PVC primer and cement: vapors that burn and make you sick
Fire and hot work 5 min 29 CFR 1926.152 · 29 CFR 1926.59 · 29 CFR 1926.102
Why it matters
PVC and CPVC primer and solvent cement are very flammable, and their vapors build up fast in trenches, crawl spaces, and small rooms. A spark can flash the vapor into fire. Breathing it can make you dizzy right when you are working in a tight spot.
The talk
Read the can. Most purple primer and PVC cement are labeled as highly flammable and harmful if you breathe the vapor. The vapor is heavier than air, so it sinks and collects in low places like trenches, pits, crawl spaces, and closets. You often cannot tell how much is there. Keep the safety data sheet on the job and know what it says about fire, vapor, and first aid. Keep the cans closed when you are not using them. An open can left in a crawl space keeps putting vapor into the air the whole time you work. Put the lid back on after every joint, not at the end of the day.
Keep fire away from it. No smoking, no torches, no space heaters, and no grinders or cutoff saws near where you are priming and gluing. The rule for flammable liquids like these is that they are used only where there are no open flames or other ignition sources within 50 feet, unless conditions call for more. That means you do not solder copper and glue PVC in the same tight space at the same time. Electric tools, work lights, and extension cords can spark too. Let the vapor clear before anyone brings in a torch or starts a gas engine nearby. Clean up spills right away and put used rags and daubers in a closed metal can.
Give yourself air. In a crawl space or small room, set up a fan to move fresh air through the space, and take breaks outside. If you feel dizzy, get a headache, or feel sick to your stomach, get out into fresh air. Do not wait to finish the joint. Wear safety glasses or goggles, because a dauber that flicks primer into your eye hurts and can injure it. Wear chemical-resistant gloves so the solvent does not soak into your skin. If primer gets in your eye, flush with water for as long as the SDS says and get help. Keep the cans out of the sun and away from heat, and carry them upright.
Key points
- Primer and PVC cement are highly flammable.
- The vapor is heavier than air and collects in low spots.
- Keep cans closed when not in use.
- No flames or ignition sources within 50 feet of where you use them.
- Do not solder and glue in the same tight space at the same time.
- Ventilate crawl spaces and small rooms, and get out if you feel dizzy.
- Wear safety glasses and chemical-resistant gloves.
Do this
- Read the label and SDS before you start.
- Put the lid back on after every joint.
- Set up a fan to move fresh air in tight spaces.
- Clean spills right away and bag rags in a closed metal can.
- Flush your eye with water if primer splashes.
Do not do this
- Do not leave an open can in a crawl space or trench.
- Do not smoke or run a torch near priming and gluing.
- Do not bring a gas engine into an area full of vapor.
- Do not keep working when you feel dizzy.
- Do not leave cans in the sun or near heat.
Talk about it
- Where on this job will we be gluing in a low or tight space?
- How will we keep torches and gluing apart on this job?
- Where are the SDS for the primer and cement we use?
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