Page 14 - OHS, January/February 2021

EMERGENCY SHOWERS & EYEWASH
a worksite’s at-risk areas. These may include:
■ Extreme air temperatures
■ Extreme water temperatures
■ High winds
■ Heavy precipitation
■ Corrosive materials and environments
■ Chemicals
■ Explosive or ignitable gases, and vapors
■ Explosive or ignitable dust
■ Salt-laden environments (installations near or on the ocean)
■ Enclosures that require fire ratings
■ Hot environments
■ Elevated hazards
■ Mobile operations (like construction)
■ Lack of space
■ Lack of plumbed water
■ Tepid water limitations
■ Plumbing requirements
■ Budget limitations
Despite these types of uncontrollable factors, providing reliable eyewash and shower safety throughout worksites is still manda- tory. Moreover, the ANSI/ISEA standard states that fixtures must be located within 10 seconds or 55 feet (17 meters) from a potential hazard. Equipment must also be located on the same level as the hazard with an unobstructed path of travel.
Different Types of Safety Shower Solutions
Whether you’re dealing with polar vortex, dust bowl, salt box or tropical heat conditions, there are adaptable safety shower products and engineered solutions that help meet ANSI/ISEA requirements in both freezing and challenging settings. The following are com- mon safety fixture challenges and product solutions designed to address them.
Freezing temperatures, harsh environments and high winds? Consider heat trace units and enclosed safety showers. Heat trace units are helpful when frigid temperatures put safety fixtures at risk for frozen pipes and parts. These specialized showers feature insu- lated jackets over an electrical heat trace cable that wraps the piping and protects the water from freezing. Some units are protected from freezing down to -50 degrees Fahrenheit. The showers can be built for Class 1 Division 1, Class 1 Division 2 and Class 2 Division 2 haz- ardous locations and use freeze valves to maintain the continuous flow of water in case of power failure in cold temperatures.
In areas where high winds are prevalent, some units feature en- tire bowls and bowl covers to keep the spray heads clean and ensure that the covers will not flip off in the wind. In especially harsh en- vironments, stainless steel eyewash bowls with covers may be used for extra protection from the elements.
When harsh environments threaten the performance of safety fixtures, enclosed safety showers are necessary. These showers are designed to work in extreme temperatures, high winds and highly corrosive environments. These insulated units have 100-percent vacuum-formed, fiberglass-surrounded construction, making them ideal for sub-zero applications and salt-laden environments.
Enclosed safety showers feature the ability to provide tepid water through a thermostatic mixing valve, self-contained tank
or tankless water heater. In accordance with ANSI/ISEA Z358.1 Section 7.4.4, safety systems such as enclosed safety showers with multiple drenching platforms (shower, eyewash and drench hose) must be capable of simultaneous activation while delivering tepid water for 15 minutes.
Like heat trace showers, enclosed safety showers can be de- signed for Class 1 Division 1 and Class 1 Division 2 locations.
Lack of plumbed water? Consider self-contained safety fixtures. When there is no access to a plumbed source or using plumbed water is not an option, portable gravity fed units are an excellent choice to get tepid water where it is needed. These flexible units are designed with water tanks that supply enough water for a full 15-minute flush. Some incorporate transparent tanks for easy inspection of the water supply.
If freezing temperatures are an issue, gravity fed units can be in- stalled with freeze protection equipment, like a heater jacket. These units can be used with moveable carts to catch and drain fluids.
For specialized situations, gravity fed emergency showers/eye- washes are available. These feature galvanized steel structures and large overhead gravity fed units that can be used in a number of challenging environments lacking plumbed water. They can in- clude an immersion heater to ensure tepid water in cold environ- ments and can also include a heated enclosure to protect the user from freezing temperatures.
No access to tepid water? Consider electric tankless water heating. Tankless water heaters provide an infinite amount of wa- ter heated at a specific temperature on demand, making them ideal vessels for providing tepid water in eyewash and drench shower systems. Unlike a thermostatic mixing valve that requires an ample supply of hot water, tankless water heaters only require access to a cold water supply and a source of power.
The benefits of tankless heating units are they draw energy only when needed, reach the ANSI standards for tepid water tempera- tures in 20 to 30 seconds, hold outlet temperature to with a degree and have a low pressure drop (as low as 8 pounds per square inch). These features minimize potential post-installation complications that could be caused by a sudden decrease in pressure.
Newer water heaters are designed with redundant safety and anti-scald features to meet ANSI tepid water requirements. They also provide overshoot purge protection that will automatically open to purge excess hot water whenever necessary.
When selecting drench showers and eyewash equipment—es- pecially for use in a challenging or extreme environment—it is a good idea to consult with manufacturers and safety specialists. These experts can identify the best equipment choices for provid- ing a safe and dependable ANSI-compliant work environment. Even when safety equipment options seem limited, custom-de- signed products can turn a seemingly impossible situation into a solid and secure safety solution.
Ryan Pfund is Senior Product Manager, Emergency Fixtures, for Bradley Corporation of Menomonee Falls, Wisconsin.
REFERENCES
1. https://store.assp.org/PersonifyEbusiness/Store/Product-Details/ productId/13594147
14 Occupational Health & Safety | JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2021
www.ohsonline.com