1. Tank Car Specialist Training Support Package November 2014 Module 11: Grounding and Bonding

2. Tank Car Specialist Introduction Static electricity is everywhere and it is likely present at the scene of any flammable liquids spill. Flammable and/or combustible liquids are major types of chemical spills we respond to as emergency responders. In order to effectively and safely mitigate an emergency involving flammable products, we need to know how to properly perform grounding and bonding. 2

3. Tank Car Specialist Objectives: 11-1 The participant will be able describe what grounding and bonding is. 11-2 The participant will have the ability describe why we do grounding and bonding. 11-3 The participant will be able to describe the procedures for grounding and bonding.

4. Tank Car Specialist Definitions Electricity Volts Amperes Ohms Resistance Static Electricity Conductor Insulator Joules Grounding Bonding

5. Tank Car Specialist Capacitance The ability of a material to store or hold electrical energy Materials vary in their storage capacity Relaxation time is period it takes to equalize charges SIZE MATERIAL

6. Tank Car Specialist Relaxation Time Time necessary for products to dissipate buildup of stored charges Times differ for various materials and products Consult chemical specific resources 6

7. Tank Car Specialist What Is Static Electricity? Caused by energy trapped on surface of non conductive molecules. –Can be created by the movement of solids, liquids, and gases. –Can be caused by contaminants such as: Rust Dirt Dust

8. Tank Car Specialist Why Do Grounding and Bonding? What products: –Assess by Hazard Class: If it moves, it can produce a static charge. Hazard Class YesNo 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9

9. Tank Car Specialist Conditions for Ignition There must be 4 conditions met before static electricity discharge is a source: –There must be generation of static electricity –There must be accumulation of charge –Discharge spark of sufficient energy –Discharge spark must be in flammable atmosphere (LEL – UEL)

10. Tank Car Specialist Generation of Static Electricity Problem occurs when there is: –Accumulation –Discharge – static measured in joules.02 millijoules –Hydrogen, acetylene.25 millijoules –LPG (propane, C 3 H 8 ) Must be in LEL – UEL –Propane – LEL 2.2 % – UEL 9.5 %

11. Tank Car Specialist Generation of Static Electricity

12. Tank Car Specialist Controlling Static Electricity Remove flammable atmosphere from area –Vapor suppression –Vapor dispersion Reduce production of static energy –Slow the transfer down Release or “relax” the charge –Ground and Bond – Best method

13. Tank Car Specialist Factors That Affect Grounding and Bonding Weather Time of year Temperature Cool, dry weather returns Cold, dry weather Spring thaw…warm, moist air Very hot, Very dry Monsoo n Humidity Moisture

14. Tank Car Specialist Seasonal Variation in Resistance 14

15. Tank Car Specialist Effect of Temperature on Resistance 15

16. Tank Car Specialist Factors That Affect Grounding and Bonding Soil type –Clay –Loam –Sand Moisture in soil Higher moisture = lower resistance

17. Tank Car Specialist Minimum Equipment Needed –Ground resistance meter –Intrinsically safe ohm meter –(4) ½” dia. or > copper grounding rods –(5) 50’ ¼” stainless steel braided cables with appropriate connecting clips 3 – Grounding cables (pinpoint and alligator clips) 2 – Bonding cables (pinpoint only) Pinpoint Alligator

18. Tank Car Specialist Additional Equipment for Grounding and Bonding –Sledge hammer/post driver –4 foot long 4” x 4” post –(10) ½” dia. or > copper grounding rods –(10) ¼” stainless steel braided cables with alligator connecting clips Length of cable is dependent on length of rod

19. Tank Car Specialist The Wrong Way

20. Tank Car Specialist Before Grounding and Bonding Don’t forget the basics: Site safety Vapor suppression (product dependent) - f oam Detection and monitoring (product dependent) –LEL Operations level tactical –Damming, diking, retention, booms, pads, etc. Call Miss Utility, if conditions warrant

21. Tank Car Specialist Determining the Grounding Field Will the soil/area absorb the charge? –Assess the grounding field by: Appropriate rod placement –Maximum 50’ or length of cable <5’ –Minimal traffic area Ground resistance meter –Different companies produce testing devices –Operating principle is the same.

22. Tank Car Specialist Megger Unit Generates current and measures earth resistance through an internal OHM meter Unit is NOT intrinsically safe 22

23. Tank Car Specialist “Potential” ? ? ohms ? Ground Field Up Wind Up Hill Incident 75 ft.

24. Tank Car Specialist Acceptable Level for Resistance National Electrical Code (N.E.C.) establishes 25 ohms as ideal Petro Chemical of Canada sets 10 ohms Target is as low as practical 24

25. Tank Car Specialist Grounding Fields HOUMA, LAPUEBLO, CO

26. Tank Car Specialist Safety Considerations 1 foot 2 feet 3 feet 4 feet 5 feet NATURAL GAS WATER ELECTRICAL SEWER PHONE, CABLE TV ALWAYS CHECK WITH ALL UTILITIES PROVIDERS BEFORE DRIVING RODS

27. Tank Car Specialist Resistance vs. Depth 27 Rod Depth - Feet Resistance - Ohms

28. Tank Car Specialist Rod Spacing 28 4 ft

29. Tank Car Specialist Adding Water HOUMA, LA PUEBLO, CO

30. Tank Car Specialist Improving Ground Field Add water to rods Add salt to water, copper sulfate or sodium carbonate Common rock salt most likely 30

31. Tank Car Specialist Adding Salt Water HOUMA, LAPUEBLO, CO

32. Tank Car Specialist Location of the Fields Uphill and upwind Remote from immediate work area Ideally, set field 75-ft away Two fields offer redundancy 32

33. Tank Car Specialist Grounding and Bonding Sequence 1. Damaged/leaking container to ground 2. Receiving container to ground 3. Damaged/leaking container to receiving container 33

34. Tank Car Specialist GROUNDING FIELDS GROUNDING CABLE BONDING CABLE WIND LEAKING VEHICLE RECEIVING VEHICLE Example of Grounding and Bonding Before Transfer Pump

35. Tank Car Specialist Bad Connection Points Bolster not welded to tank

36. Tank Car Specialist Bad Connection Points Bolted, not WELDED to tank

37. Tank Car Specialist Bolted-on Handle Packing Gaskets / O - Rings Bolted Flanges Bad Connection Points

38. Tank Car Specialist Welded directly to tank Good Connection Points

39. Tank Car Specialist TURNBUCKLE AREA STEP / HANDRAILS VALVES / FITTINGS CENTER SILL Mixed Connection Points

40. Tank Car Specialist NO TURNBUCKLE Direct weld to tank Good Connection Points

41. Tank Car Specialist DIRECT WELD, BUT COVERED IN PAINT, THERMAL PROTECTION DESIGNATED AREA SCRAPED CLEAN Good Connection Points

42. Tank Car Specialist Why Do Grounding and Bonding? Applicable OSHA standard: –29 CFR 1910.106 – Flammable and Combustible Liquids (1910.106 (f) (3)) NFPA – 30 Flammable and Combustible Liquids Code. – 77 Recommended Practice on Static Electricity NEC Article 250

43. Tank Car Specialist Conclusion Participants have been given information to: Defined grounding and bonding and describe electricity, volts, amperes, ohms, static electricity, static transfer, static spark, conductor, insulator, breakdown voltage, capacitance, and joule. These basic terms are necessary to understand grounding and bonding Defined sources of static electricity, conditions of ignition, and ways to control static electricity hazards Listed factors that affect the ground field and describe how to check the ground field using an ohms earth tester 43

44. Tank Car Specialist Conclusion Participants have been given the information to: Described where to locate the ground field and identify an acceptable level for resistance Established the recommended order for cable rod connection and container connection for grounding and bonding Given a situation in which grounding would be necessary, participants will be able to check the grounding field for correct resistance, demonstrate the proper sequence and position of the grounding connections, and proper location of the grounding field. 44