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Key Takeaways:
- Oxygen deficiency can occur in confined spaces due to leaks from cylinders or tanks of compressed gas.
- An oxygen deficient atmosphere is classified as an environment with less than 19.5% oxygen volume.
- Various physical symptoms can occur with reduced oxygen levels, leading to severe consequences at levels below 6%.
- Stored gases, excluding oxygen, act as asphyxiates, reducing or displacing the normal oxygen concentration in confined spaces.
- Stored gases are commonplace in many businesses and industries, necessitating the importance of understanding their risks.
- Despite the safety measures implemented in the design of gas storage tanks, human errors can lead to potentially dangerous leaks.
- Oxygen deficiency alarms play a critical role in monitoring oxygen levels, ensuring safety and mitigating risks in real-time.
What Does Oxygen Deficiency Mean?
Before delving into the risks and hazards associated with an oxygen deficient atmosphere, it’s vital to understand what oxygen deficiency means. According to OSHA (the Occupational Safety and Health Administration), an oxygen deficient atmosphere is defined as any environment with less than 19.5% oxygen by volume. To put this into perspective, the normal atmospheric oxygen level stands at 20.9%.
Effects of Varying Oxygen Levels
Different oxygen concentrations trigger different physiological responses in the human body. Here are the impacts of various oxygen levels:
- 20.9%: This is the normal, fresh air we breathe daily.
- 19.5-20.9%: Although this range represents a slight drop from the norm, it’s still deemed acceptable by OSHA standards.
- 10-19.5%: This oxygen range initiates a series of noticeable changes in the body. Breathing rates increase, heartbeats accelerate, and thinking and coordination may be impaired.
- 6-10%: As the oxygen concentration drops further, individuals may experience nausea, vomiting, lethargy, potentially culminating in unconsciousness.
- Below 6%: This dangerously low level can lead to convulsions, cessation of breathing, and even cardiac arrest.
Oxygen Deficiency: The Unseen Threat of Stored Gases
Stored gases are ubiquitous in numerous businesses and industries. They include nitrogen, oxygen, carbon dioxide, argon, hydrogen, helium, acetylene, and various specialty gases. Except for oxygen, all these gases act as asphyxiates – they are either nontoxic or minimally toxic gases that displace or reduce the normal oxygen concentration in a confined space.
Where are Stored Gases Used?
Stored gases are a fundamental part of our everyday lives, even if we’re not consciously aware of them. Have you ever been to a restaurant, data center, hospital, or factory? These places use stored gases for various applications.
In restaurants, large aluminum tanks of carbon dioxide (CO2) are used to carbonate beverages. Data centers and ships use CO2 for fire suppression systems, while hospitals use oxygen, CO2, and medical liquid nitrogen. Welding operations require stored tanks of argon, CO2, hydrogen, nitrogen, and helium.
Furthermore, modern grocery stores use CO2-based refrigerants in place of ammonia to chill their meat, dairy, and frozen food aisles. Medical diagnostic equipment like MRI machines rely on liquid nitrogen and liquid helium to cool their magnets to extremely low temperatures.
Given the extensive use of stored gases, it’s no surprise that the market is growing significantly year on year.
Stored Gas Tanks: A Safe Solution with Potential Hazards
The tanks used to store these gases are designed to adhere to strict government regulations, making them safe and leaks highly unlikely. However, it’s crucial to remember that even a minor leak in an indoor pressurized gas line can lead to a dangerous situation.
Most common gases have an expansion ratio from liquid to gas between 700 and 900. This means that even a small amount of leaked gas can quickly displace a significant volume of air, rapidly reducing the oxygen level in an enclosed space.
Despite rigorous training, human errors can occur. Someone might inadvertently turn the wrong valve, fail to tighten a fixture, or accidentally cut a hose, leading to a potential gas leak and creating an oxygen deficient atmosphere.
Oxygen Deficiency Alarms: An Essential Safety Measure
To counter the inherent risks associated with stored gases, oxygen deficiency alarms have been developed and are increasingly mandated by state and local governments. These devices continually monitor the oxygen levels in rooms that house tanks of stored gases.
An oxygen depletion safety alarm functions in real-time, detecting a leak before it escalates into a hazardous situation. Additionally, these alarms can control ventilation fans or be linked to a facility’s HVAC and/or alarm system, providing an integrated solution for maintaining safety standards.
Conclusion
Stored gases offer numerous benefits – they facilitate improved medical procedures, contribute to fire prevention, and even provide the bubbles in our favorite drinks. However, it’s crucial to acknowledge and understand the potential risks that come with these benefits. Through knowledge, proactive safety measures, and technological innovations like oxygen deficiency alarms, we can navigate and mitigate the threats posed by oxygen deficient atmospheres, creating safer spaces for all.
