HAZMAT Services Boulder
HAZMAT Services Boulder: Call ECOS on 303-442-3267 for efficient HAZMAT services in Boulder. Hazardous materials can be toxic and can cause a threat to your health as well as nature. So, it’s essential to seek professional help to manage this at the earliest.
What Is HAZMAT?
Hazardous waste is waste with harmful attributes. This can be deadly to your health and the environment. There are a number of hazardous wastes. It can be in the form of solids, liquids and gases. Also, it can be a combination of all three forms. Manufacturing process, any discarded or remaining commercial material results in producing such wastes.
“HAZMAT” stands for “hazardous materials”. It includes organic, chemical and radioactive agents. Also, it covers nuclear wastes, fuel wastes and other toxic substances. These hazardous wastes can damage human health, properties and the environment.
Ignitability
Liquids with a flashpoint below 140 °F are hazardous wastes. Also, non-liquids like compressed gases or oxidizers are comes under this category. This is due to their ignitability. The EPA assigns D001 as the waste code for ignitable hazardous wastes.
Corrosivity
Wastes that are acidic or have the ability to corrode metals are hazardous. They can cause skin damage to humans. Also, they can corrode metals. The EPA set D002 as the waste code for corrosive hazardous wastes.
Reactivity
Wastes that react with water emit toxic gases come under this category. Also, these wastes can explode with heat or even under normal conditions. This is because they contain reactivity characteristics. The EPA waste code for reactive hazardous wastes is D003.
Toxicity
Wastes containing lethal substances are hazardous if absorbed or ingested. This becomes a concern when toxic emissions from waste leach and pollute groundwater. TCLP test wastes to check the toxicity through SW-846 Test Method 1311. This process determines the toxicity present in wastes. The EPA waste codes are D004-D043 for the toxicity of hazardous wastes.
Classification of Hazardous Materials
Hazardous materials are of nine types based on their risks. These classifications are as follows:
Class 1: Explosives
An explosive is any substance that can erupt following a chemical reaction. They produce sound, heat, gas, smoke, or light. They can produce gases at pressures, speeds, or temperatures and cause severe damage.
Class 2: Gases
This includes gases in the form of liquid, compressed, dissolved, and aerosols. Gases are deadly substances due to their flammable properties and ability to suffocate.
Class 3: Flammable Liquids and Combustible Liquids
Flammable and combustible liquids are volatile. Also, they can emit flammable vapors. They can cause severe conflagrations and combustibility. Their volatility is a threat to living beings and nature.
Class 4: Flammable Solids and Potential Combustible Materials
This includes flammable solids which are combustible. Also, they can cause fire through friction and pose serious damage. Flammable solids are self-reactive substances and thus belong to this category.
Class 5: Oxidizers and Organic Peroxides
Class 6: Toxic Materials and Infectious Substances
Class 7: Radioactive Materials
Radioactive materials contain radionuclides. Here both the activity concentration and the total activity exceeds certain pre-defined values.
Class 8: Corrosive Materials
Corrosive substances degrade metals after chemical reactions. It can destroy materials like living tissues. An acid with a pH less than 2 or >12.5 is corrosive and belongs to this category.
Class 9: Miscellaneous Dangerous Goods
This includes a large variety of hazardous threats to human and environmental health. These hazardous substances belong to this category.