Chapter Overviews cont'd - doe-hdbk-1139-3-20050173

DOE-HDBK-1139/3-2005

The first section (4.1) includes general requirements that are applicable to all areas where chemicals and

chemical products are stored. Consolidated requirements concerning quantity limits for each class of

chemicals stored in an area and how chemical storage areas must be identified and constructed are

addressed in sections 4.1.1, 4.1.2, and 4.1.9.

This chapter also consolidates various requirements for special signage issues associated with the storage

of chemicals. For example, there are specific requirements for "No Smoking" signs outside of all

chemical storage areas (4.1.4), hazard identification signs for areas storing compressed gases (4.2.1) and

signs conspicuously identifying areas where either oxidizers (4.4.1) or organic peroxides (4.5.1) are

stored. Requirements for these signs are primarily intended for visitors and for emergency responders

who must be apprised of the hazards that are present when they respond to an upset condition. Other

requirements that are consolidated in this chapter are those that address security at chemical storage areas.

These are intended to prevent unauthorized entry (4.1.3) and relate to issues such as terrorism, illegal drug

manufacturing, and malevolent acts.

Compatible chemical storage is a subject that involves both the storage area and those chemicals being

stored. Not only must chemicals be stored to ensure against their reaction with other chemicals, but to

ensure that they do not come into contact with incompatible building materials or be stored in

incompatible secondary containers (4.1.7.1, 4.4.3, 4.4.4, 4.5.3). While the term "incompatible" is used in

broad terms in the regulatory literature, the overall intent is to prevent chemicals from interacting in such

a way that additional hazards are created. These additional hazards could range from such things as fire

or explosion hazards arising from interacting chemicals, to reactions with containers that could result in

product leakage or the creation of new hazards (e.g., toxic products, flammable gases, etc.). It is

important to note that requirements for compatible chemical storage apply to ALL classes of chemicals

not just to those that are described in selected requirement sources (e.g., flammable liquids, compressed

gases, oxidizers, and organic peroxides). The compatible storage of all classes of chemicals is consistent

with OSHA's "General Duty Clause"* which requires employers to protect their employees from all

recognized hazards in the workplace.

Other requirements consolidated in this chapter include those regarding the proper and secure labeling of

chemicals in storage areas to assure the continued clear identity of each stored chemical is maintained

(4.1.6), as well as those requirements relating to housekeeping issues intended to minimize potential spills

and other accidents (4.1.10). The consolidated requirements for the storage of those chemicals that may

generate additional hazards upon prolonged storage (4.1.8) is meant to effectively manage time-sensitive

chemicals such as peroxide formers (e.g., diethyl ether) as well as those chemicals whose containers

might degrade or those that may otherwise become more hazardous over time. Other general

requirements consolidated in this chapter address compatibility issues for the storage of specific classes

chemicals.

Of special interest in this chapter are those consolidated requirements intended to protect users of these

chemicals from the safety and health hazards associated with the potential energy present in compressed

gas systems (4.2.3); temperature requirements for compressed gases (4.2.5), oxidizers (4.4.5), and organic

peroxides (4.5.6); storage cabinets used for the storage of toxic and highly toxic gases (4.2.13), flammable

liquids (4.3.15), and organic peroxides (4.5.7-9); and required limits on quantities of various chemical

types or classes that can be stored in each storage area (4.2.7-10, 4.3.14-15).

*P.L. 91-596, Sec. 6.(a)

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