CIRC 2027 Chemical Safety Requirements

Chemical Safety Inspection Process

The CIRC Chemical Safety Requirements establish a minimum standard for chemical assay design, ensuring Teams minimize the risk of Rovers posing safety hazards or causing environmental damage. The chemicals both on all Rovers and those used in lab testing must comply with the CIRC Chemical Safety Requirements, unless an exemption has been granted. Otherwise, they cannot participate in CIRC until all issues are resolved.

CIRC ensures all Chemicals meet the Safety Requirements by:

  1. Reviewing safety reports submitted by Teams ahead of competition, and
  2. Conducting spot inspections of chemicals at CIRC Central before Teams compete.

Before Competition: Chemical Safety Report Process

  1. Teams must compile a chemical safety documentation package to prove their chemicals meet the Safety Requirements and submit it to this Google Form by June 18, 2027. This is the same form used for the Rover Safety Documentation Package; teams may submit both packages together.
    1. Each chemical used either on the rover or during bench testing must follow this format of this chemical safety submission document. All links to SDSs must be valid and openable.
    2. All chemicals will be approved on a case-by-case basis.
    3. Teams are encouraged to submit partial (or full) documentation at any time before the deadline for feedback from the Safety Judges, especially if there are concerns about whether a design is compliant.
    4. Teams are also encouraged to contact [email protected] ahead of the deadline to ask chemical safety-related questions or receive chemical approval before completing the overall assay design.
  2. CIRC Safety Judges will review the documentation package and email feedback. If non-compliant, Teams must resubmit to the Google Form before a second, case-specific deadline.
    1. Teams have unlimited attempts to resubmit the documentation package, receive feedback, and make changes to their chemical choices before the competition.
    2. If a Team modifies their already-compliant chemical safety plan or changes the chemicals used, they must submit an updated documentation package for chemical safety re-evaluation.
  3. All chemicals will be approved on a case-by-case basis and as such Teams are encouraged to email [email protected] to get approval of any planned chemicals.
  4. Teams may request exemptions to Chemical Safety Requirements by emailing [email protected], highlighting the problematic requirement and proposed alternative.
    1. The proposed alternative should still meet the spirit of the requirement, if not the letter.
    2. Teams may request exemptions during any stage of the safety report process.

During Competition: Chemical Safety Inspection

  1. Safety Judges may conduct spot inspections on compliant Teams to ensure they have not made any safety-critical Chemical alterations without requesting reinspection. This will be looking at the following:
    1. This will include a re-examination of the chemical assay itself.
    2. Ensuring Teams have all SDSs on hand when the chemicals are present in a task.
    3. Ensuring that any testing done in CIRC Central follows the safety guidelines outlined in the Chemical Safety Report.

Definitions

CIRC-specific terms in the Safety Requirements are explained below.

  1. The word “must” indicates a mandatory requirement.
  2. The word “should” indicates a suggestion that may become a requirement in future competitions.
  3. A Safety Data Sheet (SDS) a document that provides information on the properties, hazards, and safe handling of chemicals.
  4. Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) is clothing or gear worn to minimize exposure to chemical hazards.
  5. Global Harmonized System (GHS) is a standard of chemical hazard classification. The scale of this system goes from 1 to 4, with 4 being the least hazardous and 1 being the most hazardous.
  6. Hazardous Materials Identification System (HMIS) is a numerical and color-coded labeling system used to communicate chemical hazards. This is predominantly used in the United States.

Chemical Safety Requirements

  1. Chemicals used must meet all of the following criteria:
    1. Chemicals used on the Rover and at CIRC Central must not require a fume hood during the planned reaction.
    2. All chemicals must carry the SDS Signal Word “Warning” or no signal word at all, never “Danger.”
    3. All chemicals must have a flashpoint above ambient temperature (104°F/40°C).
    4. All applicable GHS Hazard Categories listed in Section 2 of the SDS must be rated Category 3 or 4.
      1. For hazard classes with fewer than 4 categories, only the least severe available categories are permitted.
    5. All HMIS categories, if present in the SDS, must be rated 2 or below.
    6. Chemicals must not be classified under GHS as Unstable Explosives, Self-Reactive Substances, Organic Peroxides, Pyrophoric, or as reacting violently or exothermically with air or water.
    7. Chemicals classified under GHS as Carcinogenic, Germ Cell Mutagenic, or Reproductive Toxicant are prohibited outright, regardless of their rating under Requirement 1.4.
    8. Chemicals classified as Hazardous to the Aquatic Environment as Acute Category 1 or Chronic Category 1 under GHS are prohibited.
  2. Teams must not use mercury or mercury-containing compounds on the Rover or at CIRC Central for chemical testing.
  3. Teams must not scientifically date soil samples using radiometric/radioactive dating methods.
  4. Teams must use the PPE outlined in the SDSs of all chemicals.
    1. Teams must confirm glove material compatibility with each chemical used
    2. Closed-toe footwear and long pants/sleeves required at all times chemicals are being handled at CIRC Central or on the Rover.
  5. After any safety-impacting changes or safety-related incident, your Chemicals must pass a re-inspection before being allowed to continue competing. The re-inspection will include a discussion of the cause and measures taken to prevent recurrence.
    1. Safety incidents include, but are not limited to: spills of any size, harmful chemical exposure, or any emission of smoke, fire, or sparks.
    2. Non-compliance with this requirement will be subject to penalties under our Code of Conduct, up to and including disqualification.

Spill Response Requirements

Before Competition: Chemical Safety Report Process

  1. Teams must document a basic spill response plan per chemical or chemical class covering: evacuation/containment, notification, cleanup method, and disposal.
  2. Spill response plans must assume a full container spill of each chemical brought on-site, not just a partial release.

During Competition: Spill Response

  1. A spill kit appropriate for the chemicals in use must be present at CIRC Central and with the Rover team at all times chemicals are in use.
  2. A second person should be present whenever chemicals are being handled.
  3. If a spill of any size occurs the Team must stop work, secure the area, report to CIRC volunteers / safety staff as quickly as possible, and do basic containment until safety staff can advise on next steps.
  4. If a spill occurs and a Team is unsure of the correct response, work must stop and officials must be notified rather than teams improvising.

Change Log

Date Change Note
2026-09-30 Initial Publication