GCAP SAFETY TEST QUESTIONS &
ANSWERS (RATED A+)
NH3 - ANSWERBase: Ammonia has a pH of 11.6, making it highly alkaline.
1 Kitchen Match - ANSWERThe heat released by burning a kitchen match from end
to end is equivalent to 1 BTU.
Cloud Minimum Concentration - ANSWERA minimum of 4% ammonia in air forms a
visible cloud.
Rinse Protocol for Exposure - ANSWERRinse for 15 minutes minimum if exposed, or
30-60 minutes per MSDS/SDS guidance.
Contact Lenses Risk - ANSWERAmmonia can get behind contact lenses, so GCAP
advises against wearing them.
Ammonia Combustion - ANSWERLower Explosive Limit (LEL): 15% or 150,000
ppm; Upper Explosive Limit (UEL): 28% or 280,000 ppm.
NFPA Fire Diamond for NH3 - ANSWERIndoor: 3 Health, 3 Fire, 0 Reactivity, W
Special; Outdoor: 3 Health, 1 Fire, 0 Reactivity, W Special.
NH3 Evaporation - ANSWEREvaporating 1 lb of ammonia absorbs 561 BTU of heat,
making it effective for cooling.
NH3 Efficiency vs. Freon - ANSWERAmmonia is 7x more efficient than Freon,
reducing energy costs.
Ammonia Detection - ANSWERHumans can smell ammonia at 2-5 ppm.
PPM Conversion - ANSWER1% = 10,000 ppm.
0.5% NH3 (5000 ppm) - ANSWERThis concentration can be lethal without PPE.
PEL for NH3 - ANSWEROSHA's Permissible Exposure Limit (PEL) for ammonia is
50 ppm.
IDLH Defined - ANSWERAmmonia is classified as Immediately Dangerous to Life
and Health (IDLH) at concentrations above 300 ppm.
Respirators Not Effective at 300+ ppm - ANSWERFull-face air-purifying respirators
cannot protect above this concentration.
ANSWERS (RATED A+)
NH3 - ANSWERBase: Ammonia has a pH of 11.6, making it highly alkaline.
1 Kitchen Match - ANSWERThe heat released by burning a kitchen match from end
to end is equivalent to 1 BTU.
Cloud Minimum Concentration - ANSWERA minimum of 4% ammonia in air forms a
visible cloud.
Rinse Protocol for Exposure - ANSWERRinse for 15 minutes minimum if exposed, or
30-60 minutes per MSDS/SDS guidance.
Contact Lenses Risk - ANSWERAmmonia can get behind contact lenses, so GCAP
advises against wearing them.
Ammonia Combustion - ANSWERLower Explosive Limit (LEL): 15% or 150,000
ppm; Upper Explosive Limit (UEL): 28% or 280,000 ppm.
NFPA Fire Diamond for NH3 - ANSWERIndoor: 3 Health, 3 Fire, 0 Reactivity, W
Special; Outdoor: 3 Health, 1 Fire, 0 Reactivity, W Special.
NH3 Evaporation - ANSWEREvaporating 1 lb of ammonia absorbs 561 BTU of heat,
making it effective for cooling.
NH3 Efficiency vs. Freon - ANSWERAmmonia is 7x more efficient than Freon,
reducing energy costs.
Ammonia Detection - ANSWERHumans can smell ammonia at 2-5 ppm.
PPM Conversion - ANSWER1% = 10,000 ppm.
0.5% NH3 (5000 ppm) - ANSWERThis concentration can be lethal without PPE.
PEL for NH3 - ANSWEROSHA's Permissible Exposure Limit (PEL) for ammonia is
50 ppm.
IDLH Defined - ANSWERAmmonia is classified as Immediately Dangerous to Life
and Health (IDLH) at concentrations above 300 ppm.
Respirators Not Effective at 300+ ppm - ANSWERFull-face air-purifying respirators
cannot protect above this concentration.
