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Hazardous Storage

H

Hyrax4978

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Nov 28, 2016
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245
Location
Hartford, CT
I am currently designing a hazardous storage room and trying to navigate the code. There is an existing room that currently houses about 500 gallons of a chemical that is used in process systems. They are looking to increase the volume as well as utilize an alternate chemical (1,200 gallons of Sodium Hydroxide). The original chemical/use was manually mixed and the product was stored in bags, which of course opened up and made a mess in the room. The new space will be trucked in and pumped in via a closed loop system that vents to the exterior.

Trying to see how to best classify sodium hydroxide in the code without being a chemist. LOL
The room is currently a class 1 Div 1 space. Of course i am having a tough time seeing why it was classified as that to begin with as well as if the new room needs to maintain that classification.

Any help would be appreciated!

Thank you!
 
According to Appendix E of the IFC, sodium hydroxide is a Class I water-reactive material. So, if you look at IBC Table 307.1(1), water-reactive materials are in the last row. According to the table, there is no limit on storage, an open system, or a closed system.
 
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If that's what the classification of the area is now I see no reason to change it. It would probably be a major uphill battle to convince anyone else to let you change it too. Without knowing what the other chemicals are it would certainly be hard to tell you anything else.

As far as the sodium hydroxide being water reactive, that brings another whole issue into play. Does the area have a sprinkler system? If so if it discharges during system leak could cause major issues. A few years ago I worked at a plant that had several large-volume tanks of water reactive chemicals. They actually had pits underneath them so if a leak occurred the system would discharge and allow the chemicals to burn off safely since they were outside and not a structure.
 
These chemicals should be stored in closed containers and kept separate from sources of ignition and other dangerous substances. The storage area for flammable chemicals should be well-ventilated to ensure that vapors from any leaks or spills are rapidly dispersed.
General Storage Requirements
All chemicals must be stored in a safe, secure location.
Shelves should be level, stable, and secured to the wall or another stable.
Store chemicals away from direct sunlight, sources of heat, and egress pathways.
Hazardous chemicals must be stored below eye level.
If you want to Construct a Swimming Pool I recommend you visit this Website: www.buildelemental.com
 
Looks like the sodium hydroxide will be closer to 1,600 gallons, but will already be delivered pre-mixed with water for use as a process solution. (So any water reactivity will have already taken place) We will be utilizing a closed loop (with recirc pump) system that will have a hard piped fill nozzle to fill from the delivery truck with a vent thru the roof for the air to exit as they fill. we will install a trench drain around the tank and it will be piped to an existing spillage pit large enough to contain the entire tank (got lucky on that one). The area itself is already class 1 div 1 and will remain so with an explosion proof heater and lights in the space.

Will start to verify some other code requirements from your notes above.

Thanks everyone!
 
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