Disclaimer: The information contained in these
guidelines is intended for reference purposes only. It provides a
summary of information about chemicals that workers may be
exposed to in their workplaces. The information contained in
these guidelines is current as of date of publication (September,
1996); recommendations may be superseded by new developments in
the field of industrial hygiene. Readers are therefore advised to
regard these recomendations as general guidelines and to
determine whether new information is available.
OCCUPATIONAL SAFETY AND HEALTH GUIDELINE FOR TERT-BUTYL ACETATE
INTRODUCTION
This guideline summarizes pertinent information about tert-butyl acetate
for workers and employers as well as for physicians, industrial
hygienists, and other occupational safety and health professionals who may
need such information to conduct effective occupational safety and health
programs. Recommendations may be superseded by new developments; readers
are therefore advised to regard these recommendations as general
guidelines and to determine periodically whether new information is
available.
SUBSTANCE IDENTIFICATION
* Formula
C(6)H(12)O(2)
* Structure
(For Structure, see paper copy)
* Synonyms
t-Butyl acetate; acetic acid, tert-butyl ester; acetic acid,
1,1-dimethyl ethyl ester; Texaco Lead Appreciator; TLA.
* Identifiers
1. CAS: 540-88-5.
2. RTECS AF7400000.
3. DOT UN: 1123 26.
4. DOT label: Flammable Liquid.
* Appearance and odor
tert-Butyl acetate is a flammable, colorless liquid with a fruity
odor.
CHEMICAL AND PHYSICAL PROPERTIES
* Physical data
1. Molecular weight: 116.2.
2. Boiling point (760 torr): 97-98 degrees C (206.6-208.4 degrees F).
3. Specific gravity (water = 1): 0.89 at 20 degrees C (68 degrees F).
4. Vapor density (air = 1 at boiling point of tert-butyl acetate): 4.0.
5. Melting point: Data not available.
6. Vapor pressure at 20 degrees C (68 degrees F): Data not available.
7. Solubility: Insoluble in water; soluble in alcohol and ether.
8. Evaporation rate: Data not available.
* Reactivity
1. Conditions contributing to instability: Heat, sparks, and open flame.
2. Incompatibilities: Contact of tert-butyl acetate with nitrates,
strong oxidizers, strong alkalies, and strong acids may cause fires or
explosions.
3. Hazardous decomposition products: Toxic gases (such as carbon
monoxide) may be released in a fire involving tert-butyl acetate.
4. Special precautions: None.
* Flammability
There is no National Fire Protection Association fire hazard rating
for tert-butyl acetate; however, other sources rate this substance's
fire hazard potential as severe.
1. Flash point: Between 16.6 and 22 degrees C (62 and 72 degrees F)
(closed cup).
2. Autoignition temperature: Data not available.
3. Flammable limits in air (percent by volume): Lower, 1.5; upper, data
not available.
4. Extinguishant: Use alcohol foam, carbon dioxide, dry chemical, water
spray, or Halon to fight fires involving tert-butyl acetate.
Fires involving tert-butyl acetate should be fought upwind and from
the maximum distance possible. Keep unnecessary people away; isolate
hazard area and deny entry. Emergency personnel should stay out of
low areas and ventilate closed spaces before entering. Containers of
tert-butyl acetate may explode in the heat of the fire and should be
moved from the fire area if it is possible to do so safely. If this
is not possible, cool containers from the sides with water until well
after the fire is out. Stay away from the ends of containers.
Personnel should withdraw immediately if a rising sound from a venting
safety device is heard or if there is discoloration of a container due
to fire. If a tank car or truck is involved in a fire, personnel
should isolate an area of a half a mile in all directions.
Firefighters should wear a full set of protective clothing, including
a self-contained breathing apparatus, when fighting fires involving
tert-butyl acetate. Firefighters' protective clothing may provide
limited protection against fires involving tert-butyl acetate.
* Warning properties
The average air odor recognition threshold for n-butyl acetate, a
chemical structurally similar to tert-butyl acetate, is 0.68 part per
million (ppm) parts of air. Because this value is below the
Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) current
permissible exposure limit (PEL) of 200 ppm [29 CFR 1910.1000, Table
Z-1-A], tert-butyl acetate is therefore likely to have adequate
warning properties for the purpose of respirator selection.
* Eye irritation properties
No information is available on the specific concentration of
tert-butyl acetate that causes eye irritation; however, this substance
is known to be an eye irritant.
EXPOSURE LIMITS
The current OSHA PEL for tert-butyl acetate is 200 ppm (950 milligrams per
cubic meter (mg/m3)) as an 8-hour time-weighted average (TWA)
concentration [29 CFR 1910.1000, Table Z-1-A]. The National Institute for
Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) has not issued a recommended
exposure limit (REL) for tert-butyl acetate; however, NIOSH concurs with
the PEL established for this substance by OSHA [NIOSH 1988]. The American
Conference of Governmental Industrial Hygienists (ACGIH) has assigned
tert-butyl acetate a threshold limit value (TLV) of 200 ppm (950 mg/m3)
as a TWA for a normal 8-hour workday and a 40-hour workweek [ACGIH 1989,
p. 14]. The OSHA and ACGIH limits are based on the risk of eye and
respiratory tract irritation associated with exposure to tert-butyl
acetate.
HEALTH HAZARD INFORMATION
* Routes of exposure
Exposure to tert-butyl acetate can occur via inhalation, ingestion,
and eye or skin contact.
* Summary of toxicology
1. Effects on Animals: tert-Butyl acetate has not been tested for
toxicity in animals. However, based on the effects of exposure to
other acetate esters, tert-butyl acetate would be likely to cause eye,
nose, and skin irritation and, at high concentrations, narcosis
[Proctor, Hughes, and Fischman 1988, p. 105].
2. Effects on Humans: Exposure to tert-butyl acetate causes eye, skin,
and respiratory irritation in workers. By analogy with the effects of
exposure to similar esters, tert-butyl acetate may act as a central
nervous system depressant at high concentrations [ACGIH 1986, p. 74].
* Signs and symptoms of exposure
1. Acute exposure: The signs and symptoms of acute exposure to
tert-butyl acetate include itchy or inflamed eyes and irritation of
the nose and upper respiratory tract. Exposure to tert-butyl acetate
at high concentrations may cause headache, drowsiness, and other
narcotic effects.
2. Chronic exposure: No chronic effects of exposure to tert-butyl
acetate have been reported.
* Emergency procedures:
In the event of an emergency, remove the victim from further exposure,
send for medical assistance, and initiate the following emergency
procedures:
1. Eye exposure: If tert-butyl acetate or a solution containing this
substance gets into the eyes, immediately flush the eyes with large
amounts of water for a minimum of 15 minutes, lifting the lower and
upper lids occasionally. Get medical attention as soon as possible.
2. Skin exposure: If tert-butyl acetate or a solution containing this
substance contacts the skin, the contaminated skin should be flushed
with large amounts of water for at least 15 minutes and should then be
washed with soap and water. If irritation persists, get medical
attention.
3. Inhalation: If tert-butyl acetate vapors are inhaled, move the victim
at once to fresh air and get medical care as soon as possible. If the
victim is not breathing, perform cardiopulmonary resuscitation; if
breathing is difficult, give oxygen. Keep the victim warm and quiet
until medical help arrives.
4. Ingestion: If tert-butyl acetate or a solution containing this
substance is ingested, give the victim several glasses of salt water
and then induce vomiting by having the victim touch the back of the
throat with the finger or by giving syrup of ipecac as directed on the
package. Do not force an unconscious or convulsing person to drink
liquids or to vomit. Get medical help immediately. Keep the victim
warm and quiet until medical help arrives.
5. Rescue: Remove an incapacitated worker from further exposure and
implement appropriate emergency procedures (e.g., those listed on the
Material Safety Data Sheet required by OSHA's Hazard Communication
Standard, 29 CFR 1910.1200). All workers should be familiar with
emergency procedures and the location and proper use of emergency
equipment.
EXPOSURE SOURCES AND CONTROL METHODS
The following operations may involve tert-butyl acetate and lead to worker
exposures to this substance:
* Use as a solvent
* Use as an additive to improve the anti-knock properties of motor fuels
Methods that are effective in controlling worker exposures to tert-butyl
acetate, depending on the feasibility of implementation, are
* Process enclosure,
* Local exhaust ventilation,
* General dilution ventilation, and
* Personal protective equipment.
The following publications are good sources of information on control
methods:
1. ACGIH [1986]. Industrial ventilation--a manual of recommended
practice. Cincinnati, OH: American Conference of Governmental
Industrial Hygienists.
2. Burton DJ [1986]. Industrial ventilation--a self study companion.
Cincinnati, OH: American Conference of Governmental Industrial
Hygienists.
3. Alden JL, Kane JM [1982]. Design of industrial ventilation systems.
New York, NY: Industrial Press, Inc.
4. Wadden RA, Scheff PA [1987]. Engineering design for control of
workplace hazards. New York, NY: McGraw-Hill.
5. Plog BA [1988]. Fundamentals of industrial hygiene. Chicago, IL:
National Safety Council.
MEDICAL MONITORING
Workers who may be exposed to chemical hazards should be monitored in a
systematic program of medical surveillance that is intended to prevent
occupational injury and disease. The program should include education of
employers and workers about work-related hazards, placement of workers in
jobs that do not jeopardize their safety or health, early detection of
adverse health effects, and referral of workers for diagnosis and
treatment. The occurrence of disease or other work-related adverse
health effects should prompt immediate evaluation of primary preventive
measures (e.g., industrial hygiene monitoring, engineering controls, and
personal protective equipment). A medical monitoring program is intended
to supplement, not replace, such measures. To place workers effectively
and to detect and control work-related health effects, medical evaluations
should be performed (1) before job placement, (2) periodically during the
period of employment, and (3) at the time of job transfer or termination.
* Preplacement medical evaluation
Before a worker is placed in a job with a potential for exposure to
tert-butyl acetate, the examining physician should evaluate and
document the worker's baseline health status with thorough medical,
environmental, and occupational histories, a physical examination, and
physiologic and laboratory tests appropriate for the anticipated
occupational risks. These should concentrate on the function and
integrity of the eyes, skin, and respiratory system. Medical
monitoring for respiratory disease should be conducted using the
principles and methods recommended by NIOSH and the American Thoracic
Society.
A preplacement medical evaluation is recommended to assess an
individual's suitability for employment at a specific job and to
detect and assess medical conditions that may be aggravated or may
result in increased risk when a worker is exposed to tert-butyl
acetate at or below the prescribed exposure limit. The examining
physician should consider the probable frequency, intensity, and
duration of exposure as well as the nature and degree of any
applicable medical condition. Such conditions (which should not be
regarded as absolute contraindications to job placement) include a
history and other findings consistent with diseases of the eyes, skin,
or respiratory tract.
* Periodic medical examinations and biological monitoring
Occupational health interviews and physical examinations should be
performed at regular intervals during the employment period, as
mandated by any applicable Federal, State, or local standard. Where
no standard exists and the hazard is minimal, evaluations should be
conducted every 3 to 5 years or as frequently as recommended by an
experienced occupational health physician. Additional examinations
may be necessary if a worker develops symptoms attributable to
tert-butyl acetate exposure. The interviews, examinations, and
medical screening tests should focus on identifying the adverse
effects of tert-butyl acetate on the eyes, skin, or respiratory
system. Current health status should be compared with the baseline
health status of the individual worker or with expected values for a
suitable reference population.
Biological monitoring involves sampling and analyzing body tissues or
fluids to provide an index of exposure to a toxic substance or
metabolite. No biological monitoring test acceptable for routine use
has yet been developed for tert-butyl acetate.
* Medical examinations recommended at the time of job transfer or
termination
The medical, environmental, and occupational history interviews, the
physical examination, and selected physiologic or laboratory tests
that were conducted at the time of placement should be repeated at the
time of job transfer or termination to determine the worker's medical
status at the end of his or her employment. Any changes in the
worker's health status should be compared with those expected for a
suitable reference population.
WORKPLACE MONITORING AND MEASUREMENT PROCEDURES
Determination of a worker's exposure to airborne tert-butyl acetate is
made using coconut shell charcoal tubes (100/50 mg sections, 20/40 mesh).
Samples are collected at a maximum flow rate of 0.2 liter per minute until
a maximum air volume of 10 liters is collected. The sample is then
desorbed with carbon disulfide. Analysis is conducted by gas
chromatography using a flame ionization detector. The limit of detection
for this procedure is 0.02 mg sample. This method is described in NIOSH
Method 1450 [Esters I] [NIOSH 1984].
PERSONAL HYGIENE PROCEDURES
If tert-butyl acetate contacts the skin, workers should flush the affected
areas immediately with plenty of water for 15 minutes, followed by washing
with soap and water.
Clothing contaminated with tert-butyl acetate should be removed
immediately, and provisions should be made for the safe removal of the
chemical from the clothing. Persons laundering the clothes should be
informed of the hazardous properties of tert-butyl acetate, particularly
its potential to be irritating to the eyes and skin.
A worker who handles tert-butyl acetate should thoroughly wash hands,
forearms, and face with soap and water before eating, using tobacco
products, or using toilet facilities.
Workers should not eat, drink, or use tobacco products in areas where
tert-butyl acetate is handled, processed, or stored.
STORAGE
tert-Butyl acetate should be stored in a cool, dry, well- ventilated area
in tightly sealed containers that are labeled in accordance with OSHA's
Hazard Communication Standard [29 CFR 1910.1200]. Containers of
tert-butyl acetate should be protected from physical damage and should be
stored separately from nitrates, strong oxidizers, strong acids, strong
alkalies, heat, sparks, and open flame. Because containers that formerly
contained tert-butyl acetate may still hold product residues, they should
be handled appropriately.
LEAKS
In the event of a leak involving tert-butyl acetate, persons not wearing
protective equipment and clothing should be restricted from contaminated
areas until cleanup has been completed. The following steps should be
undertaken following a leak:
1. Do not touch the spilled material; stop the leak if it is possible to
do so without risk.
2. Notify safety personnel.
3. Remove all sources of heat and ignition.
4. Ventilate potentially explosive atmospheres.
5. Water spray may be used to reduce vapors, but the spray may not
prevent ignition in closed spaces.
6. For small liquid spills, take up with sand or other noncombustible
absorbent material and place into closed containers for later
disposal.
7. For large liquid spills, build dikes far ahead of the spill to contain
the tert-butyl acetate for later reclamation or disposal.
EMERGENCY PLANNING, COMMUNITY RIGHT-TO-KNOW, AND HAZARDOUS WASTE
MANAGEMENT REQUIREMENTS
The Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA's) regulatory requirements for
emergency planning, community right-to-know, and hazardous waste
management may vary over time. Users are therefore advised to determine
periodically whether new information is available.
* Emergency planning requirements
tert-Butyl acetate is not subject to EPA emergency planning
requirements under the Superfund Amendments and Reauthorization Act
(SARA) (Title III).
* Reportable quantity requirements (releases of hazardous substances)
A hazardous substance release is defined by EPA as any spilling,
pumping, pouring, emitting, emptying, discharging, injecting,
escaping, leaching, dumping, or disposing into the environment
(including the abandonment or discarding of containers) of hazardous
substances. In the event of a release that is above the reportable
quantity for that chemical, employers are required by the
Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act
(CERCLA) to notify the proper Federal authorities.
The reportable quantity for tert-butyl acetate is 5,000 pounds. If an
amount equal to or greater than this quantity is released within a
24-hour period, CERCLA [40 CFR Part 302.6] requires employers to
notify the National Response Center IMMEDIATELY at (800) 424-8802 (in
Washington, D.C. at (202) 426-2675).
* Community right-to-know requirements
Employers are not required by Section 313 of the Superfund Amendments
and Reauthorization Act (SARA) to submit a Toxic Chemical Release
Inventory form (Form R) to EPA reporting the amount of tert-butyl
acetate emitted or released from their facility annually.
* Hazardous waste management requirements
EPA considers a waste to be hazardous if it exhibits any of the
following characteristics: ignitability, corrosivity, reactivity, or
toxicity, as defined in 40 CFR 261.21-261.24. Under the Resource
Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA), EPA has specifically listed many
chemical wastes as hazardous. Although tert-butyl acetate is not
specifically listed as a hazardous waste under RCRA, EPA requires
employers to treat any waste as hazardous if it exhibits any of the
characteristics discussed above.
Providing more information about the removal and disposal of specific
chemicals is beyond the scope of this guideline. EPA, U.S. Department
of Transportation, and State and local regulations should be followed
to ensure that removal, transport, and disposal of this substance are
conducted in accordance with existing regulations. To be certain that
chemical waste disposal meets EPA regulatory requirements, employers
should address any questions to the RCRA hotline at (202) 382-3000 (in
Washington, D.C.) or toll-free at (800) 424-9346 (outside Washington,
D.C.). In addition, relevant State and local authorities should be
contacted for information on any requirements they may have for the
waste removal and disposal of this substance.
RESPIRATORY PROTECTION
* Conditions for respirator use
Good industrial hygiene practice requires that engineering controls be
used where feasible to reduce workplace concentrations of hazardous
materials to the prescribed exposure limit. However, some situations
may require the use of respirators to control exposure. Respirators
must be worn if the ambient concentration of tert-butyl acetate
exceeds prescribed exposure limits. Respirators may be used
(1) before engineering controls have been installed, (2) during work
operations such as maintenance or repair activities that involve
unknown exposures, (3) during operations that require entry into tanks
or closed vessels, and (4) during emergency situations. If the use of
respirators is necessary, the only respirators permitted are those
that have been approved by NIOSH and the Mine Safety and Health
Administration (MSHA).
* Respiratory protection program
Employers should institute a complete respiratory protection program
that, at a minimum, complies with the requirements of OSHA's
Respiratory Protection Standard [29 CFR 1910.134]. Such a program
must include respirator selection (see Table 1), an evaluation of the
worker's ability to perform the work while wearing a respirator, the
regular training of personnel, fit testing, periodic workplace
monitoring, and regular respirator maintenance, inspection, and
cleaning. The implementation of an adequate respiratory protection
program (including selection of the correct respirator) requires that
a knowledgeable person be in charge of the program and that the
program be evaluated regularly. For additional information on the
selection and use of respirators and on the medical screening of
respirator users, consult the NIOSH Respirator Decision Logic and
the NIOSH Guide to Industrial Respiratory Protection.
Table 1 lists the respiratory protection that NIOSH recommends for
workers exposed to tert-butyl acetate. The recommended protection may
vary over time because of changes in the exposure limit for tert-butyl
acetate or in respirator certification requirements. Users are
therefore advised to determine periodically whether new information is
available.
PERSONAL PROTECTIVE EQUIPMENT
Protective clothing should be worn to prevent skin contact with tert-butyl
acetate. Chemical protective clothing should be selected on the basis of
available performance data, manufacturers' recommendations, and evaluation
of the clothing under actual conditions of use. No reports have been
published on the resistance of various protective clothing materials to
tert-butyl acetate permeation; however, the following materials have been
tested against a chemically similar substance [n-butyl acetate] and may
withstand permeation for more than 4 but fewer than 8 hours: polyvinyl
alcohol, polyethylene/ ethylene vinyl alcohol, and Teflon. Since specific
test data are not available for tert-butyl acetate, the information
provided here should be considered as a guideline only. If permeability
data are not readily available, protective clothing manufacturers should
be requested to provide information on the best chemical protective
clothing for workers to wear when they are exposed to tert-butyl acetate.
If tert-butyl acetate is dissolved in an organic solvent, the permeation
properties of both the solvent and the mixture must be considered when
selecting personal protective equipment and clothing.
Safety glasses, goggles, or faceshields should be worn during operations
in which tert-butyl acetate might contact the eyes (e.g., through splashes
of solution). Eyewash fountains and emergency showers should be available
within the immediate work area whenever the potential exists for eye or
skin contact with tert-butyl acetate. Contact lenses should not be worn
if the potential exists for tert-butyl acetate exposure.
REFERENCES
ACGIH [1986]. Documentation of the threshold limit values and biological
exposure indices. 5th edition. Cincinnati, OH: American Conference of
Governmental Industrial Hygienists.
ACGIH [1989]. TLVs. Threshold limit values and biological exposure
indices for 1989-1990. Cincinnati, OH: American Conference of
Governmental Industrial Hygienists.
[CFR] Code of Federal regulations. Title 29 (Department of Labor), Parts
1910.1000 and 1910.1200. Washington, DC: U.S. Government Printing
Office, Office of the Federal Register.
NIOSH [1984]. NIOSH manual of analytical methods. 3rd edition, Volume 1.
Cincinnati, OH: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Public
Health Service, Centers for Disease Control, National Institute for
Occupational Safety and Health.
NIOSH [1987a]. NIOSH guide to industrial respiratory protection.
Cincinnati, OH: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Public
Health Service, Centers for Disease Control, National Institute for
Occupational Safety and Health. DHHS (NIOSH) Publication No. 87-116.
NIOSH [1987c]. Respirator decision logic. Cincinnati, OH: U.S.
Department of Health and Human Services, Public Health Service, Centers
for Disease Control, National Institute for Occupational Safety and
Health. DHHS (NIOSH) Publication No. 87-108.
NIOSH [1988]. Testimony of the National Institute for Occupational Safety
and Health on the Occupational Safety and Health Administration's proposed
rule: 29 CFR 1910, Docket No. H-020, August 2, 1988. NIOSH policy
statements. Cincinnati, OH: U.S. Department of Health and Human
Services, Public Health Service, Centers for Disease Control, National
Institute for Occupational Safety and Health.
Proctor NH, Hughes JP, Fischman ML [1988]. Chemical hazards of the
workplace. Philadelphia, PA: J.B. Lippincott Company.
BIBLIOGRAPHY
ACGIH [1986]. Documentation of the threshold limit values and biological
exposure indices. 5th edition. Cincinnati, OH: American Conference of
Governmental Industrial Hygienists.
AIHA [1988]. Odor thresholds for chemicals with established occupational
health standards. Akron, OH: American Industrial Hygiene Association.
[CFR] Code of Federal regulations. Title 49 (Department of
Transportation). Washington, DC: U.S. Government Printing Office, Office
of the Federal Register.
[CFR] Code of Federal regulations. Title 29 (Department of Labor), Parts
1910.1000 and 1910.1200. Washington, DC: U.S. Government Printing
Office, Office of the Federal Register.
DOT [1987]. 1987 Emergency response guidebook, guide 26. Washington,
DC: U.S. Department of Transportation, Office of Hazardous Materials
Transportation, Research and Special Programs Administration.
Forsberg K, Mansdorf SZ [1989]. Quick selection guide to chemical
protective clothing. New York, NY: Van Nostrand Reinhold.
Hawley's condensed chemical dictionary [1987]. Sax NI, Lewis RJ. 11th
edition. New York, NY: Van Nostrand Reinhold Company.
HSDB [1986]. tert-Butyl acetate. Bethesda, MD: The Hazardous Substances
Data Bank, National Library of Medicine.
ITI [1986]. Toxic and hazardous industrial chemicals safety manual.
Tokyo, Japan: International Technical Information Institute.
Merck Index [1983]. Windholz M. 10th edition. Rahway, NJ: Merck &
Company.
NIOSH [January 1981]. NIOSH/OSHA occupational health guidelines.
Cincinnati, OH: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Public
Health Service, Centers for Disease Control, National Institute for
Occupational Safety and Health. DHHS (NIOSH) Publication No. 81-123.
NIOSH [1987b]. NIOSH pocket guide to chemical hazards. Cincinnati, OH:
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Public Health Service,
Centers for Disease Control, National Institute for Occupational Safety
and Health. DHHS (NIOSH) Publication No. 85-114.
Proctor NH, Hughes JP [1978]. Chemical hazards of the workplace.
Philadelphia, PA: J.B. Lippincott Company.
RTECS [1990]. tert-Butyl acetate. Bethesda, MD: Registry of Toxic
Effects of Chemical Substances, National Library of Medicine.
Sittig M [1985]. Handbook of toxic and hazardous chemicals. 2nd edition.
Park Ridge, NJ: Noyes Publications.
USCG [1984]. CHRIS (chemical hazards response information system)
hazardous chemical data manual: tert-butyl acetate. Washington, DC:
U.S. Department of Transportation, U.S. Coast Guard, Commandant
Instruction M16465.12A.
Weast RC [1984]. CRC handbook of chemistry and physics. 64th edition.
Boca Raton, FL: CRC Press, Inc.
Table 1. NIOSH recommended respiratory protection for workers exposed to tert-butyl acetate*
Condition |
Minimum respiratory protection** |
Airborne concentration of tert-butyl acetate: |
200 to 1000(+) ppm (5 × PEL) |
Any air-purifying, half-mask respirator
(including a disposable respirator)
equipped with organic vapor cartridges,
or
Any air-purifying, full-facepiece
respirator equipped with organic vapor
cartridges, or
Any powered, air-purifying respirator
equipped with a loose-fitting hood or
helmet and organic vapor cartridges, or
Any powered, air-purifying respirator
equipped with a tight-fitting facepiece
and organic vapor cartridges |
200 to 2000 ppm (10 × PEL) |
Any supplied-air respirator equipped
with a half mask and operated in a
demand (negative-pressure) mode |
200 to 4250(++) ppm (21.25 × PEL) |
Any air-purifying, full-facepiece
respirator equipped with an organic
vapor canister, or
Any powered, air-purifying respirator
equipped with a loose-fitting hood or
helmet and an organic vapor canister, or
Any powered, air-purifying respirator
equipped with a tight-fitting facepiece
and an organic vapor canister, or
Any supplied-air respirator equipped
with a full facepiece and operated in a
demand (negative-pressure) mode, or
Any supplied-air respirator equipped
with a hood or helmet and operated in a
continuous-flow mode, or
Any supplied-air respirator equipped
with a tight-fitting facepiece and
operated in a continuous-flow mode, or
Any supplied-air respirator operated in
a pressure-demand or other
positive-pressure mode, or
Any self-contained respirator equipped
with a full facepiece and operated in a
demand (negative-pressure) mode |
Entry into unknown concentrations |
Any self-contained respirator equipped
with a full facepiece and operated in a
pressure-demand or other
positive-pressure mode, or
Any supplied-air respirator equipped
with a full facepiece and operated in a
pressure-demand or other
positive-pressure mode in combination
with an auxiliary self-contained
breathing apparatus operated in a
pressure-demand or other
positive-pressure mode |
Firefighting |
Any self-contained respirator equipped
with a full facepiece and operated in a
pressure-demand or other
positive-pressure mode |
Escape |
Any air-purifying, full-facepiece
respirator equipped with an organic
vapor canister, or
Any escape-type, self-contained
breathing apparatus with a suitable
service life (number of minutes required
to escape the environment) |
* The OSHA PEL is 200 ppm (950 mg/m3) as an 8-hour TWA. No NIOSH REL
has been issued.
** Only NIOSH/MSHA-approved equipment should be used. Also note the
following:
1. Respirators accepted for use at higher concentrations may be used
at lower concentrations; respirators must not, however, be used
at concentrations higher than those for which they are approved.
2. Air-purifying respirators may not be used in oxygen-deficient
atmospheres.
(+) The maximum use concentration for organic vapor cartridges is
1000 ppm. tert-Butyl acetate is reported to cause eye irritation or
damage; eye protection may be required.
(++) Represents 25 percent of the lower explosive limit
|