FTV I&O Manual
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Annual Maintenance and Inspection
61
Refractory Ceramic Fibers (RFC)
Personal Protective Equipment Recommended -
Read the following warnings and
handling instructions carefully before commencing any service work in the combustion
chamber. The insulating material on the inside of the burner plate contains
Refractory
Ceramic Fibers
and should not be handled without personal protective equipment.
Potential Carcinogen
- Use of
Refractory Ceramic Fibers
in high temperature
applications (above 1000
o
C) can result in the formation of Crystalline Silica
(cristobalite), a respirable silica dust. Repeated airborne exposure to crystalline silica
dust may result in chronic lung infections, acute respiratory illness, or death. Crystalline
silica is listed as a (potential) occupational carcinogen by the following regulatory
organizations:
International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC),
Canadian Centre
for Occupational Health and Safety (CCOHS), Occupational Safety and Health
Administration (OSHA), and National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health
(NIOSH). Failure to comply with handling instructions in Table 16-1 may result in
serious injury or death.
Crystalline Silica -
Certain components confined in the combustion chamber may
contain this potential carcinogen. Improper installation, adjustment, alteration, service or
maintenance can cause property damage, serious injury (exposure to hazardous
materials) or death. Refer to Table 16-1 for handling instruction and recommended
personal protective equipment. Installation and service must be performed by a qualified
installer, service agency or the gas supplier (who must read and follow the supplied
instructions before installing, servicing, or removing this boiler. This boiler contains
materials that have been identified as carcinogenic, or possibly carcinogenic, to humans).
Table 16-1
Handling Instructions for Refractory Ceramic Fibers (RCF)
Reduce the Risk of Exposure
Precautions and Recommended Personal Protective Equipment
Avoid contact with skin and eyes
Wear
long-sleeved clothing, gloves, and safety goggles or glasses
.
Avoid breathing in silica dust
Wear a respirator with an N95-rated filter efficiency or better.
1
Use water to reduce airborne dust levels when cleaning the combustion chamber.
Do not dry sweep silica dust. Pre-wet or use a vacuum with a high efficiency filter.
Avoid transferring contamination
When installing or removing RFCs, place the material in a sealable plastic bag.
Remove contaminated clothing after use. Store in sealable container until cleaned.
Wash contaminated
clothing separately from other laundry.
First Aid Measures
If irritation persists after implementing first aid measures consult a physician.
Skin
- Wash with soap and water.
Eyes
- Do not rub eyes; flush with water immediately.
Inhalation
– Breathe in fresh air; drink water, sneeze or cough to clear irritated
passage ways.
Notes:
1
R
espirator recommendations based on CCOHS and OSHA requirements at the time this document was written. Consult
your local regulatory authority regarding current requirements for respirators, personal protective equipment, handling,
and disposal of RCFs.
For more information on Refractory Ceramic Fibers, the risks, recommended handling procedures and
acceptable disposal practices contact the organization(s) listed below:
Canada (CCOHS):
Telephone directory listing
under Government Blue Pages Canada—Health and
Safety—Canadian Centre for Occupational Health
and Safety; or website http://www.ccohs.ca.
United States (OSHA):
Telephone directory listing
under United States Government—Department of
Labor—Occupational Safety and Health
Administration; or website http://www.osha.gov.
