Fact Sheet

 Environment, Health and Safety Information for the Berkeley Campus
No. 32
Revised 12/09/02

Campus Toxic Gas Program

  

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

   The Campus Toxic Gas Program specifies minimum requirements for safe storage, use, and handling of toxic gas on the UC Berkeley Campus. This program has been approved by the Laboratory Operations and Safety Committee and defines toxic gases as gases that cause significant acute health effects at low concentrations, have a National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) health rating of 3 or 4, have low occupational exposure limits, or are pyrophoric. Examples of some common toxic gases:
 
allene dichlorosilane nitric oxide
ammonia dimethylamine nitrogen dioxide
arsenic pentafluoride disilane nitrogen trifluoride
arsine fluorine phosgene
boron trichloride fluorine mixtures phosphine
boron trifluoride germane (GeH4) phosphorous pentafluoride
bromine pentafluoride hydrogen bromide phosphorous trichloride
bromine trifluoride hydrogen chloride phosphorous trifluoride
1,3 butadiene hydrogen cyanide silane (SiH4)
carbon tetrafluoride hydrogen fluoride silicon tetrafluoride
carbon monoxide hydrogen selenide stibene (SbH3)
carbonyl sulfide hydrogen sulfide sulfur tetrafluoride
chlorine methyl bromide sulfuryl fluoride
chlorine trifluoride methyl chloride tungsten hexafluoride
cyanogen methyl silane vinyl chloride
cyanogen chloride monomethylamine
diborane nickel carbonyl

  The Office of Environment, Health & Safety (EH&S) assists the campus community in following this program by performing evaluations of toxic gas usage and offering technical advice on the requirements of this program. If you are planning to use a toxic gas or a mixture that contains a toxic gas and are unsure whether it is hazardous enough to be governed by the Toxic Gas Program, please contact EH&S at 642-3073. When preparing to use a toxic gas, one or more of the following requirements may apply to your laboratory:
  • Exhausted cabinets or enclosures for storing toxic gas cylinders and manifolds
  • Air flow monitors or alarms on exhausted enclosures
  • Toxic gas sensors and alarms for the laboratory
  • Gas distribution equipment that uses compatible materials and design
  • Restrictive flow orifices that limit the flow rate of gas
  • Documented safety procedures and training of lab personnel
  • Modeling of “worst case” gas release scenario
  • Secure storage
  The Laboratory Operations & Safety Committee requires that EH&S review and approve each proposed toxic gas use before the gas is obtained for that use. EH&S will determine which of the above safety measures is required on a case-by-case basis after an evaluation of the planned research and experimental setup. In general, more stringent precautions will be applied to large quantities, continuous flow (as opposed to batch) uses of toxic gases, and to gases with poor physiological warning properties. If you have questions about Toxic Gas Program requirements, contact EH&S at 642-3073. To read a full description of the program, go to the Toxic Gas Program.
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