ASTM F1127-01(2007)

NOTICE: This standard has either been superseded and replaced by a new version or withdrawn.
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Designation:F1127–01 (Reapproved 2007)
Standard Guide for
Containment by Emergency Response Personnel of
Hazardous Material Spills
This standard is issued under the fixed designation F 1127; the number immediately following the designation indicates the year of
original adoption or, in the case of revision, the year of last revision. A number in parentheses indicates the year of last reapproval. A
superscript epsilon (e) indicates an editorial change since the last revision or reapproval.
1. Scope the solid to swell (50 % or more). The absorbent is at least
70 % insoluble in excess fluid.
1.1 This guide describes methods to contain the spread of
3.1.2 adsorbent—an insoluble material that is coated by a
hazardous materials that have been discharged into the envi-
liquid on its surface including pores and capillaries.
ronment. It is directed toward those emergency response
3.1.3 gellant—a material such as colloidal network or other
personnel who have had adequate hazardous material response
aggregate network which pervades and holds a liquid in a
training.
highly viscous fragile structure. Many gels may rapidly liquefy
2. Referenced Documents with added heat or ionic/polar addition. These materials are
soluble/flowable in excess liquid.
2.1 ASTM Standards:
3.1.4 sorbent—aninsolublematerialormixtureofmaterials
F 716 Test Methods for Sorbent Performance ofAbsorbents
used to recover liquids through the mechanisms of absorption
F 726 Test Method for Sorbent Performance of Adsorbents
or adsorption, or both.
F 1011 Guide for Developing a Hazardous Materials Train-
3.1.5 thickener—a material (usually of higher molecular
ing Curriculum for Initial Response Personnel
weight) that is soluble in excess liquid. These materials go
F 1129 Guide for Using Aqueous Foams to Control the
from dry to gummy (viscoelastic) to flowable and then soluble.
Vapor Hazard from Immiscible Volatile Liquids
The final viscosity depends only on the liquid to solid ratio.
F 1525 Guide for Use of Membrane Technology in Mitigat-
3.1.6 universalsorbent—aninsolublematerialormixtureof
ing Hazardous Chemical Spills
materials that will sorb both hydrophobic and hydrophilic
F 1644 Guide for Health and Safety Training of Oil Spill
liquid spills.
Responders
F 1656 Guide for Health and Safety Training of Oil Spill
4. Significance and Use
Responders in the United States
4.1 This guide contains information regarding the contain-
2.2 Federal Schedules:
ment of a hazardous material that has escaped from its
2001.3
container. If a material can be contained, the impact on the
2001.4
environment and the threat it poses to responders and the
2008.1
general public is usually reduced. The techniques described in
3. Terminology
this guide are among those that may be used by emergency
responders to lessen the impact of a discharge.
3.1 Definitions of Terms Specific to This Standard:
4.2 Emergency responders might include police, fire service
3.1.1 absorbent—a material that picks up and retains a
personnel, government spill response personnel, industrial
liquid distributed throughout its molecular structure causing
response personnel, or spill response contractors. In order to
applyanyofthetechniquesdescribedinthisguide,appropriate
training is recommended.
This guide is under the jurisdiction of ASTM Committee F20 on Hazardous
Substances and Oil Spill Response and is the direct responsibility of Subcommittee
5. Containment Methodology
F20.22 on Mitigation Actions.
5.1 Containmentequipment,procedures,andtechniquescan
Current edition approved April 1, 2007. Published May 2007. Originally
approved in 1988. Last previous edition approved in 2001 as F 1127 – 01.
be categorized into three general functional classes: (a) patch/
For referenced ASTM standards, visit the ASTM website, www.astm.org, or
plug, (b) enclosure, and (c) immobilization. The important
contact ASTM Customer Service at service@astm.org. For Annual Book of ASTM
advantage of containment is that it restricts the spreading of a
Standards volume information, refer to the standard’s Document Summary page on
the ASTM website. spill and makes cleanup easier. Careful selection of techniques
Copyright © ASTM International, 100 Barr Harbor Drive, PO Box C700, West Conshohocken, PA 19428-2959, United States.
F1127–01 (2007)
and materials is required. Errors in judgment can lead to 6.1.9 MechanicalPatch—Neopreneorrubberstoppers,rub-
worsening of the situation, deflagration or detonation, and ber balls, and plywood or spring steel sheets with neoprene
increased hazard to personnel involved in the cleanup. gaskets can be mechanically held in or on the damaged area.
Toggle and “T” bolts, washers, and wing nuts are useful
6. Patches and Plugs (General)
attachments.
6.1 Diminishing or stopping the flow of a leaking hazardous
6.1.10 Adhesive Patch—Adhesive patches sometimes work
material is desirable in order to limit the size of the spill. The
but usually require tedious surface preparation. Tape (duct,
following techniques may be helpful in controlling leaks,
lead, aluminum, or stainless steel) is useful when applied over
provided response personnel can use them safely under exist-
a wooden or rubber plug before application of epoxy to create
ing conditions. Whichever method is used, it should be noted
a relatively permanent repair.
that the higher the pressure inside the container, the more
6.1.11 Bladder Wrap—Coated fabric or reinforced rubber
difficult it is to plug the leak.
pipe patches (similar to a clamp) with integral inflation bladder
6.1.1 Wood Plug—Wooden cones and wedges may be
can be secured around a pipe or small round container with
hammered into leaking containers (drums, tanks, pipes, and so
nylon self-adhesive fabric. Velcro, fire hoses, banding/
forth). Softwoods in particular are easily sawed or lathe-turned
strapping material, or automotive tie-downs may be used to
and conform well to irregular shapes. Additionally, softwood
secure the wrap.
may absorb liquid and swell, enhancing its capacity to seal a
6.1.12 Pipe Pinch—A “C”-shaped clamp device with hy-
leak. Wedges or cedar shingles are especially applicable to
draulically or explosively operated ram can flatten a section of
splits, gouges, rips, and tears. Rigid plywood sheets or com-
pipe to pinch off the fluid flow.
patible closed cell flexible plastic foam 1 to 2-in. (25 to
50-mm) thick can be fastened over a damaged area with “T”
7. Enclosure
bolts, tie-down toggle, molly, butterfly bolts, straps, or by
7.1 Approved salvage drums (overpacks, recovery drums,
mechanical bracing and wedging. To minimize leakage be-
waste drums, “open-head” drums) may be used to encapsulate
tween the plywood and the container, a gasket of rubber or
leaking drums or other small containers. Contaminated mate-
flexible closed cell plastic foam, putty, butyl rubber caulk, lead
rials (tools, clothing, soil) and plastic bags holding used
wool, or oakum may be used.
sorbents or contaminated items also may be enclosed in
6.1.2 Metal Sheet—Various sizes of steel or aluminum
salvage drums.Approved enclosure containers may be used for
sheets can be fastened over damaged areas by mechanical
transport, storage, and disposal of many hazardous materials.
methods (“T” bolts, toggle bolts, bracing, strapping, and so
forth). Gasketing material between the metal and the container
8. Immobilization
generally provides more positive sealing.
8.1 Once a hazardous material has escaped from its con-
6.1.3 Inflatable Plugs and Bags—Reinforced rubber and
tainer, it may be possible to immobilize the material to prevent
coated-fabricplugscanbeinsertedintoanopeningandinflated
it from spreading. There are a number of methods that may be
with gas (air, nitrogen, carbon dioxide) or water to form a seal.
used to accomplish this task; these methods vary depending on
Lead-sealing bags can be secured with straps, chains, cables,
whether the material is a liquid, a solid, or is volatile and
fire hoses, or bands to seal a leaking container.
escapes as a gas.
6.1.4 Fabric Patch—Fabrics such as neoprene-coated nylon
8.2 Liquids:
canbepositionedoverleaksandheldinplacebybands,chains,
8.2.1 Spills of hazardous liquids (including slurries) are the
straps, and so forth. Wood, plastic, or metal reinforcements
most difficult of spill problems. Good management practice
may be required.
aims to contain the material and localize it in a concentrated
6.1.5 Formed Plug—Closed–cell polymeric foam (for ex-
form. Typical procedures that can be used to affect the
ample, polyurethane or polyethylene), epoxy putty, or quick-
spreading of a spilled liquid are as follows:
setting hydraulic cement may be injected into a rigid concave
8.2.2 Change the physical properties of the liquid by modi-
form through a tubular handle or it may be troweled onto the
fying the viscosity or vapor pressure by temperature change
form and placed against the damaged area. Once the patching
(usually cooling).
material hardens, the support form may be removed.
8.2.3 Immobilize the liquid by use of an adsorbent, absor-
6.1.6 Caulking Patch—Epoxy, plastic steel/aluminum, lead
bent, or a gelling agent (see 8.3.1.2).
wool, clay-polymer mixtures, and oakum can be spread,
troweled, or peened into cracks and small holes. Rapid-curing 8.2.4 Pump to a suitable container or lined pit.
8.2.5 Erect physical barriers.
materials are available.
6.1.7 Foam Plug (Self-Expanding)—A package of polyeth- 8.2.6 Formdikesfromearthsandbags,waterinflatablebags,
weighted adsorbent foamed plastic, or absorbent sand mixture.
ylene, polyurethane, or low-density neoprene rubber foam (all
closed-cell) formed into a compact shape by compression and 8.2.7 Assemble collapsible containers (for example, plastic
vacuum packing may be opened allowing the foam to expand swimming pools, if compatible) or use a plastic film-lined
and fill the leak area.These plugs may not be readily available. ground depression or pit for containment.
6.1.8 Magnetic Patch—Magnetic sheets (rubber-bonded 8.2.8 Deploy collection or containment devices such as
barium ferrite composite, with or without adhesive) backed by boom curtains and portable dams. Suitable floating absorbents
a thin sheet of steel foil may be strapped over the damaged can help in preventing these booms from being made ineffec-
area. tive by stream current physically stripping liquid underneath.
F1127–01 (2007)
8.2.9 A porous or wire mesh boom can be efficiently used adsorbentmaterialsincludesplasticfoams,plasticfibers,straw,
with the proper floating absorbent material. A board boom is peat, sand, porous clay, feathers, foamed glass and silicates,
also effective in a ditch. activated alumina, and soil. The surface can be external as in a
fiber, or internal as inside a granule of activated carbon. If the
8.2.10 A reverse flow weir can be used to concentrate
solid matrix does not change size, then the sorption phenom-
floating fluids.
enon is called adsorption and the material for the liquid
8.2.11 Sewers or other types of drainage in the path of a
intended is an adsorbent. Since the spilled fluid is available on
spreading spill should be blocked. An absorbent/sand mixture
the surface of an adsorbent, it may be removable. This can be
can be used as a sealing dike or a soft closed-cell plastic foam
anadvantageifseparationfollowingrecoveryisimportant.Itis
can be used to cover the opening. Many impermeable systems
detrimental to the extent that:
can be used to seal the openings.
(1)Theliquidcanusuallyberemovedbyleaching(evenby
8.2.12 When a spilled material has a density greater than
water used in clean up), rain, and so forth.
water,aweightedwaterinsensitivesorbentcanbeplacedatthe
(2) Vaporization loss is often increased by increasing
bottom of a watercourse or sewer to pick up and immobilize a
exposed surface area. If the vapor is toxic or hazardous, this
spill.
could be a major consideration.
8.3 Land Spills:
(3) The adsorbent may leak fluid, causing secondary spill
8.3.1 Typical methods for handling spills on land are listed,
problems.
including pumping, sorbents (adsorbents and absorbents), gel-
lants, dikes, dams, trenches, soil and dike sealants and physical (4) Since adsorbents can usually be wrung out, they easily
contaminate personnel handling them. In the line of safety
state modifications.
awareness, what is suitable for No. 6 fuel oil or even No. 2 fuel
8.3.1.1 Pumping—If a pool of spilled liquid can be con-
oil may be inadequate, if not hazard increasing, for gasoline,
tained on land, the most direct mitigation is to pump it into a
styrene, acrylonitrile, and so forth.
suitable container (or to use a vacuum truck). Compatibility of
all equipment with the material being handled is necessary. 8.3.1.4 Absorbents—Absorbent materials are insoluble and
Many of the typical materials widely used for oil containment inert to the spilled material but physically swell up in it. They
and cleanup are not suitable for many hazardous materials. often have a low surface area. They are also adsorbent by the
Gaskets and sealants for pumping units may be oil resistant but nature of their surface area but since this area is small, they are
fail quickly with a hazardous material. For low-boiling-point not often used as adsorbents. Those absorbents useful in spill
liquids, the pump inlet will have to be below the level of the control do not dissolve in the spilled fluid but physically
liquid. Otherwise, pump suction will cause the liquid to boil contain it in a form with minimum surface area.This reduction
and the pump to cavitate. When pumping materials whose in surface area lowers the rate of evaporation and minimizes
vapor is flammable, use nonsparking or explosion-proof equip- leaching. For many hazardous spills these are required prop-
ment. Employ a grounded system so that static electric buildup erties. Absorbent materials also minimize human and second-
arycontaminationsincesqueezingandcontactmaynotbewith
cannot occur at discharge ports or nozzles.
a wetted surface as in the adsorbent. Use of an absorbent can
8.3.1.2 Sorbents—Sorbent is an insoluble material and is a
also provide a method of reducing or stopping ground penetra-
general term applied to both absorbents and adsorbents. The
tion, which can minimize cleanup. Also, fire, and the water
source of these products can be natural or synthetic. They can
used to extinguish it, or rain have a low tendency to leach
be organic, inorganic, or mixed in composition. Proper use of
spilled material.Absorbent materials for organic fluids include,
these materials depends on the compatibility with the type of
among others, rubbers and cross-linked products like imbibing
spill, location, and type of sorbent to be used. The Federal
polymers. Absorbents for
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