RE: Airborne Contamination

[Craig Reed <CReed@novoste.com>]

Dave, 

You need to know what other toxic/corrosive gases could be liberated
with the application of cutting torch heat in order to decide whether a
combination HEPA/Chemical cartridge is necessary or even adequate.  

For minimizing airborne altogether, at least at UF6 facilities, where
deposits may occur from excess heat buildup or from wet air inleakage,
it is better to make your torch cuts at flanged connections rather than
at arbitrary points along the pipe to avoid cutting (and blowing
indiscriminantly) into a deposit.  The difference in air concentrations
can be orders of magnitude.

Finally, seems obvious, but the PPE for workers and observers should be
evaluated for fire resistance.

Craig Reed
creed@novoste.com
-----Original Message-----
From: Dave Biela [mailto:bielad@wv.doe.gov]
Sent: Thursday, September 16, 1999 11:32 AM
To: Multiple recipients of list
Subject: Airborne Contamination


This is an update of my message.  We are planning some work using
torches (non-plasma) to cut contaminated pipes and metal plates.  From
all we can find, normal torches will not vaporize or pulverize the
Cs-137 contaminated material enough to bypass the HEPA filters on a
respirator.  

Does anyone have information about this topic one way or another.
Please respond directly to me.

David Biela
BielaD@wv.doe.gov 
716-942-4423
 

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