Solid or Liquid substances (or mixtures of substances)
capable by chemical reaction of producing gases at such
a temperature and pressure and at such a speed as to
damage the surroundings are classed as Explosive. Pyrotechnic
Substances are also classed as explosive. Pyrotechnic
substances, are those designed to produce and effect
by heat, light, sound, gas or smoke or a combination
of these as a result of non-detonating self sustaining
exothermic chemical reactions (ADR, United Nations,
Geneva, 2001).
There are also chemicals that when their physical properties
change, such as Picric Acid or Collodion (through desiccation),
they become classified as explosives (under UN transport
regulations). Chemicals classed as explosives may not
be transport by road and therefore almost impossible
to dispose of.
To prevent the physical properties of e.g. Picric Acid
changing, an inspection log (see below) should be kept.
In addition, chemicals should be stored according to
the information given on their Material Safety Data
Sheets (MSDS), to ensure that the physical properties
of the chemicals do not change. If you are unsure of
how to store the chemicals, please contact the supplier.
If you know of any chemicals, which are classed as
explosives, please contact either the Safety
Office or the Environmental
Unit immediately, with details of the name of chemical
and their location.
The Environmental Unit has is involved in chemical
waste disposal in an advisory capacity. Over the coming
year the Environmental Unit will generate information
on how to deal with the issues surrounding the procurement,
storage and disposal of chemicals. For guidelines for
the storage and monitoring of the physical characteristics
of potentially explosive chemicals click
here.
If you have waste chemicals to dispose of please email:
environment@ucd.ie
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