Section 469.05. Work and operational practice standards for batch vapor and in-line cleaning machines.

  Except as provided in s. NR 469.08 for all cleaning machines, each owner or operator of an existing or new batch vapor or in-line solvent cleaning machine shall meet all of the following required work and operational practices, as applicable. The owner or operator of a continuous web cleaning machine shall comply with the requirements of s. NR 469.073 or 469.077 , as appropriate, in lieu of complying with this section.

(1)  Control air disturbances across the cleaning machine openings by incorporating the control equipment or techniques in par. (a) or (b) .

(a) Covers to each solvent cleaning machine shall be in place during the idling mode, and during the downtime mode unless either the solvent has been removed from the machine or maintenance or monitoring is being performed that requires the covers to not be in place.

(b) A reduced room draft as described in s. NR 469.06 (2) (b) shall be used.

(2)  The parts baskets or the parts being cleaned in an open-top batch vapor cleaning machine may not occupy more than 50% of the solvent/air interface area unless the parts baskets or parts are introduced at a speed of 0.9 meters per minute (3 feet per minute) or less.

(3)  Any spraying operations shall be done within the vapor zone or within a section of the solvent cleaning machine that is not directly exposed to the ambient air, such as a baffled or enclosed area.

(4)  Parts shall be oriented so that the solvent drains from them freely. Parts having cavities or blind holes shall be tipped or rotated before being removed from any solvent cleaning machine unless an equally effective approach has been approved by the department.

(5)  Parts baskets or parts may not be removed from any solvent cleaning machine until dripping has stopped.

(6)  During startup of each vapor cleaning machine, the primary condenser shall be turned on before the sump heater.

(7)  During shutdown of each vapor cleaning machine, the sump heater shall be turned off and the solvent vapor layer allowed to collapse before the primary condenser is turned off.

(8)  When solvent is added or drained from any solvent cleaning 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.

(9)  Each solvent cleaning machine and associated controls shall be maintained as recommended by the manufacturers of the equipment or using alternative maintenance practices that have been demonstrated to the department's satisfaction to achieve the same or better results as those recommended by the manufacturer.

(10)  Each operator of a solvent cleaning machine shall complete and pass the applicable sections of the test of solvent cleaning procedures in Table 5 if requested during an inspection by the department.

(11)  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 that device may not allow liquid solvent to drain from the container.

(12)  Sponges, fabric, wood and paper products may not be cleaned.

(13)  If the solvent cleaning machine is not exempt under s. NR 423.03 (2) (a) , (b) , (d) , (e) or (h) , but is exempt under s. NR 423.03 (2) (i) , it may not be operated so as to allow water to be visually detectable in solvent exiting the water separator.

(14)  If the solvent cleaning machine is not exempt under s. NR 423.03 (2) (a) , (b) , (d) , (e) , (f) or (h) , but is exempt under s. NR 423.03 (2) (i) , a permanent conspicuous label, summarizing the work and operational practices specified in subs. (1) to (9) and (11) to (13) , shall be provided.

Table 5. Test of Solvent Cleaning Procedures - See PDF for table - See PDF for table

Control Device Specific Questions - See PDF for table

History: Cr. Register, March, 1997, No. 495 , eff. 4-1-97; CR 07-105 : am. (intro.) and (10) Register December 2008 No. 636 , eff. 1-1-09.