Properly Store Powered Metals and Handle Hazardous Dusts
Modern metal manufacturing is changing. New and emerging technologies rely on innovation to meet the changing demands of manufacturing in aerospace, welding, automotive and heavy duty industries. Complicated metal components and parts can’t be simply made by casting liquified metal into cookie cutter designs. Geometry, after all, is truly limitless. With the advent of computer assisted drafting and designing, engineers can custom design parts that are impossible to make with older forms of manufacturing. Cast parts, which often begin life as liquified metal, are no longer the only option for producing custom designed metals. It’s also virtually impossible to achieve near perfection by simply pouring the liquid metal. U.S. Hazmat Rentals can help your company meet the complex storage needs of these unique powders to ensure compliance at every stage of the manufacturing process.
Rely on U.S. Hazmat Rentals for fire-rated storage solutions without delaying your workflow
Powdered metals have enabled engineers to design complex geometric parts at a fraction of the cost of precast materials. Instead of subtracting material from existing products, metal fabricators are now relying on powdered metals to compress the metal particles into complex designs and shapes for parts. Instead of forging new parts from molten steel, manufactures can rely on fine metal particles to design exactly what they need with no leftovers. The intrinsic beauty of compressed powdered metal is that there it’s virtually waste free. They are also environmentally friendly.
Common base metals in PM metallurgy:
- Stainless steel
- Copper
- Iron
- Tin
- Titanium
- Aluminum
- Tungsten
The benefits of powdered metal products
The renaissance of metallurgy has arrived. Powdered metal compression processes offer a bevy of new opportunities for custom manufacturing. As opposed to traditional precast materials, compressed metal products offer increased longevity, so they are less likely to break down under the constant heat of wear and tear on the jobsite. Powdered metal manufactured products are also more resistant to high temperatures and corrosion. Here, strength meets versatility. Powdered metals give a new meaning to the term malleable. As opposed to traditional base metals, these components are lighter without sacrificing rigged durability.
Custom storage solutions that meet all levels of compliance
U.S. Hazmat Rentals navigates the complexities of storing dangerous powdered metals, so you can focus on meeting your deadlines and turning a profit in a safe environment. Metal manufacturing is inherently dirty and dangerous. Although innovative, these parts also present several hazards and safety risks that can result in hefty civil fines and serious injury. U.S. Hazmat Rentals can mitigate the dangers with our industry leading steel storage lockers, which offer unique compartmentalizing shelving and steel welded quarter inch paneling to contain wayward accelerants. There’s a reason why explosive or volatile situations are referred to as a “powder keg.” Don’t let improper management of hazardous materials make headlines for all the wrong reasons.
Like any other hazardous material, powdered metal particles, including the residual dust that remains suspended in the air after transfer, are susceptible to fire. Even a slight static charge could transform a cloud of metallic dust in a fireball. There’s much to take into consideration when dealing with such delicate substances.
U.S. Hazmat Rentals steel storage lockers and buildings can mitigate risks from powdered metals
When considering the risks of combustible and hazardous materials, the dangers of metal seldomly come to mind. They aren’t like accelerants, fuels, paints, thinners, and compressed gases, so why should you worry about powdered materials? According to the National Fire Protection Association, this flawed logic could leave your business in ruin if proper precaution’s are considered. The fact is, that any metal powder, if fine enough, can produce an explosion or sudden combustion. If small enough, these particles can oxidize instantaneously as a flash over fire ensues. Metal, in some ways, is akin to wood. An errant spark might not be enough to set ablaze an entire tree, but what about smaller pieces or even dust? Particles of wood have been the sole culprits of fire far too many times. Fine metal particles can do just the same. And like wood dust, they should never be inhaled, so you should heed the warnings associated with these dangerous substances and store powdered metals with the same respect as other hazardous materials. Sodium metals and aluminum are some of the commonly highly flammable metal particles.
Temporary storage solutions to prevent long-term problems
Sudden ignitions from powdered metals are commonly known as “flash fires,” and are particularly dangerous as they can occur at almost any metal manufacturing facility that improperly stores these alloys. In 2011, a manufacturing company in Tennessee experienced three similar catastrophic fires that resulted in multiple deaths that began as ignitions from iron powder. OSHA later found that a failure to monitor explosive gas levels in the factory, along with a lackluster record of basic housekeeping, most likely led to the fire. While it doesn’t appear the company was using the powdered metals for compaction, it does illustrate the highly combustible nature of fine particles that remain suspended in the air.
Like fuel vapors with other flammable materials, powdered metals must be stored in a climate controlled settings. U.S. Hazmat Rentals can fortifying your business by safely securing these dangerous, but necessary, metals in temperature controlled environments that are virtually impervious to flames. We offer vaulted protection in the variety of two-hour and four-hour fire protection. Our vaulted storage lockers are equipped with explosion proof paneling, fortified by 12-gauge steel to contain dangerous chemicals in individual compartments. Each durable storage locker comes with the option of a dry chemical fire suppression system that can mitigate the damage from flash fires before they destroy an entire facility.
Breaking down the dangers of powdered metals
The human body wasn’t designed to break down toxic substances, like powdered metals, either. Every class of hazardous materials must be handled differently with respect given to its unique chemical composition. It’s imperative that these dangerous substances are securely stored from your most valuable asset: your workforce.
Different stages of the compaction and finishing processes also involve a variety of applications and potentially toxic chemicals. As soon as one stage of the manufacturing process is completed, it is quickly sent to the next staging area for finishing and coating. Our workplaces are filled with varying classes of flammable materials. While these components play individually vital roles in the manufacturing process, they must be properly secured until their designated application is required. If stored together, powdered metals, along with other hazardous materials, can react as accelerants to one another, resulting in fire and residual damage.
Two-hour and four-hour steel fire protection
Our rentals ensure your company will meet all NFPA and OSHA requirements for your chemical storage needs. U.S. Hazmat Rental’s buildings are rigorously tested to hold their structure for over four hours of intense internal blaze. They will contain a barrage of excessively hot gases, liquids, and solids, protecting your workers, your equipment and your facility by providing ample time to evacuate in the case of an incident.
Renting a flammable storage building will give you the safety and assurance you need and the flexibility of rental units that allow you to manage your budget. Our fire rated storage rentals, both our four (4) hour and two (2) hour fire rated buildings, are guaranteed to meet or exceed industry standards. Check with your local inspectors and authorities to see if a 4 hour fire rated building rental will solve your hazmat storage needs.
Trust the experts at U.S. Hazmat Rentals for avoiding the perils of improper storage
At U.S. Hazmat Rentals, the superiority of our steel engineered lockers are rivaled only by the decades of experience we have accumulated as trusted leaders in the chemical storage business. You can rely on us for a consultation for a safe, practical solution to your storage dilemmas. As you begin to explore your chemical storage options, take a look at some of the more common tips or pointers for handling powdered metals.
- Storage of metals should be in rooms composed of non-combustible materials.
- Avoid stacking chemical storage containers.
- Store powdered metals in a dry, climate controlled setting.
- Avoid storing powdered metals with other combustible materials.
- Refrain from storing metals with incompatible hazardous materials.
- All containers of material should be sealed at all times.
- Consider wearing personal protective equipment, including gloves and a government approved breathing apparatus when handling powdered metals.