Flat rubber roofs, not tar and gravel. Rubber roofs with the adhessive and Insulation under the rubber and over plywood. We have had several instances in recent months where the adhesive heated and caught fire sending flames over the entire roof. What does your dept do when faces with rubber roofs??
I am a roofer and a firefighter. Roofing adhesives are flammable, and the off gassing that occurs can create a explosive atmosphere. EPDM glue that is cured shouldn't combust based on sunlight itself. Sparks from electrical appliances, welding, or any other variety of incendiary methods will cause the glue to burn as well as the rubber. EPDM is a pain in the butt. The fire is given a free ride to go under the rubber and burn away (the glue) without stopping. The rubber will catch fire in spots until the underlayment has caught enough to move steadily into the structure.
Here is the MSDS for the Adhesive to bond the rubber (EPDM) to the roof.
SECTION 1: PRODUCT AND COMPANY IDENTIFICATION
PRODUCT NAME: EverGuard® EPDM Bonding Adhesive
CHEMICAL NAME/SYNONYM: Synthetic Rubber/Resin in Solvent
CHEMICAL FAMILY: Mixture
MANUFACTURER: GAF Materials Corporation
ADDRESS: 1361 Alps Road, Wayne, NJ 07470
24 HOUR EMERGENCY PHONE: 800-766-3411
CHEMTREC PHONE: 800-424-9300
PREPARED BY: Bill Kuhn
APPROVED BY: Dan Helman
NFPA HAZARD RATING: HMIS HAZARD RATING:
Health 2 Health 1
Flammable 3 Flammable 1
Reactive 0 Reactive 0
Special Hazards Special Hazards
OSHA HAZARDOUS: Yes 1
No 0
SECTION 2: COMPOSITION/INFORMATION ON INGREDIENTS
CHEMICAL NAME COMMON NAME CAS # % (BY WT) EXPOSURE LIMITS
Toluene 108-88-3 37 PEL-TWA 200 ppm
ACGIH TLV-TWA 50 ppm
Acetone 67-64-1 20-24 PEL-TWA 1000 ppm
ACGIH TLV-TWA 500 ppm
Aliphatic Hydrocarbons 64742-89-8 13-17 None established
Synthetic Rubber Trade Secret 13-17 None established
Phenolic Resin Trade Secret 2-6 None established
Aromatic Hydrocarbon Resin Trade Secret 1-5 None established
Hydrocarbon Resin Trade Secret 1-5 None established
Hexane 110-54-3 4.5 PEL-TWA 500 ppm
ACGIH TLV-TWA 50 ppm
SECTION 3: HAZARDS IDENTIFICATION
PRIMARY ROUTE OF EXPOSURE: Inhalation and ingestion, skin absorption, skin contact.
SIGNS & SYMPTONS OF EXPOSURE May cause mild eye irritation. Symptoms include stinging, tearing and redness. May cause mild skin irritation. Prolonged or repeated contact may dry the skin. Symptoms may include redness, burning, drying and cracking of skin, and skin burns. Swallowing small amounts of this material during normal handling is not likely to cause harmful effects. Swallowing large amounts may be armful. This material can get into the lungs during swallowing or vomiting. This results in lung inflammation and other lung injury. Breathing of vapor or mist is possible. Breathing small amounts of this material during normal handling is not likely to cause harmful effects. Breathing large amounts may be harmful.
ACUTE HEALTH HAZARDS: N/a
CHRONIC HEALTH HAZARDS: Prolonged and repeated exposure to n-hexane may cause peripheral neuropathy by damaging peripheral nerve tissue (that of the arms and legs) and result in muscular weakness and loss of sensation. Prolonged and repeated inhalation of high levels of mixed isomers of hexane resulted in kidney damage in male rats. The effects observed are the same as that seen in male rats exposed to other kidney toxicity is unique to male rat and the kidney effects are not expected to occur in man. Prolonged intentional toluene abuse may lead to hearing loss progressing to deafness. In addition, while noise is known to cause hearing loss in humans, it has been suggested that worker exposed to organic solvents, including toluene, along with noise may suffer greater hearing loss than would be expected from exposure to noise alone. Overexposure to this material (or its components) has been suggested as a cause of the following effects in laboratory animals: mild, reversible kidney effects, liver abnormalities, spleen damage, eye damage, kidney damage, effects on hearing, testis damage, lung damage, central nervous system damage. Over exposure to this material (or its components) has been suggested as a cause of the following effects in humans: liver abnormalities, visual impairment, and central nervous system effects.
CARCINOGENICITY: Ethyl benzene has been shown to cause cancer in laboratory animals. The relevance of this finding to humans is uncertain. IARC (International Agency for Research on Cancer) has classified ethyl benzene as a possible human carcinogen.
SECTION 4: FIRST AID MEASURES
FIRST AID PROCEDURES: For eyes, immediately move victim away from exposure and into fresh air, flush with large amounts of water, lifting upper and lower lids occasionally, get medical attention. For skin contact, remove contaminated clothing, wash affected area thoroughly with soap and water. For inhalation, remove to fresh uncontaminated air. In case of accidental ingestion, Get medical attention and advise the physician of the nature of the material, seek advice about whether to induce vomiting. If possible, do not leave individual unattended.
NOTES TO PHYSICIANS OR FIRST AID PROVIDERS: This material is an aspiration hazard. Potential danger from aspiration must be weighed against possible oral toxicity (section 3) when deciding whether to induce vomiting. Preexisting disorders of the following organs may be aggravated my exposure to this material: skin lung (for example, asthma-like conditions), liver, kidney, central nervous system, spleen, auditory system, and eye.
SECTION 5: FIRE-FIGHTING PROCEDURES
SUITABLE EXTINGUISHING MEDIA: Regular foam, water fog, carbon dioxide, dry chemical
HAZARDOUS COMBUSTION PRODUCTS: May form: carbon dioxide and carbon monoxide, phenols, various hydrocarbons.
RECOMMENDED FIRE FIGHTING PROCEDURES: Wear impermeable protective clothing and self-contained breathing apparatus with a full face piece operated in the positive pressure demand mode with appropriate turn-out gear and chemical resistant personal protective equipment. Refer to the personal protective equipment section in this MSDS.
UNUSUAL FIRE & EXPLOSION HAZARDS: Material is highly volatile and readily gives off vapors, which may travel along the ground or be moved by ventilation and ignited by pilot lights, other flames, sparks, heaters, smoking, electric motors, static discharge, or other ignition sources at locations distant from material handling point. Never use welding or cutting torch on or near drum (even empty) because product (even just residue) can ignite explosively.
SECTION 6: ACCIDENTAL RELEASE MEASURES
ACCIDENTAL RELEASE MEASURES: Small Spill: Absorb liquid on vermiculite, floor absorbent, or other absorbent material and transfer to hood. Eliminate all sources of ignition such as flares, flames (including pilot lights) and electrical sparks.
Large Spill: Eliminate all ignition sources (flares, flames including pilot lights, electrical sparks). Persons not wearing protective equipment should be excluded from area of spill until clean up has been completed. Stop spill at source. Prevent from entering drains, sewers, streams or other bodies of water. Prevent from spreading. If runoff occurs, notify authorities as required. Pump of vacuum transfer spilled product to clean containers for recovery. Absorb unrecoverable product. Transfer contaminated absorbent, soil and other materials t containers for disposal. Notify proper authorities as required that a spill has occurred.
SECTION 7: HANDLING AND STORAGE
HANDLING AND STORAGE: Containers of this material may be hazardous when emptied. Since emptied containers retain product residues (vapor, liquid, and/or solid), all hazard precautions given in the data sheet must be observed. All five-gall pails and larger metal containers, including tank cars and tank trucks, should be grounded and/or bonded when material is transferred. When used as part of an EPDM roofing system involving roller application, pails should be electrically and mechanically connected to the application equipment, and the system should be grounded. When used as part of a roofing system involving spray application, the roof surface, applicator nozzle and human operator should be electrically and mechanically connected, and the system should be grounded.
OTHER PRECAUTIONS: N/a
STEPS TO BE TAKEN IN CASE MATERIAL IS REALEASED OR SPILLED: See above
PRECAUTIONS TO BE TAKEN IN HANDLING & STORAGE: Store between 45°F and 90°F. Keep containers tightly sealed.
SECTION 8: EXPOSURE CONTROLS/PERSONAL PROTECTION
ENGINEERING CONTROLS: Provide sufficient mechanical (general and/or local exhaust) ventilation to maintain exposure below TLV(s).
VENTILATION: Use in a well ventilated area.
RESPIRATORY PROTECTION: If workplace exposure limit(s) of product or any component is exceeded (see exposure guidelines), a NIOHS/MSHA approved air supplied respirator is advised in absence of proper environmental control. OSHA regulation also permits other NIOSH/MSHA respirators (negative pressure type) under specified conditions (see your industrial hygienist). Engineering or administrative control should be implemented to reduce exposure.
EYE PROTECTION: Wear safety glasses or chemical splash goggles when pouring, mixing or applying this material.
SKIN PROTECTION: Wear chemical resistant gloves when pouring, mixing or applying this material.
OTHER PROTECTIVE CLOTHING OR EQUIPMENT: Impervious clothing and boots if appropriate.
WORK HYGIENIC PRACTICES: Wash exposed skin prior to eating, drinking or smoking and at the end of each shift. Wash contaminated clothing prior to reuse.
EXPOSURE GUIDELINES:
SECTION 9: PHYSICAL AND CHEMICAL PROPERTIES
APPEARANCE & ODOR: Yellow liquid, slight odor
FLASH POINT: < -2.0F (-18.8C) LOWER EXPLOSIVE LIMIT: 1.0%
METHOD USED: SETA UPPER EXPLOSIVE LIMIT: 7.0%
EVAPORATION RATE: Slower than Ethyl Ether BOILING POINT: 133 F (56.1 C)
pH (undiluted product): No data MELTING POINT: Not Applicable
SOLUBILITY IN WATER: No data SPECIFIC GRAVITY: 0.872 @ 77 F
VAPOR DENSITY: >1.0 @ Air = 1 PERCENT VOLATILE: 73-77%
VAPOR PRESSURE: 185 mmHg
VOLATILE ORGANIC COMPOUNDS (VOC)
WITH WATER (LBS/GAL): N/a WITHOUT WATER (LBS/GAL): 5.5 lbs/gal
MOLECULAR WEIGHT: N/a
SECTION 10: STABILITY AND REACTIVITY
THERMAL STABILITY: STABLE 1
UNSTABLE 0
CONDITIONS TO AVOID (STABILITY): Do not allow this product to freeze.
INCOMPATIBILITY (MATERIAL TO AVOID): Avoid contact with: Strong alkalies, strong mineral acids, strong oxidizing agents
HAZARDOUS DECOMPOSITION OR BY-PRODUCTS: May form: carbon dioxide and carbon monoxide, phenols various hydrocarbons.
HAZARDOUS POLYMERIZATION: Will not occur
_________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
SECTION 11: TOXICOLOGICAL INFORMATION
WASTE DISPOSAL METHOD: Destroy by liquid incineration in accordance with applicable regulations.
RCRA HAZARD CLASS: N/a
SECTION 14: TRANSPORT INFORMATION
U.S. D0T Highway Transportation
PROPER SHIPPING NAME: Adhesives
HAZARD CLASS: 3
ID NUMBER: UN1133
PACKING GROUP: III
LABEL STATEMENT: Adhesives, 3, UN1133, III
U.S. DOT Water Transportation PROPER SHIPPING NAME: Not Applicable
HAZARD CLASS: Not Applicable
ID NUMBER: Not Applicable
PACKING GROUP: Not Applicable
LABEL STATEMENT: Not Applicable
U.S. DOT Air Transportation PROPER SHIPPING NAME: Not Applicable
HAZARD CLASS: Not Applicable
ID NUMBER: Not Applicable
PACKING GROUP: Not Applicable
LABEL STATEMENT: Not Applicable
OTHER REGULATORY AGENCIES
PROPER SHIPPING NAME: Not Applicable
HAZARD CLASSIFACTION: Not Applicable
ID NUMBER: Not Applicable
LABELS REQUIRED: Not Applicable
OTHER REQUIREMENTS: Not Applicable
SECTION 15: REGULATORY INFORMATION
U.S. FEDERAL REGULATIONS: N/a
TSCA (TOXIC SUBSTANCE CONTROL ACT): TSCA (United States) the intentional ingredients of this product are listed:
CERCLA (COMPREHENSIVE RESPONSE COMPENSATION, AND LIABILITY ACT): Component RQ (lbs)
Toluene 1000
Acetone 5000
Hexane 1
SARA TITLE III (SUPERFUND AMENDMENTS AND REAUTHORIZATION ACT): N/a
311/312 HAZARD CATEGORIES: Immediate ( X ), Delayed ( X ), Fire ( X ), Reactive ( ), Sudden Release of Pressure ( )
313 REPORTABLE INGREDIENTS:
Component CAS Number %
Toluene 108-88-3 36.67
Hexane 110-54-3 5.21
STATE and Local Regulations California Proposition 65
The following statement is made in order to comply with the California Safe Drinking Water and Toxic Enforcement Act of 1986: This product contains the following substance(s) known to the state of California to cause cancer: BENZENE
The following statement is made in order to comply with the California Safe Drinking Water and Toxic Enforcement Act of 1986: This product contains the following substance(s) known to the state of California to cause reproductive harm: TOLUENE, BENZENE
New Jersey RTK Label Information
Component CAS Number
Toluene 108-88-3
n-Hexane 110-54-3
Acetone 67-64-1
Naptha 64742-89-8
RTK Label Information
Component CAS Number
Benzene, Methyl- 108-88-3
2-Propanone 67-64-1
n-Hexane 110-54-3
A trench cut is the only way to stop these fires. Cutting well in advance of where the fire is will cut off the fuel load and prevent further spreading across the roof. Class A foam should be used for better fire suppression.
As far as Fire ? Treat as such and stretch a line . Be carefull of wind direction and allways put a least one other means of egress ( a 2nd ground ladder)
As far as venting they open up easy .
Best is a Partner style Saw with a Multi Blade .I like the DAX Demo .