Requirements for Chemical Storage

DOE-HDBK-1139/3-2003

applicable to the work being performed at an individual site or facility. It is the responsibility of each

site or facility to determine the applicability of specific requirements to their work and how they are

implemented. The reference sources for the requirements included in this chapter can be used to

determine the applicability of those requirements to the work being performed.

3.0 Definitions and Acronyms

See Glossary.

4.0 Requirements for Chemical Storage

Sources10

Consolidated Requirements

[NOTE: The information that follows is a consolidation of existing Federal

DOE O 440.1A;

safety and health requirements and National Standards that relate to the

storage of chemicals. It therefore contains "shall" statements that are taken

29CFR1910.6

from, or based on "shall" statements in those existing requirements. While

NFPA and CGA requirements that are referenced here are not, in and of

themselves mandatory, they are made mandatory by OSHA regulation

29CFR1910.6, which incorporates them by reference. DOE O 440.1A

mandates compliance with OSHA regulations found in Title 29 of the Code

of Federal Regulations (CFR). NFPA and CGA requirements referenced

here are thereby made mandatory for DOE contractors through contracts

that include DOE O 440.1A. Please see the Introduction to this section of

the DOE Chemical Management Handbook for more information.]

4.1 General

4.1.1 Facilities shall be evaluated to determine chemical storage

NFPA 45, 7.2.3.3

limits, allowable chemical container storage sizes, and stacking

limits. Quantities of chemicals stored shall remain within those

limits.17

4.1.2 The identification or design of chemical storage areas (see

NFPA 430, 2.1.1;

definition),or maintenance work on chemical storage areas shall

NFPA 430, 2.10.1;

be reviewed.18

NFPA 432, 4.7.1

4.1.2.1 New facility design shall take into account the need for

NFPA 430, 2.6.1

containment to protect the environment from oxidizers,

fire suppression agents, and decomposition products.

4.1.2.2 Approval (see definition) of chemical storage areas shall

NFPA 430, 2.6.2

take into consideration the potential for large quantities

of smoke and toxic fumes, especially as storage affects

Facility chemical quantity limits stem primarily from the local fire and building codes. NFPA 45 may modify

these for laboratories, by local ordinances or by other codes that are specific to one particular class of chemicals

such as NFPA 30, "Flammable and Combustible Liquids".

There are restrictions and requirements for welding and cutting activities at locations where chemicals are used

and stored. Consult your local welding and cutting program to determine what these requirements are.