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Message sent by Naval Sea Systems Command

R 301433Z MAY 08

FM COMNAVSEASYSCOM WASHINGTON DC

MSGID/GENADMIN/SEA 05P25//

SUBJ/NAVSEA FLEET ADVISORY * PROPER STORAGE OF FLAMMABLE AND COMBUSTIBLE MATERIALS ON FORCES AFLOAT//

REF/A/DESC:DOC/OPNAV/30MAY2007//

REF/B/DESC:DOC/NAVSEA/01JUL2004//

NARR/REF A IS OPNAVINST 5100.19E, NAVY SAFETY AND OCCUPATIONAL AND HEALTH PROGRAM MANUAL FOR FORCES AFLOAT. REF B IS TECH MANUAL S9086-WK-STM-010 REV 6, NSTM CHAPTER 670 - STOWAGE, HANDLING, AND DISPOSAL OF HAZARDOUS GENERAL USE CONSUMABLES.//

REMARKS/1. PURPOSE: TO ADVISE THE FLEET OF THE PROPER STORAGE PROCEDURES FOR FLAMMABLE AND COMBUSTIBLE MATERIALS. IMPROPER STORARGE OF FLAMMABLE AND COMBUSTIBLE MATERIALS CAN RESULT IN UNSAFE CONDITIONS THAT CAN LEAD TO PERSONNEL INJURY AND DAMAGE TO VITAL SHIP SYSTEMS.

2. BACKGROUND: DURING A RECENT MISHAP, IMPROPERLY MANAGED AND STORED FLAMMABLE AND COMBUSTIBLE MATERIALS MAY HAVE CONTRIBUTED TO THE SPREAD AND INTENSITY OF A SHIPBOARD FIRE. FLAMMABLE AND COMBUSTIBLE MATERIALS INCLUDE ALL LIQUIDS, SOLIDS, AND GASES HAVING A FLASHPOINT BELOW 200 DEGREES F, AS WELL AS SELECTED MATERIALS SUCH AS COOLANTS, HYDRAULIC FLUIDS, LUBRICANTS, AND AEROSOLS, WHICH REQUIRE PROTECTION FROM IGNITION SOURCES REGARDLESS OF FLASHPOINT. FLASHPOINTS CAN BE VERIFIED USING SPECIFIC MATERIAL SAFETY DATA SHEETS (MSDS). THERE ARE TWO CATEGORIES OF FLAMMABLES AND COMBUSTIBLES (REF B SECTION 4):

A. CATEGORY I FLAMMABLES AND COMBUSTIBLES: MATERIALS HAVING A FLASHPOINT BELOW 200 DEGREES F AND ALL AEROSOLS. THESE MATERIALS ARE FIRE HAZARDS BECAUSE THEY PRODUCE IGNITABLE VAPORS AT LOW TEMPERATURES, OFTEN AT NORMAL ROOM TEMPERATURES (BELOW 100 DEGREES F).

B. CATEGORY II COMBUSTIBLES: MATERIALS WITH FLASHPOINTS AT OR ABOVE 200 DEGREES F THAT REQUIRE PROTECTED STORAGE BECAUSE THEY REPRESENT MAJOR FIRE HAZARDS. THESE MATERIALS ARE MAJOR FIRE HAZARDS BECAUSE THEY CAN BE EASILY IGNITED BY FIRE OR HOSTILE ACTION AND CAN SPREAD FIRE RAPIDLY BY THE FLOW OF FLAMING LIQUIDS OR THROUGH EXPLOSIONS. THIS CATEGORY DOES NOT INCLUDE PAPER, CARDBOARD, CLOTHING, AND SIMILAR MATERIALS. MOST OF THE MATERIALS DESIGNATED IN CATEGORY II ARE PETROLEUM PRODUCTS, BUT ALSO INCLUDE PAINTS, CLEANING COMPOUNDS AND OIL SOAKED RAGS.

3. NAVY DIRECTION FOR STORAGE OF FLAMMABLE MATERIALS IS PROVIDED IN REF A AND REF B. REF A, SECTIONS C2302E(2) AND D1505A(1), REQUIRE SHIPS TO STORE ALL FLAMMABLE MATERIALS SEPARATELY FROM OXIDIZING MATERIALS AND THAT FLAMMABLE LIQUID CABINETS BE USED WITHIN OR NEAR THE WORKSPACE TO STOW A LIMITED (SEVEN-DAY) QUANTITY OF FLAMMABLE LIQUIDS USED ROUTINELY ON A DAILY BASIS. REF B SECTION 4 PROVIDES SPECIFIC PROCEDURES FOR THE STORAGE OFDIFFERENT TYPES OF FLAMMABLE AND COMBUSTIBLE MATERIALS.

4. REQUEST THIS MESSAGE BE PASSED TO ALL AFLOAT UNITS TO VERIFY FLAMMABLE AND COMBUSTIBLE MATERIAL IS PROPERLY STORED PER REFS A AND B.//

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