(a) Floor Drains. A floor drain from a chlorine or sulfur dioxide feed or storage room must not drain to a pipe system connected to any other room of the wastewater treatment facility. Drainage must be routed for safe disposal or for further processing at a rate that does not disrupt a treatment process or violate a water quality permit requirement.
(b) Doors and Windows.
  (1) Each door in a chlorine or sulfur dioxide room must:
    (A) open to the outside of the building; and
    (B) include panic hardware.
  (2) Each chlorine or sulfur dioxide room must have at least one clear, gas-tight window in a gas-tight exterior door.
  (3) A chlorine or sulfur dioxide room may have additional clear, gas-tight windows to ensure the disinfection and dechlorination systems may be viewed without entering an enclosed room.
(c) Ventilation.
  (1) An enclosed storage and feed room must have continuous forced mechanical ventilation with at least one complete air exchange every 3.0 minutes.
  (2) Exhaust equipment must have:
    (A) external controls; and
    (B) leak detection equipment.
  (3) A fan must be located at the top of the room to push air across the room and through an exhaust vent located at the bottom of the room on the opposite side (see Figure: 30 TAC §217.278(c)(3)). The top of the fan must be no more than one foot below the ceiling. The bottom of the exhaust vent must be no more than one foot above floor level.
Attached Graphic
  (4) An exhaust system may use vacuum pressure ventilation instead of forced mechanical ventilation if the ventilation facility has gas containment and treatment as prescribed by the National Fire Protection Association 1 Fire Code®.
  (5) A vent from the sulfur dioxide or chlorine gas feed systems must:
    (A) exhaust to a point that is not frequented by wastewater treatment facility staff, such as stairs, walkways, and common areas;
    (B) exhaust to a point that is not near a fresh air intake; and
    (C) be clearly marked with at least a four inch tall font that reads "Danger: Hazardous Exhaust."
(d) Gas Detectors and Protection.
  (1) An area containing chlorine or sulfur dioxide under pressure must have a gas detector and alarm system.
  (2) An area used for handling pressurized chlorine or sulfur dioxide gases must have respiratory and protective equipment. The respiratory and protective equipment must meet the requirements of the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health.
    (A) The respiratory and protective equipment must be immediately accessible at the wastewater treatment facility. The location and use of the respiratory and protective equipment must be described in the wastewater treatment facility's operation and maintenance manual.
    (B) The storage of respiratory equipment in any room where gas under pressure is stored or used is prohibited.
    (C) Instructions for using the respiratory and protective equipment must be kept with or posted next to the equipment.
    (D) The respiratory equipment must use compressed air and must have at least a 30-minute capacity.
(e) Separation.
  (1) Chlorine cylinders must not be stored in the same room as sulfur dioxide cylinders.
  (2) Chlorine feed equipment must not be housed in the same room as sulfur dioxide feed equipment.
  (3) Cylinders and feed equipment that supply chlorine must be separated by at least one gas-tight wall from cylinders and feed equipment that supply sulfur dioxide.

Source Note: The provisions of this §217.278 adopted to be effective August 28, 2008, 33 TexReg 6843; amended to be effective December 4, 2015, 40 TexReg 8254