Tips for Safe Anhydrous Ammonia Storage & Handling

What is Anhydrous Ammonia?

Anhydrous ammonia is ammonia without the water element. It is a compressed gas or liquid that is widely used in agriculture. The fact of the matter is, however, that anhydrous ammonia is a dangerous, hazardous chemical. It is crucial to handle it with care. If proper safety precautions are not taken, there can be disastrous consequences. Safety is the most important factor in all our operations. Let’s talk a bit about how to handle anhydrous ammonia safely.

Anhydrous Ammonia Storage

Anhydrous Ammonia Storage & HandlingWe deal with this daily and can’t reiterate enough the importance of correct storage procedures. It’s of the utmost importance to store it at the proper pressure. When anhydrous ammonia is cooled or compressed it is a liquid. When stored at the correct pressure it can be kept from vaporizing. While we can provide custom solutions for your Anhydrous Ammonia storage, standards must be met for all storage of anhydrous ammonia. It is a dangerous chemical and chances cannot be taken with safety. Read more here: https://www.osha.gov/pls/oshaweb/owadisp.show_document?p_table=STANDARDS&p_id=9757

All storage containers have to be non-corrosive. Since anhydrous ammonia is a very strong chemical compound it can corrode metal. Metal like zinc can be corroded by anhydrous ammonia and should not be used to store the chemical. This is why it is so important to work with a team like APS to make sure the right materials are used in your product storage.

How to Handle Anhydrous Ammonia

To avoid injury you should use safety gear while handling anhydrous ammonia including the right clothing, gloves, respirators, and goggles. For more information on what to wear when you are handling this chemical, you can click here: http://nasdonline.org/1036/d000834/checklist-for-safe-anhydrous-ammonia-equipment.html. This link has a checklist of items for overall safety when handling anhydrous ammonia. It’s also recommended to keep water around while working with anhydrous ammonia to be able to rinse your eyes and hands if you come in contact with it. By working with APS you can ensure that your nurse tank and source tank are set up in a way that can minimize safety issues that could lead to spills or accidents as well. It’s important to make sure that the control wheels and hoses don’t have any blockages or obstructions as well.

At APS safety is the number one priority. From our bulk plant setups to repairs, our focus will be on safety before anything else. For questions about anhydrous ammonia storage and safety, please contact us today.