ASTM F3344-19

Standard Guide for Storage, Use, and Handling of Liquid Rocket Propellants

SIGNIFICANCE AND USE
3.1 Applicability—This guide shall apply to the storage, use, and handling of liquid rocket propellants.  
3.2 Exemptions—This guide shall not apply to the following:  
3.2.1 Storage, use, or handling of solid rocket propellant;  
3.2.2 Storage, use, or handling of pyrotechnics;  
3.2.3 Storage, use, or handling of hypergolic liquid rocket propellants; and  
3.2.4 Storage, use, or handling of extremely hazardous rocket propellants [those listed as an extremely hazardous substance in the Emergency Planning and Community Right-to-Know Act (EPCRA), Section 302 (40 CFR Part 355)].  
3.3 Equivalency—Nothing in this guide is intended to discourage the use of systems, methods, or devices of equivalent or superior quality, strength, fire resistance, debris protection, effectiveness, durability, or safety over those prescribed by this guide.  
3.4 General—The standards or portions thereof listed in this guide are advisory. Compliance with referenced standards is an acceptable means, but not the only means, of compliance with this guide.  
3.5 Authority Having Jurisdiction (AHJ)—If any provision of this guide conflicts with a requirement of the AHJ, the requirement of the AHJ shall take precedence over this guide.
SCOPE
1.1 Purpose—The purpose of this guide shall be to provide fundamental safeguards for the storage, use, and handling of liquid rocket propellants to ensure the safety of workers involved as well as the public.  
1.2 Goal—The functional goal of this guide shall be to reduce the explosive hazard of liquid rocket propellants to hazard levels such that the use of quantity-distance criteria is not essential to assure public safety.  
1.3 Application—The requirements of this guide shall apply to persons directly involved in the storage, use, or handling of liquid rocket propellants during nominal operations only.  
1.4 Retroactivity—The provisions of this guide are not retroactive.  
1.5 Units—The values stated in SI units are to be regarded as standard. No other units of measurement are included in this standard.  
1.6 This standard does not purport to address all of the safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the responsibility of the user of this standard to establish appropriate safety, health, and environmental practices and determine the applicability of regulatory limitations prior to use.  
1.7 Environmental Concerns—The scope of this standard encompasses the safety precautions for fuels and oxidizers used in commercial launch vehicles; it does not address the various precautions required to minimize risks of environmental contamination. Environmental regulation for chemical storage differs between different states and municipalities, and operators should consult the regulations of the authority having jurisdiction over their site for such matters.  
1.8 This international standard was developed in accordance with internationally recognized principles on standardization established in the Decision on Principles for the Development of International Standards, Guides and Recommendations issued by the World Trade Organization Technical Barriers to Trade (TBT) Committee.

General Information

• Status: Published
• Publication Date: 31-Dec-2018
• ICS: 75.160.20 - Liquid fuels
• Technical Committee: F47 - Commercial Spaceflight
• Drafting Committee: F47.04 - Spaceports

Overview

ASTM F3344-19 is the Standard Guide for Storage, Use, and Handling of Liquid Rocket Propellants. Developed by ASTM International, this guide offers best practices to ensure the safety of personnel and the public during the storage and handling of liquid rocket propellants. The standard focuses on fuels and oxidizers used in commercial launch vehicles and is designed to help organizations reduce the explosive hazards associated with these materials.

ASTM F3344-19 applies specifically to liquid rocket propellants and explicitly excludes solid rocket propellants, pyrotechnics, hypergolic liquid rocket propellants, and substances listed as extremely hazardous by relevant regulations. It serves as an advisory document, providing fundamental safeguards for routine (nominal) operations.

Key Topics

• Applicability and Exemptions

  • Applies to personnel handling or storing liquid rocket propellants.
  • Excludes solid propellants, pyrotechnics, hypergolic propellants, and extremely hazardous substances listed under the Emergency Planning and Community Right-to-Know Act (EPCRA).

• Safety Principles

  • Focuses on minimizing the risk of accidental mixing of fuels and oxidizers.
  • Stresses the importance of established safety, health, and environmental practices.
  • Aims to reduce hazards to levels that do not require strict quantity-distance criteria for public safety.

• Authority and Equivalency

  • The guide is advisory; equivalent or superior safety methods and technologies may be used.
  • In case of conflict with local regulations, the requirements of the local Authority Having Jurisdiction (AHJ) take precedence.

• Units of Measurement

  • The standard utilizes SI units exclusively.

• Retroactivity

  • The provisions of the guide are not retroactive and apply only to new or ongoing operations.

• Environmental Considerations

  • Environmental regulations are not directly covered; users must reference local and state requirements for chemical storage and environmental protection.

Applications

ASTM F3344-19 is crucial for organizations involved in aerospace activities, space launch operations, and any facilities storing or handling liquid rocket propellants. Key applications include:

• Launch Complexes and Spaceports: Ensuring safe storage and transfer of rocket fuels and oxidizers for commercial launch vehicles.
• Aerospace Manufacturing: Integrating safe material handling protocols during production and testing phases.
• Research Facilities: Establishing compliant systems in laboratories or research centers utilizing liquid rocket propellants.
• Safety Program Development: Drafting standard operating procedures and emergency response plans based on best practices outlined in the standard.

Following ASTM F3344-19 helps reduce risks for workers and the public, supports compliance with industry and regulatory expectations, and enhances operational safety.

Related Standards

Several referenced and related standards complement the guidance in ASTM F3344-19, including:

• CGA G-4 Oxygen (Compressed Gas Association): Safety guidelines for handling oxygen.
• NFPA 30 (Flammable and Combustible Liquids Code): Fire safety requirements for flammable liquids.
• NFPA 55 (Compressed Gases and Cryogenic Fluids Code): Safe storage and handling of compressed gases and cryogenic fluids.
• NFPA 59A (LNG Code): Requirements for production and storage of liquefied natural gas.
• NFPA 407 (Aircraft Fuel Servicing): Sections addressing open flames, lightning precautions, and servicing locations.
• NFPA 704 (Hazard Identification): System for identifying material hazards for emergency response.
• 29 CFR 1910.106 (Occupational Safety and Health Standards): OSHA regulations on flammable and combustible liquids.
• 40 CFR Part 355 & EPCRA Section 302: U.S. EPA rules for emergency planning and notification concerning extremely hazardous substances.

By using ASTM F3344-19 alongside these standards, organizations can achieve comprehensive compliance and improve safe practices in the aerospace industry.

Standards Content (Sample)

This international standard was developed in accordance with internationally recognized principles on standardization established in the Decision on Principles for the
Development of International Standards, Guides and Recommendations issued by the World Trade Organization Technical Barriers to Trade (TBT) Committee.
Designation: F3344 − 19
Standard Guide for
Storage, Use, and Handling of Liquid Rocket Propellants
This standard is issued under the fixed designation F3344; the number immediately following the designation indicates the year of
original adoption or, in the case of revision, the year of last revision. A number in parentheses indicates the year of last reapproval. A
superscript epsilon (´) indicates an editorial change since the last revision or reapproval.
The scope of this standard is limited to fuels and oxidizers which are not themselves monopropellants. While each propellant has its
own unique hazards and handling practices, in general, the most important line of defense in storage and ground handling is to ensure
that large quantities of fuels and oxidizer do not come into contact. As a monopropellant, by definition, can release chemical energy
without mixture with another chemical, safety practices for monopropellants must assume the potential for that energy release, which
differs from the approach for fuels and oxidizers. This standard provides no guidance for monopropellant storage and handling. Some
common monopropellants include: Hydrogen Peroxide, Nitromethane, Nitrous Oxide, Ethylene Oxide, Hydrazine (including derivatives
such as UDMH or MMH), and any chemical mixture where an oxidizer and a fuel have been premixed, such as various ammonium
nitrate and fuel combinations.
1. Scope 1.8 This international standard was developed in accor-
dance with internationally recognized principles on standard-
1.1 Purpose—The purpose of this guide shall be to provide
ization established in the Decision on Principles for the
fundamental safeguards for the storage, use, and handling of
Development of International Standards, Guides and Recom-
liquid rocket propellants to ensure the safety of workers
mendations issued by the World Trade Organization Technical
involved as well as the public.
Barriers to Trade (TBT) Committee.
1.2 Goal—The functional goal of this guide shall be to
reduce the explosive hazard of liquid rocket propellants to
2. Referenced Documents
hazard levels such that the use of quantity-distance criteria is
2.1 CGA Standard:
not essential to assure public safety.
CGA G-4 Oxygen
1.3 Application—The requirements of this guide shall apply
2.2 NFPA Standards:
to persons directly involved in the storage, use, or handling of
NFPA 30 Flammable and Combustible Liquids Code
liquid rocket propellants during nominal operations only.
NFPA 55 Compressed Gases and Cryogenic Fluids Code
1.4 Retroactivity—The provisions of this guide are not
NFPA 59A Standard for the Production, Storage, and Han-
retroactive.
dling of Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG)
1.5 Units—The values stated in SI units are to be regarded NFPA 407 Standard for Aircraft Fuel Servicing:
as standard. No other units of measurement are included in this Section 5.8 Open Flames on Aircraft Fuel Servicing
standard. Ramps
Section 5.9 Lightning Precautions
1.6 This standard does not purport to address all of the
Section 5.10 Aircraft Fuel Servicing Locations
safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the
NFPA 704 Standard System for the Identification of the
responsibility of the user of this standard to establish appro-
Hazards of Materials for Emergency Response
priate safety, health, and environmental practices and deter-
2.3 Federal Standards:
mine the applicability of regulatory limitations prior to use.
1.7 Environmental Concerns—The scope of this standard 29 CFR Part 1910.106 Flammable and Combustible Liq-
uids
encompasses the safety precautions for fuels and oxidizers
used in commercial launch vehicles; it does not address the 40 CFR Part 355 Emergency Planning and Notification
EPCRA Section 302 Emergency Response Planning
various precautions required to minimize risks of environmen-
tal contamination. Environmental regulation for chemical stor-
age differs between different states and municipalities, and
operators shoul
...