Storage of chemicals - Guidelines for good practice - Section on Prevention in the Chemical Industry

Oct 2, 2026

Practical guidance on safely storing chemicals in chemical and related industries, with emphasis on preventing occupational accidents and diseases. The brochure outlines the risks associated with chemical storage, covering hazards, organization and operation of storage rooms, risk assessment, and core requirements and measures. It also details planning and construction, including location, structural fire protection, materials, access routes, and open-air storage, plus machinery, equipment and facilities such as ventilation and fire-fighting. Special provisions address hazardous substances with specific properties, and the updated recommendations incorporate UN GHS classification and labelling.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryHealthcare

FormatPDF

Pages27

Reading Time1 h 8 min

AccessFree to download

1 Introduction

2 Scope and Objectives of this Brochure

3 Hazards Related to Storage of Chemicals

4 Organisation and Operation of the Storage Room

4.1 Storage concept

4.2 Risk Assessment

4.3 Basic requirements and measures

4.4 Organisational requirements and measures

4.5 Testing

4.6 Operational failures and emergencies

5 Planning and Construction

5.1 Approval

5.2 Location

5.3 Structural fire protection

5.4 Construction Materials

5.5 Access and transport routes

5.6 Doors and escape routes

5.7 Storage in the open air

6 Machinery, Equipment and Facilities

6.1 Lighting and electrical installations

6.2 Storage Systems

6.3 Retention facilities

6.4 Ventilation

6.5 Air Conditioning

6.6 Fire Fighting

6.7 Safety Cabinets

6.8 Explosion Protection

7 Special Storage Requirements for Hazardous Substances with Specific Properties

7.1 Toxic chemicals and CMR-substances

7.2 Gases and aerosols (aerosol packaging)

7.3 Flammable liquids

7.4 Flammable solids

7.5 Pyrophoric/Self-heating substances

7.6 Chemicals, which emit flammable gases together with water

7.7 Oxidizing substances

7.8 Corrosive chemicals

7.9 Liquids with environmental dangerous properties

Storage of chemicals Guidelines for good practice Section on Prevention in the Chemical Industry The International Social Security Association (ISSA) is the world‘s leading international institution of its kind, bringing together more than 340 social security institutions and organisations in more than 145 countries around the world. The aim ofthe ISSAis to promote dynamic social security in an increasingly global world by providing effective support in achieving excellence in all areas of social security. The association was founded in 1927 and the ISSA Secretariat has its headquarters at the International Labour Organisation (ILO) in Geneva. The ISSA Chemistry Section is an independent international organisation. Since it was founded on 17 June 1970, it has been committed to the global prevention of occupational accidents and diseases in the chemical and related industries. Our brochures, publications and international lecture programmes provide companies and their employees with guidance and assistance on safety at work. The ISSA Chemistry Section is of particular relevance to the following branches of industry: • Plastics • Rubber • Pharmaceuticals • Lacquer • Paints • Explosives and petroleum ISSA Chemistry Section c/o BG RCI (Berufsgenossenschaft Rohstoffe und chemische Industrie) Kurfürsten-Anlage 62 D-69115 Heidelberg/Germany T.: +49 6221-5108-0 [www.issa.int/prevention-chemistry](www.issa.int/prevention-chemistry) Storage of chemicals Guidelines for good practice 4th edition 2012 ISBN 92-843-1036-9 Preface This brochure provides information on risks related to the storage of chemicals and gives advice on appropriate precautions. In the fourth edition of this brochure a complete revision was made and, among others, the recommendations of the United Nations on the globally harmonized system of classification and labelling of chemicals (GHS) have been incorporated. The board ofthe ISSA Chemistry Section would like to build on the successful distribution of the previous editions. 6 IV SS | STORAGE OF CHEMICALS 7 CONTENT CONTENT 1 INTRODUCTION 8 2 SCOPE AND OBJECTIVES OFTHIS BROCHURE 10 3 HAZARDS RELATED TO STORAGE OF CHEMICALS 12 4 ORGANISATION AND OPERATION OF THE STORAGE ROOM 14 4.1 Storage concept 14 4.2 Risk Assessment 15 4.3 Basic requirements and measures 16 4.4 Organisational requirements and measures 21 4.5 Testing 25 4.6 Operational failures and emergencies 26 5 PLANNING AND CONSTRUCTION 28 5.1 Approval 28 5.2 Location 29 5.3 Structural fire protection 29 5.4 Construction Materials 30 5.5 Access and transport routes 30 5.6 Doors and escape routes 31 5.7 Storage in the open air 31 6 MACHINERY, EQUIPMENT AND FACILITIES 32 6.1 Lighting and electrical installations 32 6.2 Storage Systems 33 6.3 Retention facilities 34 6.4 Ventilation 34 6.5 Air Conditioning 34 6.6 Fire Fighting 35 6.7 Safety Cabinets 35 6.8 Explosion Protection 36 7 SPECIAL STORAGE REQUIREMENTS FOR HAZARDOUS SUBSTANCES WITH SPECIFIC PROPERTIES 38 7.1 Toxic chemicals and CMR-substances 41 7.2 Gases and aerosols (aerosol packaging) 42 7.3 Flammable liquids 44 7.4 Flammable solids 45 7.5 Pyrophoric/Self-heating substances 46 7.6 Chemicals, which emit flammable gases 47 together with water 7.7 Oxidizing substances 48 7.8 Corrosive chemicals 49 7.9 Liquids with environmental dangerous properties 50 Authors, Institutions and Companies Herbert Bender, Ludwigshafen Josef Drobits, Vienna Antje Ermer, Heidelberg Willy Frei, Lucerne Annabelle Guilleux, Paris Joachim Sommer, Heidelberg Austrian Workers’ Compensation Board (AUVA), Vienna (A) BASF SE, Ludwigshafen (D) German Social Accident Insurance Institution for the Raw Materials and Chemical Industry (BG RCI), Heidelberg (D) French National Research and Safety Institute (INRS), Paris (F) Swiss National Accident Insurance Fund (Suva), Luzern (CH) Design . puntodes

FAQs

What is the purpose of this brochure on chemical storage?

It provides information on risks connected to storing chemicals and offers advice on appropriate precautions, especially for small and medium-sized enterprises.

Which standards or frameworks are incorporated in the fourth edition?

The fourth edition includes recommendations of the United Nations on the globally harmonized system of classification and labelling of chemicals (GHS), alongside updates tied to classification and labelling approaches.

What topics are covered regarding hazards and storage-room management?

It addresses hazards related to storage of chemicals and explains organization and operation, including risk assessment, basic and organisational requirements, testing, and procedures for operational failures and emergencies.

Oct 2, 2026

Uploaded by anakgang17