USM Ice Arena

Ammonia Chiller/Emergency Response Refresher

2017

Objectives:

• Identify and understand the hazard(s)

• Review operational requirements

• Review emergency response procedures

• Review enhanced NH3 detection & control

A Brief History of Ammonia:

• Romans: Mined ammonium chloride

• Europeans: Used for alchemy

• Germans: First commercial use - Haber/Bosch

• Today:

• Fertilizers

• Pharmaceuticals

• Commercial cleaning products

• Refrigeration

• Illegal meth production!

What Is It?

• Ammonia - compound of Nitrogen and Hydrogen (NH3)

• Anhydrous - Greek “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.

•Cools liquid brine system to freeze rink ice.

Ammonia(NH3) Detection System:

• Building is equipped with state of the art ammonia detection system. Calibration Technologies (CT) is the manufacturer.

• The CT system has multiple sensors and displays.

• Three NH3 sensors are located in the Compressor room. One NH3 sensor is located in the Olympia room.

• Five separate displays allow viewers to examine NH3 levels in the compressor room and Olympia room.

• The system is setup to activate building horns/strobes and summon Gorham Fire Department when 25 parts per million (ppm) are detected.

• At 150 ppm exhaust fans start and dampers open to initiate emergency ventilation of the compressor room.

Ammonia(NH3) Detection System:

• Horn/Strobe light fixtures are located at each display location.

• Emergency stop (E Stop) buttons are located at Olympia room display and outside next to the double doors entering the compressor room.

• The system can also be viewed via internet and the Campus BAS system.

• This will allow the Fire/Police Department, Ice Rink Maintenance, and Miller Refrigeration technicians to view NH3 levels remotely.

Ammonia(NH3) Detection System:

Ammonia(NH3) Detection System:

Ammonia(NH3) Detection System:Battery BackupVent line

Ammonia Chiller RoomAccess Authorization

• Annual training is required for Ammonia Chiller room access.

• 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 periodically by EHS & DFM.

• Calling Public Safety dispatch before entering and after exiting Chiller room is mandatory!

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 employees

• 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 Response Outline:

A. Access to the NH3 monitoring system via the web

B. Go to this web address: https://webapp.usm.maine.edu/DeltaWeb/

C. Enter GFD & GFD

D. View NH3 levels from five separate sensors in compressor room and Zamboni room.

E. Decide on best course of action based sensor readings.

Emergency Response Outline:

Stairway

Vent line

Zamboni

Panel

Compressor

Emergency Evacuation:

• Upon hearing the alarm and announcement, arena occupants are to exit the front doors and proceed immediately on to the sidewalk and lawn next to the 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.• Stay out of the travel lanes as much as possible.

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

Emergency Evacuation:

• Before leaving the ice or locker rooms, ice skating participants should remove their skates.

• This reduces chances of tripping accidents if exiting with skates still on.

• 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. Gorham School gyms established.

Incident Command:• Incident Commander:

Gorham Fire Department

• Response Team:

Gorham FD

• Alternate Emergency Response Coordinators (USM):

1st – Duty Officer, Police

2nd – 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 – Bob Adams

• Athletic Director/Facilities Coordinator - Al Bean

Incident Command:

• Information Officer:

Robert Stein

• Operations Section Chief:

Vinnie Degifico – Ice Arena Manager

• Duty Dispatcher

USM Police Department

• Safety Officer:

EH&S

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

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

LeFebvre (839-5581)

• USM Police - Duty Officer (780-5211)

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

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

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

• USM Facilities Manager – Bob Adams (209-0650)

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

• Information Officer – Bob Stein (831-8777)

• Liaison Officers ensure that the following persons have been notified:• Facilities Management – Bob Adams (209-0650)

• Athletic Director – Al Bean (671-2502)

Incident Command:• Gorham Fire Department (GFD) upon

arrival will examine NH3 display at entrance.

• Ice Rink maintenance and Miller Refrigeration will be summoned.

• GFD Incident Commander will evaluate situation and determine what the best course of action will be moving forward.

• NH3 levels on display at entrance will be the primary source of information to aid in future actions.

• Exterior readings and odor levels will also drive decision process.

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 - EH&S

Response Team:Gorham FD

Operations Section Chief:

Information Officer: Robert Stein

Liaison Officers (Athletic Department):

Ice Arena HVAC:Brian Bishop

Ice Arena Manager:Vinnie Degifico

Safety Officer:EH&S

Planning Section Chief Logistics Section Chief Finance Section Chief

Notification:

• Information Officer or authorized alternate notifies:

• USM President & Vice President for Finances’ office.

• University of Maine Systems’ Risk Manager’s office.

• Phone number(s): 621-3462

• Local Emergency Planning Committee (LEPC).

• Phone number(s): 893-2810, 892-6785

• Maine Emergency Management Agency (MEMA).

• Phone number(s): 800 452-8735

• Maine Department of Environmental Protection (DEP).

• Phone number(s): 800 452-4664, 888 769-1036

• National Response Center.

• Phone number(s): 800 424-8802

• 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 2017.

• Contact the USM Environmental Health and Safety Office for a copy: 780-5338/5227

THANK YOU