Chapter 7, "Flammable Liquids," presents the solution of storage and handling problems of these materials, with methods of preventing and extinguishing fires caused thereby. This handbook is published by the National Fire Protection Association, Boston, Mass. e. Consolidated Freight Classification. This publication is issued by the railroads and gives regulations for all materials not covered by Interstate Commerce Commission Regulations. It is always advisable, therefore, to consult these regulations in connection with the packing and shipping of chemicals not covered by Interstate Commerce Commission Regulations in order that all requirements of the railroads may be complied with. f. The Condensed Chemical Dictionary, second edition. Published by the Chemical Catalog Co. (Inc.), New York City. This dictionary gives reliable and explicit interpretations of rulings on the storing, packing, and shipping of a large number of chemicals and raw materials, and is very useful for reference purposes. The information given in regard to packing and shipping was furnished by the chief chemist of the Bureau of Explosives. g. Ordnance Safety Manual, No. 7224. This manual prescribes safety and other necessary regulations for storing, handling, shipping, maintenance, surveillance, salvage, and destruction of military explosives and ammunition at ordnance establishments. |