Are copper wrenches necessary for liquid ammonia irrigation areas? Will an iron wrench work?
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It has been recently discovered that operators in liquid ammonia irrigation areas use iron wrenches during maintenance and production work – is this in compliance with regulatory requirements? I’m HaiChuan Xiaobai; I hope experts can give me some guidance
Copper materials do not produce sparks easily, while iron does; however, it is not necessary to use copper – it is sufficient to avoid hitting iron containers with force.
The wrench has to be explosion-proof; it can’t be made of iron
Pure copper is relatively soft and cannot be stressed heavily. Copper alloys are generally used. As required, iron wrenches cannot be used.
Are there any regulations or standards that require the use of copper alloy wrenches, or that prohibit the use of iron wrenches?
The regulations should prohibit open flames and sparks in such tank areas, and warning signs should be available on site. Improper use of an iron wrench can generate sparks.
It’s not sufficient to deal with leakage incidents; explosion-proof wrenches are generally not very effective and tend to cause more leaks
It’s not suitable; metal tools tend to produce sparks
To avoid sparking, copper wrenches should be used for maintenance; if the use of steel wrenches is unavoidable, butter should be applied or other measures taken