1.1
Purpose—
The purpose of this guide shall be to provide fundamental safeguards for the storage, use, and handling of liquid rocket propellants to ensure the safety of workers involved as well as the public.
1.2
Goal—
The functional goal of this guide shall be to reduce the explosive hazard of liquid rocket propellants to hazard levels such that the use of quantity-distance criteria is not essential to assure public safety.
1.3
Application—
The requirements of this guide shall apply to persons directly involved in the storage, use, or handling of liquid rocket propellants during nominal operations only.
1.4
Retroactivity—
The provisions of this guide are not retroactive.
1.5
Units—
The values stated in SI units are to be regarded as standard. No other units of measurement are included in this standard.
1.6
This standard does not purport to address all of the safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the responsibility of the user of this standard to establish appropriate safety, health, and environmental practices and determine the applicability of regulatory limitations prior to use.
1.7
Environmental Concerns—
The scope of this standard encompasses the safety precautions for fuels and oxidizers used in commercial launch vehicles; it does not address the various precautions required to minimize risks of environmental contamination. Environmental regulation for chemical storage differs between different states and municipalities, and operators should consult the regulations of the authority having jurisdiction over their site for such matters.
1.8
This international standard was developed in accordance with internationally recognized principles on standardization established in the Decision on Principles for the Development of International Standards, Guides and Recommendations issued by the World Trade Organization Technical Barriers to Trade (TBT) Committee.
====== Significance And Use ======
3.1
Applicability—
This guide shall apply to the storage, use, and handling of liquid rocket propellants.
3.2
Exemptions—
This guide shall not apply to the following:
3.2.1
Storage, use, or handling of solid rocket propellant;
3.2.2
Storage, use, or handling of pyrotechnics;
3.2.3
Storage, use, or handling of hypergolic liquid rocket propellants; and
3.2.4
Storage, use, or handling of extremely hazardous rocket propellants [those listed as an extremely hazardous substance in the Emergency Planning and Community Right-to-Know Act (EPCRA), Section 302 (40 CFR Part 355)].
3.3
Equivalency—
Nothing in this guide is intended to discourage the use of systems, methods, or devices of equivalent or superior quality, strength, fire resistance, debris protection, effectiveness, durability, or safety over those prescribed by this guide.
3.4
General—
The standards or portions thereof listed in this guide are advisory. Compliance with referenced standards is an acceptable means, but not the only means, of compliance with this guide.
3.5
Authority Having Jurisdiction (AHJ)—
If any provision of this guide conflicts with a requirement of the AHJ, the requirement of the AHJ shall take precedence over this guide.