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Eastern Pa Chapter of the International Society of Explosives Engineers

Comments From the chief

 

 

The migration of carbon monoxide (CO) into homes near construction blasting operations continues to be a problem in Pennsylvania.  25 PA Code Chapter 211 prohibits gases generated from blasting from affecting “the health and safety of individuals.”  The regulations require “taking measures such as venting the gases to the atmosphere, interrupting the path along which gases may flow, and evacuating people from areas that may contain gases.” 

             The explosives industry has responded to concerns of CO migration into homes, in most cases, by ensuring that CO detectors are present in homes near their blasting operations.  However, the best way to ensure that the health and safety of individuals is protected is to prevent gases from migrating into homes in the first place. 

             The common entry points into homes for CO are through openings in the foundations, usually where utilities enter through foundations.  However, any opening in a foundation, such as a crack in a wall could be an entry point for CO.  Drilling holes between where blasting is occurring and where a home is located is probably not going to vent gases to the atmosphere and prevent CO migration into a home, but the holes can be monitored to see if CO is building up in the ground between the home and the blasting. 

             Removing the muck pile immediately after blasting can result in the gases being vented into the atmosphere.  However, in some cases, gases have migrated into homes when muck piles have been removed immediately after blasting. The most effective method of preventing gases from migrating into homes may be the most difficult to implement.  If no travel path exists between a home and blasting operations, then the gases will not enter the home.  Completely removing the travel path for the gases is the best option to prevent gas migration into a home.  Construction site conditions vary widely and, with some sites, the precautions necessary to conduct blasting without affecting the health and safety of individuals may be considerably more involved that with others.  Please include a thorough plan for prevention of CO migration into homes in your blast designs.

 

Thanks,

 

Rick

Department of Environmental Protection