R307-335. Degreasing, R307. Environmental Quality, Air Quality, Utah Administrative Code

Utah Administrative Code (Current through November 1, 2019)

R307. Environmental Quality, Air Quality

R307-335. Degreasing

R307-335-1. Purpose

Latest version.

The purpose of this rule is to limit volatile organic compound (VOC) emission from degreasing operations.

R307-335-2. Applicability

Latest version.

R307-335 applies to degreasing operations that use VOCs and that are located in Box Elder, Cache, Davis, Salt Lake, Tooele, Utah, or Weber counties.

R307-335-3. Definitions

Latest version.

The following additional definitions apply to R307-335:

"Batch open top vapor degreasing" means the batch process of cleaning and removing grease and soils from metal surfaces by condensing hot solvent vapor on the colder metal parts.

"Cold cleaning" means the batch process of cleaning and removing soils from metal surfaces by spraying, brushing, flushing or immersing while maintaining the solvent below its boiling point.

"Conveyorized degreasing" means the continuous process of cleaning and removing greases and soils from metal surfaces by using either cold or vaporized solvents.

"Freeboard ratio" means the freeboard height (distance between solvent line and top of container) divided by the width of the degreaser.

"Open top vapor degreaser" means the batch process of cleaning and removing soils from metal surfaces by condensing low solvent vapor on the colder metal parts.

R307-335-4. Cold Cleaning Facilities

Latest version.

No owner or operator shall operate a degreasing or solvent cleaning operation unless conditions in R307-335-4(1) through (7) are met.

(1) A cover shall be installed which shall remain closed except during actual loading, unloading or handling of parts in cleaner. The cover shall be designed so that it can be easily operated with one hand if:

(a) The volatility of the solvent is greater than 2 kPa (15 mm Hg or 0.3 psi) measured at 38 degrees C (100 degrees F),

(b) The solvent is agitated, or

(2) An internal draining rack for cleaned parts shall be installed on which parts shall be drained until all dripping ceases. If the volatility of the solvent is greater than 4.3 kPa (32 mm Hg at 38 degrees C (100 degrees F)), the drainage facility must be internal, so that parts are enclosed under the cover while draining. The drainage facility may be external for applications where an internal type cannot fit into the cleaning system.

(3) Waste or used solvent shall be stored in covered containers.

(4) Tanks, containers and all associated equipment shall be maintained in good operating condition, and leaks shall be repaired immediately or the degreaser shall be shutdown.

(5) Written procedures for the operation and maintenance of the degreasing or solvent cleaning equipment shall be permanently posted in an accessible and conspicuous location near the equipment.

(6) If the solvent volatility is greater than 4.3 kPa (33 mm Hg or 0.6 psi) measured at 38 degrees C (100 degrees F), or if solvent is heated above 50 degrees C (120 degrees F), then one of the following control devices shall be used:

(a) Freeboard that gives a freeboard ratio greater than 0.7;

(b) Water cover if the solvent is insoluble in and heavier than water); or

(7) If used, the solvent spray shall be a solid fluid stream at a pressure that does not cause excessive splashing and may not be a fine, atomized or shower type spray.

R307-335-5. Open Top Vapor Degreasers

Latest version.

Owners or operators of open top vapor degreasers shall, in addition to meeting the requirements of R307-335-4(3), (4) and (5),

(1) Equip the vapor degreaser with a cover that can be opened and closed without disturbing the vapor zone. The cover shall be closed except when processing work loads through the degreaser;

(2) Install one of the following control devices:

(a) Equipment necessary to sustain:

(i) A freeboard ratio greater than or equal to 0.75, and

(ii) A powered cover if the degreaser opening is greater than 1 square meter (10.8 square feet),

(b) Refrigerated chiller,

(d) Carbon adsorption system, with ventilation greater than or equal to 15 cubic meters per minute per square meter (50 cubic feet per minute per square foot) of air/vapor area when cover is open and exhausting less than 25 parts per million of solvent averaged over one complete adsorption cycle;

(3) Minimize solvent carryout by:

(a) Racking parts to allow complete drainage,

(b) Moving parts in and out of the degreaser at less than 3.3 meters per minute (11 feet per minute),

(d) Tipping out any pool of solvent on the cleaned parts before removal, and

(e) Allowing the parts to dry within the degreaser for at least 15 seconds or until visibly dry.

(4) Spray parts only in or below the vapor level;

(5) Not use ventilation fans near the degreaser opening, nor provide exhaust ventilation exceeding 20 cubic meters per minute per square meter (65 cubic feet per minute per square foot) in degreaser open area, unless necessary to meet state and federal occupational, health, and safety requirements.

(6) Not degrease porous or absorbent materials, such as cloth, leather, wood or rope;

(7) Not allow work loads to occupy more than half of the degreaser's open top area;

(8) Ensure that solvent is not visually detectable in water exiting the water separator;

(9) Install safety switches on the following:

(a) Condenser flow switch and thermostat (shuts off sump heat if condenser coolant is either not circulating or too warm); and

(b) Spray switch (shuts off spray pump if the vapor level drops excessively, i.e., greater than 10 cm (4 inches).

(10) Open top vapor degreasers with an open area smaller than one square meter (10.8 square feet) are exempt from R307-335-5(2)(b) and (d).

R307-335-6. Conveyorized Degreasers

Latest version.

Owners and operators of conveyorized degreasers shall, in addition to meeting the requirements of R307-335-4(3), (4) and (5) and R307-335-5(5):

(1) Install one of the following control devices for conveyorized degreasers with an air/vapor interface equal to or greater than two square meters (21.5 square feet):

(a) Refrigerated chiller; or

(b) Carbon adsorption system, with ventilation greater than or equal to 15 cubic meters per minute per square meter (50 cubic feet per minute per square foot) of air/vapor area when downtime covers are open, and exhausting less than 25 parts per million of solvent, by volume, averaged over a complete adsorption cycle.

(2) Equip the cleaner with equipment, such as a drying tunnel or rotating (tumbling) basket, sufficient to prevent cleaned parts from carrying out solvent liquid or vapor.

(3) Provide downtime covers for closing off the entrance and exit during shutdown hours. Ensure that down-time cover is placed over entrances and exits of conveyorized degreasers immediately after the conveyor and exhaust are shut down and is removed just before they are started up.

(4) Minimize carryout emissions by racking parts for best drainage and maintaining the vertical conveyor speed at less than 3.3 meters per minute (11 feet per minute).

(5) Minimize openings: Entrances and exits should silhouette work loads so that the average clearance (between parts and the edge of the degreaser opening) is either less than 10 cm (4 inches) or less than 10% of the width of the opening.

(6) Install safety switches on the following:

(a) Condenser flow switch and thermostat - shuts off sump heat if coolant is either not circulating or too warm;

(b) Spray switch - shuts off spray pump or conveyor if the vapor level drops excessively, i.e., greater than 10 cm or (4 inches); and

(7) Ensure that solvent is not visibly detectable in the water exiting the water separator.

R307-335-7. Recordkeeping

Latest version.

The owner or operator shall maintain, for a minimum of two years, appropriate records to demonstrate compliance with R307-335.