N.J. Admin. Code § 7:27-16.6

Current through Register Vol. 56, No. 23, December 2, 2024

Section 7:27-16.6 - Open top tanks and solvent cleaning operations

(a) This section applies to open top tanks and surface cleaners that contain VOC and to solvent cleaning operations.

(b) -(i) (Reserved)

(j) TThe following provisions apply to a cold cleaning machine, that uses two gallons or more of solvents containing greater than five percent VOC content by weight for the cleaning of metal parts, and to any heated cleaning machine:

1. No person shall add solvent to a cold cleaning machine or a heated cleaning machine, or cause, suffer, allow, or permit the machine to be operated, unless the following requirements are met:

i. If the machine is an immersion cold cleaning machine or heated cleaning machine, it shall have:

(1) A freeboard ratio of 0.75 or greater; and

(2) A visible fill line and a high level liquid mark;

ii. The machine shall have a permanent, conspicuous label placed in a prominent location on the machine setting forth the applicable provisions of the operating requirements in (j)2 below; and

iii. The machine shall be equipped with:

(1) A tightly fitting working-mode cover that completely covers the machine's opening and that shall be kept closed at all times except when parts are being placed into or being removed from the machine or when solvent is being added or removed. For a remote reservoir cold cleaning machine which drains directly into the solvent storage reservoir, a perforated drain with a diameter of not more than six inches shall constitute an acceptable cover; and

(2) If the machine is a heated cleaning machine, a thermostat;

2. A person shall operate a cold cleaning machine or a heated cleaning machine in accordance with the following procedures:

i. The solvent level in the machine shall not exceed the fill line when there are no parts in the machine for cleaning and shall not exceed the high level liquid mark during cleaning operations;

ii. Flushing of parts with a solvent spray, using a spray head attached to a flexible hose or other flushing device, shall be performed only within the freeboard area of the machine. The solvent spray shall be a continuous fluid stream, not an atomized or shower spray, and shall be under a pressure that does not exceed ten pounds per square inch gauge;

iii. Parts being cleaned shall be drained for at least 15 seconds or until dripping ceases, whichever is longer. Parts having cavities or blind holes shall be tipped or rotated while the part is draining. During the draining, tipping or rotating, the parts shall be positioned so that solvent drains directly back into the machine;

iv. When the machine's cover is open, the machine shall not be exposed to drafts greater than 40 meters per minute (132 feet per minute), as measured between one and two meters (between 3.3 and 6.6 feet) upwind and at the same elevation as the tank lip;

v. Sponges, fabric, leather, paper products and other absorbent materials shall not be cleaned in the machine;

vi. When a pump-agitated solvent bath is used, the agitator shall be operated to produce a rolling motion of the solvent with no observable splashing of solvent against the tank walls or the parts being cleaned. Air agitated solvent baths may not be used;

vii. Spills during solvent transfer and use of the machine shall be cleaned up immediately, and the wipe rags or other sorbent material used shall be immediately stored in covered containers for disposal or recycling;

viii. Waste solvent shall be collected and stored in a closed container. The closed container may contain a device that allows pressure relief, provided that it does not allow liquid solvent to drain from the container;

ix. Work area fans shall be located and positioned so that they do not blow across the opening of the degreaser unit; and

x. If the machine is a heated cleaning machine, the solvent shall be maintained at a temperature that is below its boiling point;

3. A person shall not use, in a cold cleaning machine or a heated cleaning machine, any solvent, except water, that has a vapor pressure of one millimeter of mercury or greater, measured at 20 degrees centigrade (68 degrees Fahrenheit); and

4. A person who owns or operates a cold cleaning machine or a heated cleaning machine shall maintain, for not less than two years after the date of purchase of solvent for use in the machine, the information specified below and shall, upon the request of the Department or its representative, provide the information to the Department:

i. The name and address of the person selling the solvent. An invoice, bill of sale, or a certificate that corresponds to a number of sales, if it has the seller's name and address on it, may be used to satisfy this requirement;

ii. A list of VOC(s) and their concentration information in the solvent;

iii. Information about each VOC listed pursuant to ii above. A Material Safety Data Sheet (MSDS) may be used to satisfy this requirement;

iv. The solvents product number assigned by the manufacturer; and

v. The vapor pressure of the solvent measured in millimeters of mercury at 20 degrees centigrade (68 degrees Fahrenheit).

(k) The following provisions apply to a batch vapor cleaning machine:

1. No person shall add solvent to a batch vapor cleaning machine or cause, suffer, allow or permit the machine to be operated, unless the following requirements are met:

i. The machine shall have a freeboard ratio of 0.75 or greater;

ii. The machine shall have a permanent, conspicuous label placed in a prominent location on the machine setting forth the applicable provisions of the operating requirements in (k)4 below;

iii. The machine shall be equipped with:

(1) Unless the machine is fully enclosed, a tightly fitting working-mode cover. The cover shall be kept closed at all times except when parts are being placed into or being removed from the machine or when solvent is being added or removed. The cover shall:

(A) Completely cover the machine's opening;

(B) Be free of cracks, holes and other defects;

(C) Be able to be readily opened and closed without disturbing the vapor zone. If the opening is greater than ten square feet, the cover shall be opened and closed by a powered mechanism; and

(D) If the machine has a lip exhaust, extend below the level of the lip exhaust;

(2) A safety switch (thermostat and condenser flow switch) which shuts off the sump heat if the coolant is not circulating;

(3) A control switch which shuts off the spray pump if vapor is not present in the vapor section in the machine;

(4) A primary condenser; and

(5) A device that shuts off the sump heat if the sump liquid solvent level drops to the sump heater coils or if the vapor level in the machine rises above the height of the primary condenser;

iv. The machine shall have an automated parts handling system which moves the parts and/or parts baskets at a speed of 11 feet (3.4 meters) per minute or less when the parts are entering or exiting the vapor zone. If the parts basket and parts being cleaned occupy more than 50 percent of the solvent/air interface area, the speed of the parts basket or parts shall not exceed three feet (one meter) per minute;

v. If the machine has a lip exhaust, it shall be designed and operated so that:

(1) The collected solvent vapors pass through a properly operated and maintained carbon adsorber; and

(2) The concentration of VOC in the effluent from the adsorber does not exceed 100 parts per million;

vi. The machine shall be free from the influence of any local exhaust ventilation system unless the ventilation system is equipped with a control device that:

(1) Collects at least 90 percent by volume of the VOC vapors leaving the machine; and

(2) Reduces VOC concentration in the exhaust by at least 95 percent by volume; and

vii. The machine shall be free from the influence of any positive pressure source located within 20 feet (6.1 meters) of the tank rim unless the machine is equipped with a control device that:

(1) Collects at least 90 percent by volume of VOC vapors leaving the machine; and

(2) Reduces VOC concentration in the exhaust by at least 95 percent by volume;

2. No person shall cause, suffer, allow, or permit a batch vapor cleaning machine with a solvent/air interface area of 13 square feet or less to be operated, unless one of the control options listed in Table 6A below is implemented;

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3. No person shall cause, suffer, allow, or permit a batch vapor cleaning machine with a solvent/air interface area of greater than 13 square feet to be operated, unless one of the control options listed in Table 6B below is implemented;

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4. A person shall operate a batch vapor cleaning machine in accordance with the following procedures:

i. During startup of the batch vapor cleaning machine the primary condenser shall be turned on before the sump heater;

ii. Flushing or spraying of parts with a solvent spray, using a spray head attached to a flexible hose or other flushing device, shall be performed within the vapor zone of the machine or within a section of the machine that is not exposed to the ambient air. The solvent spray shall be a continuous fluid stream, not an atomized or shower spray, and shall be under a pressure that does not exceed 10 pounds per square inch gauge;

iii. Parts being cleaned shall be drained for at least 15 seconds or until dripping ceases, whichever is longer. Parts having cavities or blind holes shall be tipped or rotated while the part is draining. A superheated vapor system shall be an acceptable alternate technology;

v. Sponges, fabric leather, paper products and other absorbent materials shall not be cleaned in the machine;

vi. Spills during solvent transfer and use of the machine shall be cleaned up immediately or the machine shall be shut down. Wipe rags or other sorbent material used shall be immediately stored in covered containers for disposal or recycling;

vii. Waste solvent, still bottoms and sump bottoms shall be collected and stored in closed containers. The closed containers shall contain a device that allows pressure relief, but does not allow liquid solvent to drain from the container;

viii. Work area fans shall be located and positioned so that they do not blow across the opening of the machine;

ix. During shutdown of the machine, the sump heater shall be turned off and the solvent vapor layer allowed to collapse before the primary condenser is turned off;

x. When solvent is added to or drained from the machine, the solvent shall be transferred using threaded or other leakproof couplings and the end of the pipe in the solvent sump shall be located beneath the liquid solvent surface;

xi. The working and downtime covers shall be closed at all times except when parts are entering or exiting from the machine, during maintenance of the machine when the solvent has been removed, or during addition of solvent to the machine;

xii. If a lip exhaust is used on an open top vapor degreaser, the ventilation rate shall not exceed 20 cubic meters per minute per square meter (m[3]/min/m[2]) (that is, 65 cubic feet per minute per square foot (ft[3]/min/ft[2])) of degreaser open area; and

xiii. The machine shall be maintained as recommended by the manufacturer of the equipment or by using alternate maintenance practices that have been demonstrated to the Department's satisfaction to achieve the same or better results as those recommended by the manufacturer.

(l) The following provisions apply to an in-line vapor cleaning machines:

1. No person shall add any VOC containing solvent to an in-line vapor cleaning machine or cause, suffer, allow, or permit the machine to be operated unless the following requirements are met:

i. The machine shall have a freeboard ratio of 0.75 or greater;

ii. The machine shall have a permanent, conspicuous label placed in a prominent location on the machine setting forth the applicable provisions of the operating requirements in paragraph (l)3 below;

iii. The machine shall be equipped with:

(1) Unless the machine is fully enclosed, a tightly fitting cover that shall be kept closed at all times except for when parts are being placed into or being removed from the machine or when solvent is being added or removed. The cover shall:

(A) Completely cover the machine's opening;

(B) Be free of cracks, holes and other defects;

(C) Be able to be readily opened and closed without disturbing the vapor zone. If the opening is greater than ten square feet, the cover shall be opened and closed by a powered mechanism; and

(D) If the machine has a lip exhaust, extend below the level of the lip exhaust;

(2) A safety switch (thermostat and condenser flow switch) which shuts off the sump heat if the coolant is not circulating;

(3) A control switch which shuts off the spray pump if vapor is not present in the vapor section in the machine;

(4) A primary condenser; and

(5) A device that shuts off the sump heat if the sump liquid solvent level drops to the sump heater coils or if the vapor level in the machine rises above the height of the primary condenser;

iv. The machine shall have an automated parts handling system which moves the parts or parts basket at a speed of 11 feet (3.4 meters) per minute or less when the parts are entering or exiting the vapor zone. If the parts basket or parts being cleaned occupy more than 50 percent of the solvent/air interface area, the speed of the parts basket or parts shall not exceed three feet (one meter) per minute;

v. If the machine has a lip exhaust, it shall be designed and operated so that:

(1) Collected solvent vapors pass through a properly operated and maintained carbon adsorber; and

(2) The concentration of VOC in the effluent from the adsorber does not exceed 100 parts per million;

vi. The machine shall be protected from drafts, when not in active use, by the installation of covers over the conveyor inlet and conveyor outlet ports and over any other openings; and

vii. The machine shall be protected from drafts, when in active use, by the installation of a silhouette cutout or hanging flaps to minimize the effective openings around the conveyor inlet and conveyor outlet parts;

2. No person shall cause, suffer, allow, or permit an in-line vapor cleaning machine to be operated unless one of the control options listed in Table 6C below is implemented:

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3. A person shall operate an in-line cleaning machine in accordance with the following procedures:

i. During startup of the machine the primary condenser shall be turned on before the sump heater;

ii. Flushing or spraying of parts with a solvent spray, using a spray head attached to a flexible hose or other flushing device, shall only be performed within the vapor zone of the machine or within a section of the machine that is not exposed to the ambient air. The solvent spray shall be a continuous fluid stream, not an atomized or shower spray, and shall be under a pressure that does not exceed 10 pounds per square inch gauge;

iii. Parts being cleaned shall be drained for at least 15 seconds or until dripping ceases, whichever is longer. Parts having cavities or blind holes shall be tipped or rotated while the part is draining. A superheated vapor system shall be an acceptable alternate technology;

v. Sponges, fabric, leather, paper products and other absorbent materials shall not be cleaned in the machine;

vii. Waste solvent, still bottoms and sump bottoms shall be collected and stored in closed containers. The closed containers may contain a device that allows pressure relief, but does not allow liquid solvent to drain from the container;

viii. Work area fans shall be located and positioned so that they do not blow across the opening of the machine;

ix. During shutdown of the machine, the sump heater shall be turned off and the solvent vapor layer allowed to collapse before the primary condenser is turned off;

xiv. Openings shall be minimized during operation so that entrances and exits silhouette workloads with an average clearance between the parts and the edge of the degreaser opening of less than 10 centimeter (four inches) or less than 10 percent of the width of the opening.

(m) The following provisions shall apply to an airless cleaning machine or air-tight cleaning machine:

1. No person shall add solvent to an airless cleaning machine or an air-tight cleaning machine, or cause, suffer, allow, or permit the machine to be operated unless the following requirements are met:

i. The machine shall have a permanent, conspicuous label placed in a prominent location on the machine setting forth the applicable provisions of the operating requirements in (m)4 below; and

ii. The machine shall have a carbon adsorber that shall:

(1) Measure and record the concentration of solvent in the exhaust of the carbon adsorber weekly with a colorimetric detector tube designed to measure a concentration of 100 parts per million (ppm) by volume of solvent to air at an accuracy of +/- 25 parts per million by volume. These measurements and recordings shall be conducted while the solvent cleaning machine is in working mode and venting to the adsorber; and

(2) Maintain and operate the machine and adsorber so that emissions from the adsorber exhaust not more than 100 ppm by volume measured while the machine is in the working mode and is venting to the adsorber;

2. The owner or operator of an airless cleaning machine or air-tight cleaning machine, shall maintain for each machine a log of all additions and deletions of VOC containing solvent, including the weight of the solvent contained in any activated carbon or other sorbent material used to control emissions from the cleaning machine;

3. The owner or operator of the machine shall demonstrate that the monthly emissions from the machine, based on a three-month rolling average, are equal to or less than the allowable limits set forth in Table 6D below or, if the volume of the cleaning machine exceeds 2.95 cubic meters, by the use of the following equation:

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4. A person shall operate an airless cleaning machine or air-tight cleaning machine in accordance with the following procedures.

i. Parts being cleaned shall be drained for at least 15 seconds or until dripping ceases, whichever is longer. Parts having cavities or blind holes shall be tipped or rotated while the part is draining. A superheated vapor system shall be an acceptable alternate technology;

ii. Sponges, fabric, leather, paper products and other absorbent materials shall not be cleaned in the machine;

iii. Spills during solvent transfer and use of the machine shall be cleaned up immediately or the machine shall be shut down. Wipe rags or other sorbent material used shall be immediately stored in covered containers for disposal or recycling;

iv. Waste solvent, still bottoms and sump bottoms shall be collected and stored in closed containers. The closed containers may contain a device that allows pressure relief, but does not allow liquid solvent to drain from the container;

v. Work area fans shall be located and positioned so that they do not blow across the opening of the machine;

vi. When solvent is added to or drained from the machine, the solvent shall be transferred using threaded or other leakproof couplings and the end of the pipe in the solvent sump shall be located beneath the liquid solvent surface;

vii. The working and downtime covers shall be closed at all times except when parts are entering or exiting from the machine, during maintenance of the machine when the solvent has been removed, and during addition of solvent to the machine; and

viii. The machine shall be maintained as recommended by the manufacturer of the equipment or using alternate maintenance practices that have been demonstrated to the Department's satisfaction to achieve the same or better results as those recommended by the manufacturer.

(n) No person shall cause, suffer, allow, or permit the use of any oil-water separator unless such separator is covered with a lid while containing any VOC. Sections of oil-water separators containing essential powered mechanical devices operating above the liquid level are not subject to this requirement.

N.J. Admin. Code § 7:27-16.6

Adopted by 50 N.J.R. 409(a), effective 1/16/2018