ACETYLENE, DISSOLVED

Remove to fresh air and keep comfortable for breathing. If breathing is difficult, give oxygen. If breathing has stopped, give artificial respiration. Get medical attention immediately.

Symptoms: Simple asphyxiant. May cause suffocation by displacing the oxygen in the air. Exposure to oxygen-deficient atmosphere (<19.5%) may cause dizziness, drowsiness, nausea, vomiting, excess salivation, diminished mental alertness, loss of consciousness and death. Exposure to atmospheres containing 8-10% or less oxygen will bring about unconsciousness without warning and so quickly that the individuals cannot help or protect themselves. Lack of sufficient oxygen may cause serious injury or death. Symptoms of overexposure are dizziness, headache, tiredness, nausea, unconsciousness, cessation of breathing. May cause central nervous system depression with nausea, headache, dizziness, vomiting, and incoordination.

Wash off immediately with soap and plenty of water. Contaminated clothing presents a fire hazard and should be removed immediately. Get medical attention if irritation develops and/or persists.

Consult a physician if direct contact with pressurized material occurs. Rinse immediately with plenty of water, also under the eyelids, for at least 15 minutes. Seek immediate medical attention/advice.

Not an expected route of exposure.

Dry chemical. Water spray or fog.

Do not use a solid water stream as it may scatter and spread fire.

GASEOUS ACETYLENE IS SPONTANEOUSLY COMBUSTIBLE IN AIR AT PRESSURES ABOVE 15 PSI (270 kPa). Pure acetylene is shock sensitive. It requires a very low ignition energy so that fires which have been extinguished without stopping the flow of gas can easily re-ignite with possible explosive force. Fires involving acetylene occur occasionally at fusible metal pressure relief plugs at the tops and bottoms of cylinders, commonly due to hot metal or slag dropped on the fusible plugs. When the fusible plug releases a large volume of acetylene creating a "roaring" sound. The flame may extend a foot or two away from the cylinder until the pressure is reduced. In most cases, the other end of the cylinder may develop a coating of frost. If the flame is large, burning from a fusible plug, DO NOT try to put it out unless the cylinder is outdoors or in a very well ventilated area free from sources of ignition. Usually it is very difficult to extinguish large fires because the escaping acetylene may be re-ignited by adjacent ignition sources, thereby possibly creating confined space explosion. Keep containers cool with water spray. Vapors may travel to source of ignition and flash back. Vapors from liquefied gas are initially heavier than air and spread along ground. Vapors may accumulate in confined areas (basement, tanks, hopper/tank cars, etc.). Cylinders may rupture under extreme heat.

DO NOT EXTINGUISH A LEAKING GAS FIRE UNLESS LEAK CAN BE STOPPED. If possible, stop the flow of gas. Do not extinguish the fire until supply is shut off as otherwise an explosive-ignition may occur. If the fire is extinguished and the flow of gas continues, GET AWAY! Fight fire from maximum distance or use unmanned hose holders or monitor nozzles. Do not direct water at source of leak or safety devices; icing may occur. For massive fire, use unmanned hose holders or monitor nozzles; if this is impossible withdraw from area and let fire burn. Use water spray to cool surrounding containers. Be cautious of a Boiling Liquid Evaporating Vapor Explosion, BLEVE, if flame is impinging on surrounding containers. Continue to cool fire exposed cylinders until flames are extinguished. Damaged cylinders should be handled only by specialists.

ELIMINATE all ignition sources (no smoking, flares, sparks or flames in immediate area). Evacuate personnel to safe areas. Ensure adequate ventilation, especially in confined areas. Consider the risk of potentially explosive atmospheres. Monitor oxygen level. All equipment used when handling the product must be grounded. Use non-sparking tools and equipment. Wear self-contained breathing apparatus when entering area unless atmosphere is proved to be safe. Do not touch or walk through spilled material.

Use water spray to reduce vapors or divert vapor cloud drift. Avoid allowing water runoff to contact spilled material. Prevent spreading of vapors through sewers, ventilation systems and confined areas.

Return cylinder to Messer or an authorized distributor.

Never use copper piping for acetylene service. Only steel or wrought iron pipe should be used. Open cylinder valve minimum amount required (no more than 1-1.5 turns). Inspect fuse plugs in the tops and bottoms of all acetylene cylinders. Keep away from heat, hot surfaces, sparks, open flames and other ignition sources. No smoking. Ground and bond all lines and equipment. Use equipment purged with inert gas. Avoid contact with pure copper, mercury, silver and brass with greater than 65% copper. Limit operating pressure to 15 psig (103 kPa) or less. Consider the use of flashback arrestors. Protect cylinders from physical damage; use a cart. Close valve after each use.

Outside or detached storage is preferred. Store in cool, dry, well-ventilated area of non-combustible construction. Cylinders should be stored upright with valve protection cap in place and firmly secured. Full and empty cylinders should be segregated. Use a 'first in-first out' inventory system.

Keep away from heat, hot surfaces, sparks, open flames and other ignition sources. No smoking. Ground and bond all lines and equipment. All equipment should be non-sparking and explosion proof. Consider the use of flashback arrestors.

Do not allow free gas (outside of cylinder) to exceed 15 psig. Do not expose cylinders to sudden shock or heat. Acetylene will decompose violently with cylinder failure. Do not discharge at pressures above 15 psi (103 kPa).

Forms explosive acetylides with copper, silver and mercury. Do not use alloy containing more than 65% copper.

May react explosively even in absence of air at elevated pressure and/or temperature. May form explosive mixtures with air. Hazardous polymerization: Temperatures as low as 250°F (121°C) at high pressure, or at low pressure in the presence of a catalyst are sufficient to initiate a polymerization reaction. The hazard is that the polymerization normally liberates heat and may lead to ignition and decomposition of acetylene if conditions permit.

Heat, flames and sparks.

Oxidizing agents. Halogenated compounds. Halogens. Copper. Silver. Mercury. Brasses containing >65% copper and brazing materials containing silver or copper.

Hydrogen gas. Carbon monoxide. Carbon dioxide (CO₂).

Do not attempt to dispose of residual waste or unused quantities. Return in the shipping container PROPERLY LABELED WITH ANY VALVE OUTLET PLUGS OR CAPS SECURED AND VALVE PROTECTION CAP IN PLACE to Messer for proper disposal.