Ammonia Pipe Labeling

Ammonia is a compound of nitrogen and hydrogen with the formula NH3. It is normally encountered as a gas with a characteristic pungent odor. Ammonia is used as a precursor to foodstuffs and fertilizers. Ammonia, either directly or indirectly, is also a building block for the synthesis of many pharmaceuticals. Although in wide use, ammonia is both caustic and hazardous. In 2006, worldwide production was estimated at 146.5 million tons. It is used in commercial cleaning products.

Ammonia, as used commercially, is often called anhydrous ammonia. This term emphasizes the absence of water in the material. Because NH3 boils at -33.34C, the liquid must be stored under high pressure or at low temperature. Its heat of vaporization is, however, sufficiently high so that NH3 can be readily handled in ordinary beakers, in a fume hood. "Household ammonia" or "ammonium hydroxide" is a solution of NH3 in water. The strength of such solutions is measured in units of baume (density), with 26 degrees baume (about 30 weight percent ammonia at 15.5C) being the typical high concentration commercial product.

Labeling ammonia is critical because of the nature of the chemical. Pipes containing ammonia should be properly labeled for flow direction, and with lettering and coloring matching OSHA standards.

Read more on OSHA 1910.111 Ammonia Standards
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