216 R.I. Code R. 216-RICR-50-15-4.7

Current through December 3, 2024

Section 216-RICR-50-15-4.7 - Failure to Maintain Air Quality

4.7.1Evacuation and Immediate Notification

Whenever any reading greater than or equal to 85 ppm of carbon monoxide and/or any reading greater than or equal to two (2) ppm of nitrogen dioxide is measured in the ice arena, all persons shall be immediately evacuated from the ice rink surface and adjacent areas. The Director shall be immediately notified by telephone of any such action and the ice arena may not reopen until authorized by the Director.

4.7.2Corrective Action

A. Whenever any reading in excess of thirty (30) ppm of carbon monoxide and/or any reading in excess of 0.5 ppm of nitrogen dioxide is measured in the ice arena, the owner or operator shall implement immediate and long-term corrective actions, as specified in this section.

B. The owner or operator shall immediately increase the ventilation rate in the skating rink area and suspend operation of ice maintenance machines and other internal combustion engine-powered equipment. These actions shall remain in place until follow-up air quality measurements, taken as specified in §4.7.3 of this Part, demonstrate that acceptable indoor air conditions have been restored.

C. As soon as reasonably practical, the owner or operator shall identify the cause of the air quality measurement that exceeded the levels specified in §4.7.2(A) of this Part, and shall take corrective actions to prevent future exceedances. Such long-term corrective actions may include, but are not limited to:

1. Increasing general ventilation rates and/or installing local ventilation in problem areas which vent to the outside;

2. Increasing the interval between resurfacing operations;

3. Decreasing the length of time that ice maintenance machines, including edgers, are operated;

4. Warming up the resurfacing machine outside the ice arena;

5. Adjusting (tuning up) or repairing ice maintenance machines and other internal combustion engine-powered equipment and, subsequently, adjusting, maintaining and operating that equipment according to the manufacturer's instructions;

6. Replacing ice maintenance machines with equipment having no or lower emissions;

7. Installing a vertical exhaust pipe that vents above the highest point of the resurfacing machine; and

8. Installing a catalytic convertor, oxygen sensor, or another device designed to reduce emissions from ice maintenance machines.

4.7.3Follow-up Action Required

A. Whenever the conditions described in §4.7.2(A) of this Part occur, the owner/operator of an ice arena must immediately begin measuring air quality conditions according to the following schedule:

1. Measurements must be taken at intervals of not more than twenty (20) minutes until carbon monoxide measurements are lower than thirty (30) ppm and nitrogen dioxide measurements are lower than 0.5 ppm;

2. Measurements must be taken twenty (20) minutes after the next five (5) uses of ice maintenance equipment; and

3. Measurements must be taken at least once per day for the subsequent three (3) days of arena operation.

B. The Director shall be immediately notified by telephone of:

1. Any measurement in the ice arena that is greater than or equal to eighty-five (85) ppm of carbon monoxide and/or two (2) ppm of nitrogen dioxide; and

2. Any time that carbon monoxide levels exceed thirty (30) ppm and/or nitrogen dioxide levels exceed 0.5 ppm for more than one hour.

C. Whenever the conditions described in §4.7.2(A) of this Part occur, the owner/operator must submit a written report to the Director within five (5) working days that includes the information specified in §4.8.3 of this Part.

216 R.I. Code R. 216-RICR-50-15-4.7