CALCIUM CARBIDE RULES - 1987

 

CALCIUM CARBIDE RULES - 1987

The calcium carbide rules - 1987, are made by the central government as per the Section 4 of petroleum act 1334, to regulate filling, possession, transport and import of calcium carbide

UNDERSTANDING CALCIUM CARBIDE CHEMICAL: The calcium carbide is made from Calcium oxide (Burnt lime) and Coke (carbon) heated in an Electrical furnace to produce CALCIUM CARBIDE (CaC₂) which is made to solidify and packed in different sizes.

When water reacts with calcium carbide, ACETYLENE GAS is produced. Typically, around 250 to 300 litres of acetylene is produced per kilogram of solid calcium carbide. 

Calcium carbide is a rock-like solid with grey colour, it has to be kept dry, as long as it is stored under dry conditions, calcium carbide is a stable, safe substance. Calcium carbide reacts very rapidly with water or even moisture in the atmosphere to generate acetylene which is a highly inflammable gas and a carbide lime residue. This reaction generates heat and this is an exothermic reaction. 

Calcium carbide should be kept dry, to avoid unwanted reactions generating uncontrolled acetylene. Calcium carbide is highly dangerous when wet because it produces acetylene.  Acetylene is highly unstable and has an ignition temperature of the acetylene gas is 325 °C, and it has a flammability range of 2.5%–81% of volume. 

Hence calcium carbide possession, transport, storage and import require proper safety guidelines to be followed in every operation where calcium carbide chemical is involved.

GENERAL PROVISIONS WHILE HANDLING CALCIUM CARBIDE AS PER THESE RULES:

·      Carbide should be imported, transported or stored only as per the prescribed steel receptacles or any other composition as approved by the chief controller of explosives and having no copper in its composition

·      The receptacle should be marked with words “CALCIUM CARBIDE” and the lid should be always kept “AIR TIGHT”

·      Storing of calcium carbide requires valid storage license except under the following conditions

o   Not storing more than 5 kg and these 5 kgs should be stored in required receptacles not having more than 1 kg

o   If between 5kg and 200 kg then the receptacles should be stored in a dry and well-ventilated storage shed and making sure that the only means of access to it is from outside 

o   Precautions to be taken to prevent unauthorised persons from having access to the receptacles

o   The receptacles shall be kept securely airtight closed

·      All required precautions should be taken to prevent calcium carbide from coming into contact with water, and when such contact occurs, controls should be kept in place to prevent ignition of the gas.

·      If any carbide accidentally becomes wet and the receptacle becomes hot it should be destroyed by being submerged in deep water. If deep water is not available, the wet carbide should be kept in the open in an isolated place, and all precautions shall be taken to prevent any fire or artificial light or ignition source capable of igniting acetylene.

·      No person under 18 years of age or person under intoxication should be used for loading, unloading or transport of calcium carbide 

·      Smoking, artificial lights or any other heat sources capable of igniting acetylene should not be permitted inside the premises 

ENFORCEMENT AUTHORITY AND LICENSE:

1)Under the Calcium Carbide Rules, the following enforcement are provided during:

·      Importing of carbide 

·      Transportation of carbide

·      Storage of carbide

Authority in enforcement is Chief Controller of Explosives or any other officer authorized by him. The District Authority is required to take penal action for infringement of rules reported to him by Chief Controller of Explosives.

2)Any person desiring to store Carbide is required to obtain prior approval from Chief Controller of Explosives by submitting the following documents.

STORAGE OF CALCIUM CARBIDE AS PER THESE RULES:

·      Calcium carbide shall not be kept at any place with or without a licence unless it is “commercially pure” i.e. without impurities.

·      Storage of calcium carbide should follow certain guidelines 

o   If quantities of 200 to 500 kg are stored then they are stored in a suitable uninhabited building at least 3 metres away from any other promises

o   If quantities of 500 to 5000 kilograms are stored, then they should be stored in an uninhabited building at least 6 metres away from any other premises

o   if quantities more than 5000 kilograms are stored, then they should be stored in a suitable uninhabited building at least 9 metres away from any other premises

o   Not more than 1000 metric tonnes of carbide should be stored in any one building, provided that each room or part of the building does not store more than 250

o   Carbide storage shed along with acetylene plant should observe a safety distance of 15 metres from any other premises 

·      Every premise used for storing of calcium carbide shall be constructed of non-flammable material with a cemented floor raised at least 30 centimetres from the surrounding ground level and should be well ventilated.

·      Carbide receptacles should be stacked on racks or trestles on a raised platform inside the storage premises at least 30 centimetres above the inner floor level. The raised platform prevents any external leakages from seeping in.

 

IMPORT RULES TO BE FOLLOWED: 

·      The master or the Agent of the owner of every ship should declare the quantity and description of the calcium carbide carrying by ship in writing after arriving at any port and before landing any cargo

·      The master of the ship should not, except for proceedings to sea, remove the vessel without the written permission of the Conservator of the Port.

·      The master should ensure that the hold of every vessel bringing carbide into port shall be efficiently ventilated from the time the vessel enters the port until all the carbide onboard has been discharged or until the vessel has left the port.

·      Carbide should be landed only with the permission of the Collector of Customs and at such places as the Conservator of the Port may direct

·      Carbide shall be landed only between sunrise and sunset and all carbide landed from any vessel shall be removed without unnecessary delay to a licensed premise

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Article by PJ Mohan,

                                                                                                                                                               Sr. Faculty, NIFS