Hexamethylene diisocyanate

According to Decree 280-2024 published on February 28, 2024, in the Gazette officielle du Québec, the amendment to the Appendix 1 of the Regulation respecting occupational health and safety (RSST, RLRQ, c. S-2.1, r. 13) will come into force on March 14, 2024. These regulatory changes have not yet been incorporated into the current Substance Data Sheets of the Sampling Guide for Air Contaminants in the Workplace. An update is currently underway and will be available as soon as possible. Consequently, the information contained in the data sheets of substances modified or added in Decree 280-2024 is partially inaccurate or incomplete. Please consult our infoLABO (in French only) for more details. Please contact our client service: [email protected] for further information.

Hexamethylene diisocyanate

French name in the regulation: Diisocyanate d'hexaméthylène

CAS : 822-06-0

Exposure Standards in RROHS regulation

Permissible exposure values (PEV)

	ppm	mg/m³	f/cc	Notes
TWAEV	0,005	0,034	-	-
STEV	-	-	-	-
Ceiling	-	-	-	-

Carcinogenicity	Sensitizer	S
Simple asphyxiant	Percutaneous
Prohibited use	Prohibited recirculation
Minimum exposure	Explosion hazard
Ototoxic

TWA adjustment for unusual work schedules

III : Weekly adjustment

CNESST – Toxicological Index Service

Consult REPTOX file: Hexamethylene diisocyanate

Analysis:

Diisocyanate d'hexaméthylène (HDI)

Method: IRSST - 376

Sampling protocol

Sampling device:
Sampling media required:

#IRSST	Description
917	Impregnated GF filter in series with teflon filter and vial

Parameters:
Flow rate: 1 L/min
TWA sampling volume: 15 L
STEL sampling volume: -
Remarks: Refer to the sampling guidelines supplied with the equipment. For surface wipe test, contact Laboratory Customer Service.

Analytical protocol

Principle: High performance liquid chromatography with UV detection (HPLC-UV)
Precision (%): 13
Remarks: The two filters in the sampling cassette allow specific analysis of monomer isocyanate in vapour form and in aerosol form and the result of each form is supplied. It should be noted that only the result representing the sum of the two forms, also reported in the analytical report (total monomer), must be used for comparison to a PEV. Determination of the corresponding oligomers is also done during the analysis. The sampling time can be longer than 15 minutes if the isocyanate is present in vapour form only. IPDI can be determined simultaneously at HDI on the same sample. However, the analytical method does not differentiate HDI oligomers from IPDI oligomers. RMV for HDI monomer vapour is 0.014 µg. RMV for HDI monomer aerosol is 0.052 µg.

Reference

IRSST. "Détermination de la fraction monomèrique des isocyanates sous forme vapeur et aérosol dans l'air des lieux de travail". Méthode 376. Non publiée.

HDI à haute sensibilité

Method: IRSST - 366

Sampling protocol

Sampling device:
Sampling media required:

#IRSST	Description
970	Impregnated GF filter

Parameters:
Flow rate: 1,0 L/min
TWA sampling volume: 15 L
STEL sampling volume: -
Remarks: The recommended volume is 15 litres; however the sampling time can be up to 8 hours. Store the samples in a refrigerator before and after sampling.

Analytical protocol

Principle: High performance liquid chromatography with mass spectrometry (HPLC-MS)
Precision (%): 4,4
Minimum reported value: 0,0005 µg
Remarks: Four isocyanates can be requested at the same time: HDI, TDI, MDI and IPDI. The analysis is done for the isocyanates present in vapour form only and the result is expressed as a monomer concentration.

Reference

IRSST. "Analyse des isocyanates à haute sensibilité". Méthode 366. Non publiée.

Diisocyanate d'hexaméthylène (HDI)

Method: IRSST - 376

Sampling protocol

Sampling device:
Sampling media required:

#IRSST	Description
1415	Glass midget Impinger for isocyantes

Parameters:
Flow rate: 1 L/min
TWA sampling volume: 15 L
STEL sampling volume: -
Remarks: Refer to the sampling guidelines supplied with the equipment. For surface wipe test, contact Laboratory Customer Service. An impinger must be used for sampling if the process applied in the workplace involves a very fast isocyanate reaction, such as the application of MDI-based insulation for building insulation. Impinger sampling can only be done at a fixed station. Use equipment code 981 if small diameter particles are suspected (<2µm) and equipment code 1415 if only large particles are anticipated (>2µm). Determination of corresponding oligomers is also done during the analysis. The sampling time for impingers may be longer than 15 minutes.

Analytical protocol

Principle: High performance liquid chromatography with UV detection (HPLC-UV)
Precision (%): 12
Minimum reported value: 0,026 µg
Remarks: IPDI can be determined simultaneously at HDI on the same sample. However, the analytical method does not differentiate HDI oligomers from IPDI oligomers.

Reference

IRSST. "Détermination de la fraction monomèrique des isocyanates sous forme vapeur et aérosol dans l'air des lieux de travail". Méthode 376. Non publiée.

Diisocyanate d'hexaméthylène (HDI)

Method: IRSST - 376

Sampling protocol

Sampling device:
Sampling media required:

#IRSST	Description
981	Isocyanates glass midget impinger and filter

Parameters:
Flow rate: 1 L/min
TWA sampling volume: 15 L
STEL sampling volume: -
Remarks: Refer to the sampling guidelines supplied with the equipment. For surface wipe test, contact Laboratory Customer Service. An impinger must be used for sampling if the process applied in the workplace involves a very fast isocyanate reaction, such as the application of MDI-based insulation for building insulation. Impinger sampling can only be done at a fixed station. Use equipment code 981 if small diameter particles are suspected (<2µm) and equipment code 1415 if only large particles are anticipated (>2µm). Determination of corresponding oligomers is also done during the analysis. The sampling time for impingers may be longer than 15 minutes.

Analytical protocol

Principle: High performance liquid chromatography with UV detection (HPLC-UV)
Precision (%): 12
Minimum reported value: 0,026 µg
Remarks: IPDI can be determined simultaneously at HDI on the same sample. However, the analytical method does not differentiate HDI oligomers from IPDI oligomers.

Reference

IRSST. "Détermination de la fraction monomèrique des isocyanates sous forme vapeur et aérosol dans l'air des lieux de travail". Méthode 376. Non publiée.