chemicals in the boiler room...

Timco

Can anyone suggest some reading material regarding the storage of chlorine and other spa related chemicals in a boiler room and it's affects on copper piping and solder joints? I just fixed some pin hole leaks in solder joints and there were several in various places on piping that was not too old. Also, there was huge mineral deposits forming on these leaks, and all the spa & pool chlorine was stored in this room...Thanks!



Tim

Unknown

EPA- "Safe Storage and Handling of Swimming Pool Chemicals"

Hi Tim- This might be what you what you are looking for

- Rod

 http://www.epa.gov/oem/docs/chem/spalert.pdf



This is from Page 2  -paragraph just before " Improper Mixing"

" Chlorine is corrosive to metals such as steel and copper. Instances have been reported where exposed water piping has become corroded causing leaks, and also where metal storage shelves have corroded and collapsed, leading to chemical spillage"

-

Jamie Hall

I might add

that some pool chemicals containing chlorine, while not themselves flammable, accelerate combustion and release chlorine gas in the process -- which is highly toxic.



Not good to store in the same room with combustion devices -- like boilers.

Mark Eatherton

From Lochinvar Knight manual

Products to avoid:

Spray cans containing chloro/fluorocarbons

Permanent wave solutions

Chlorinated waxes/cleaners

Chlorine-based swimming pool chemicals

Calcium chloride used for thawing

Sodium chloride used for water softening

Refrigerant leaks

Paint or varnish removers

Hydrochloric acid/muriatic acid

Cements and glues

Antistatic fabric softeners used in clothes dryers

Chlorine-type bleaches, detergents, and cleaning solvents

found in household laundry rooms

Adhesives used to fasten building products and other

similar products





Areas likely to have contaminants

Dry cleaning/laundry areas and establishments

Swimming pools

Metal fabrication plants

Beauty shops

Refrigeration repair shops

Photo processing plants

Auto body shops

Plastic manufacturing plants

Furniture refinishing areas and establishments

New building construction

Remodeling areas

Garages with workshops



HTH



ME

SpeyFitter

Acid?

IF the boiler is pulling it's intake air from that room, it's probably doomed.

If you are sucking up chlorine into a boiler intake, when mixed with the products of combustion, it can form hydrochloric acid. It won't be long before a heat exchanger failure presented itself.

Also, there is a reason why we don't use copper heat exchangers (e.g. Brazed plate) for chlorine pools.