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Hazardous Materials Storage in Your Facility
Do you store large quantities of hazardous materials in your facility? If so, you may want to consult Chapters 27 and 34 of the Indiana Fire Code, 2003 Edition.
When dealing with storage of hazardous materials you have to know the classification of the material. The hazard categories used for classification are based upon DOL 29 CFR and not the DOT classification system used for shipping purposes.
Some materials such as flammable and combustible liquids are relatively simple to classify; other materials such as oxidizers have 4 different sub-classifications and most likely will require a qualified professional with detailed chemistry knowledge.
Okay, you have hired a chemical engineer to classify all of your hazardous materials, now you must determine the maximum storage quantity of each classified material you will have at any given time. Once known, you can compare these quantities to the applicable tables in the Indiana Fire Code to see if you exceed the “maximum allowable quantity per control area” which is defined as:
“The maximum amount of hazardous material allowed to be stored or used within a control area inside the building or an outdoor control area.”
Depending on the material, the maximum allowable quantity can be relatively small. For example, the maximum allowable quantity for a Class 4 Oxidizer in storage is 1 pound. If the maximum allowable quantity is exceeded, additional fire protection safety features may be required. Some of these features may include automatic fire suppression, secondary containment and drainage, a separate fire rated storage room, continuous ventilation, a fire alarm system, additional exiting, fire extinguishers and Class I electrical equipment.
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