Specification

Page 4 of 10
Date of Issue: 06/01/15
231 S. LaSalle Street, Suite 2000
Chicago, IL 60604
James Hardie® recommended best practices for handling fiber-
cement:
Keep exposure to dust as low as reasonably possible. Respirable
crystalline silica limits are specified by OSHA and MSHA and
identified in Section 8 of this MSDS. Exposure to respirable (fine)
silica dust depends on a variety of factors, including activity rate
(e.g. cutting rate), method of handling (e.g. electric shears),
environmental conditions (e.g. weather conditions, workstation
orientation) and control measures used.
Wherever possible, practices likely to generate dust should be
carried out in well ventilated areas (e.g. outside). The work
practices and engineering controls set out in Section 8 should be
followed to reduce silica exposures.
Keep away from reactive products. Do not store near food,
beverages or smoking materials. Avoid spilling and creating dust.
Maintain appropriate dust controls during handling. Use appropriate
respiratory protection during handling as described in Section 8.
Incompatibilities:
Hydrofluoric acid will dissolve silica and can generate silicon
tetrafluoride, a corrosive gas. Contact with strong oxidizing agents
such as fluorine, boron trifluoride, chlorine trifluoride, manganese
trifluoride or oxygen difluoride may cause fires and /or explosions.
Furthermore, limestone is incompatible with acids and ammonium
salts.
Section 8. Exposure Controls / Personal Protection
OSHA Permissible Exposure Standards (PEL): Exposures shall not exceed an 8-hour time weighted
average (TWA) limit as stated in 29 CFR 1910.1000 Table Z-3 for mineral dusts, expressed in million
particles per cubic feet (Mppcf) and/or milligrams per cubic meter (mg/m3). The American Conference of
Governmental Industrial Hygienists Threshold Limit Values (TLV are that organization’s recommended
exposure limits based on an 8-hour TWA.
TLV mg/m
3
PEL Mppsf
PEL mg/m
3
Crystalline Silica (Quartz)
(Respirable)
0.025 mg/m
3
___
250
%SiO + 5
10 mg/m
3
%SiO + 2
Quartz (Total Dust)
___
___
30 mg/m
3
%SiO + 2
Calcium Carbonate (Total Dust)
(Respirable)
10 mg/m
3
___
___
___
15 mg/m
3
5 mg/m
3
Calcium Silicate (Total Dust)
(Respirable)
___
___
___
___
15 mg/m
3
5 mg/m
3
Nuisance Dust (Not Otherwise
Specified) (Total Dust)
(Respirable)
10 mg/m
3
(inhalable)
3 mg/m
3
50
15
15 mg/m
3
5 mg/m
3
Cellulose (Total)
(Respirable)
___
___
___
___
15 mg/m
3
5 mg/m
3
Carbon Black
3.5 mg/m
3
___
3.5 mg/m
3