A base is any molecule that accepts a proton, while an acid is any molecule that releases a proton. For this reason, ammonia is considered basic because its nitrogen atom has an electron pair that readily accepts a proton. However, ammonia is classified as a weak base which is a chemical compound that doesn’t completely break apart into ions in

Is ammonia safe to use?

“Is ammonia safe to use” may sound like a trick question, as you might have seen from our other Q&As on ammonia that it can be dangerous, yet has various uses for fertilizer and refrigeration. There are several pros and cons to using ammonia that make it hard to pin down the exact right answer. However, the big thing to

What colors should ammonia pipe labels be?

Pipe marking can be difficult, especially when the labels must be correct, since handling hazardous materials is no laughing matter. Ammonia labels fall high on the list due to ammonia’s dangerous nature. There are several different colors that must accompany an ammonia label. These colors correlate with the five different parts of an ammonia label that must be visible to

What are ammonia pipe labels and where are they placed?

Any sort of pipe that contains ammonia must be appropriately labeled to assure the awareness of each employee on the contents of the pipe, especially when it contains something as corrosive as ammonia. The regulations on size and color are listed in the ANSI/ASME A 13.1 2015 ruling with the IIAR’s bulletin #114 guidelines to help contractors comply with the

The IIAR is an acronym for the International Institute of Ammonia Refrigeration. The institute oversees the standards on labeling industrial refrigeration equipment for all those who interact with the refrigeration system and its necessary components. The IIAR does this through education and advocacy as they are striving to be the main provider on performance standards of industrial refrigeration systems all

How is ammonia used in refrigeration?

To answer this question, we must first look into why ammonia is used in the first place. Back when refrigeration was needing more synthetic refrigerants in the 20th century, chlorofluorocarbons were more commonplace or refrigerants like Freon-12. These synthetic refrigerants were used until it was found that they were dangerous to the environment, that’s when ammonia began to be implemented. To

How do ammonia refrigeration systems work?

To start off, refrigeration systems essentially move heat out of one area to another leaving an area cooler than it was before. This process is the basic transfer of energy by moving it from one place to the next with the use of vapor compression. Think of this process as similar to sweating, it keeps humans cool because the water

How does anhydrous ammonia work?

This manufactured chemical is made through the Haber-Bosch process that fixes hydrogen and nitrogen together by using a highly pressurized and heated catalyst plus an industrial reactor to make the chemical compound known as NH3. Keeping this manufactured chemical in a stable condition where it can be handled is imperative as it is very volatile and classified as an extremely

What is anhydrous ammonia used for?

While NH3 is dangerous, anhydrous ammonia also has countless uses relating to the medicinal field, functions as a cleaning agent when diluted, is commonly used as a fertilizer, and in some cases is stolen to illegally produce methamphetamine. Most anhydrous ammonia is produced for the agricultural community. 175 million tons of anhydrous ammonia was produced in 2016 and 80% or more

What is anhydrous ammonia?

Anhydrous ammonia, also known as NH3, is a dangerously volatile condensed chemical that can be explosive/flammable in certain circumstances. It is classified as an extremely hazardous material by the NFPA hazard diamond and regarded as the following: Health Hazard (Blue) – 3 Flammability (Red) – 1 Reactivity (Yellow) – 0 To fully understand what anhydrous ammonia is, we must look at

Is ammonia flammable?

Ammonia has a slight flammable gas classification at level 1; however, it can be ignited easily or have an explosive reaction in the right conditions (aka a large energy source). The auto ignition temperature is 1,204°F if catalyzed and 1,570°F if un-catalyzed. Due to anhydrous ammonia’s low boiling point of -28°F, as an example for concentrated ammonia, it is stored in

What are the dangers of ammonia exposure?

If someone is exposed to the manufactured form of concentrated ammonia, they may suffer from severe chemical burns that in some cases permanently damage/disfigure the skin and respiratory tract. Inhalation: Nasopharyngeal and tracheal burns will occur, bronchiolar and alveolar edema, and airway destruction that could result in respiratory failure. Skin/eye contact: Liquified ammonia can cause frostbite, low concentrations of gas

What are the limits for exposure to concentrated ammonia?

The ACGIH has determined that the Threshold Limit Value (TLV) for concentrated ammonia for short term exposure is 35 ppm while the time weighted average is 25 ppm. Both of these are defined to ensure the avoidance of irritation to the eyes, nose, and throat. It’s good to remember that TLV’s are not enforced by law, they are merely recommendations

What is ammonia made out of?

Ammonia is a common and essential chemical compound made up of nitrogen and hydrogen, also known as NH3. Found in a multitude of places naturally, this is a chemical that is necessary for many organisms involved in the nitrogen cycle and the body’s waste production process. Organisms produce ammonia and amino acids when the body breaks down proteins during digestion,

Ammonia Pipe Marking Questions and Answers

Ammonia Pipe Marking

Ammonia is classified as an extremely hazardous chemical that has the potential to be lethal in some instances. Serious injury and fatalities caused by accidents involving ammonia can be easily avoided if the correct precautions are taken.

Safety precautions regarding ammonia can come in several different forms. The first and arguably most important aspect is pipe labeling. By labeling ammonia pipes, you are alerting employees of the danger so they can then take the correct protective measures to prevent accidents. Proper training and the correct PPE for employees comes in at a close second on the list of preventative and protective measures required by OSHA and ANSI.

Topics covered:
Throughout this category of Q&A posts about ammonia, you will learn a variety of important information that is essential when working around this hazardous chemical. Some of those topics include:

The uses of ammonia: Ammonia can be found within the farming industry, refrigeration, and household cleaning substances. Learn what exactly ammonia is used for and why it is used in these instances.
The dangers of ammonia: Ammonia can be incredibly dangerous in its concentrated form. The chemical can cause serious lung, eye, and skin damage, and may even be lethal at high concentrations. Explore the necessary needs for emergency protocol following an accident.
Proper labeling: Labeling pipes that contain ammonia is imperative, ANSI and OSHA regulations describe the color, size, and placement of these labels to ensure employee safety and awareness.

These Q&A posts contain everything you need to know about ammonia, its uses, and the risks that come with using this hazardous chemical.

Ammonia Pipe Marking Questions and Answers

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