Page 20 - Beverage Master_JuneJuly 2021

Craft Brewery
Brewery & Distillery
the gas escapes in an area away from people. Expert Advice Goes a Long Way

“Vacuum Barrier works with each of our custom- CO2 and nitrogen can be great choices for a brew-
ers to ensure that any personnel working with or ery or distillery, depending on its specific needs and
near our equipment will have the correct training production level. When making this decision, make
for proper and safe handling of liquid nitrogen,” sure to communicate your needs and goals with
Muse said. your supplier to assess the risks and maintain top
quality.
“To help mitigate the risk of asphyxiation, it is
very important to monitor the atmosphere in pro- Muse from Vacuum Barrier said that for anyone
cess areas to ensure that OSHA-mandated oxygen considering using liquid nitrogen for any reason,
levels are maintained,” Hoffman from Allcryo said. the most important thing to do is speak with an
He also suggested producers install alarm systems expert.
to constantly monitor the atmosphere and warn of
dangerously low oxygen content. “Certainly, talking with coworkers and associates
in the industry who have experience with liquid
Both liquid CO2 and liquid nitrogen are stored at nitrogen might provide some basic information,
very low temperatures and can cause injury if not but they might also pass along some bad habits or
handled properly. “Allcryo can work with site safety incorrect assumptions,” Muse said. “Many people
personnel and assist in the design and installation get frustrated when first trying to use liquid nitro-
of safety systems,” Hoffman said. “Allcryo can also gen and jump to the conclusion that it doesn’t
provide input on foundation design to meet seismic work when in reality, they might just be using it
and wind load requirements of the specific location incorrectly. Not only is this a waste of time and
and provide guidance on NFPA-adjacent exposure effort, but if not handled properly, there is a risk of
requirements, such as proximity to overhead elec- injury.”
trical wires, sewer drains and vehicular traffic.”b

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