{"id":4509,"date":"2018-01-16T09:00:18","date_gmt":"2018-01-16T09:00:18","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.uschemicalstorage.com\/news\/?p=4509"},"modified":"2025-05-07T11:37:19","modified_gmt":"2025-05-07T15:37:19","slug":"proper-chemical-storage-building","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/uschemicalstorage.com\/staging\/proper-chemical-storage-building\/","title":{"rendered":"How To Choose a Proper Chemical Storage Building"},"content":{"rendered":"Updated: May 8th, 2024<\/em>\r\n\r\n \r\n\r\nChoosing a proper chemical storage building for your application can be intimidating. Regulators, insurance underwriters, and safety officials have strict standards, while suppliers provide numerous options with varying degrees of expertise. Disregarding regulations can become very costly as well.\r\n\r\nThe Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) holds companies accountable for creating and maintaining a safe working environment. In 2023, OSHA fined a Missouri chemical plant<\/a> <\/u>$393,000 for accruing 16 violations after receiving 24 violations in 2021.\r\n\r\nInvestigations revealed some of these violations stemmed from placing their employees at risk of exposure to dangerous chemicals, including ethylene oxide. They also had an inadequate medical evaluation procedure for employees exposed to this chemical.\r\n\r\nSituations like this may prompt you to wonder: how can you keep employees safe and meet regulatory requirements at a reasonable cost? There are many types of buildings with various features. How do you know which one is right for your needs?\r\n\r\nFollow these 5 steps to choose the right chemical storage building for you:\r\n

How to Choose a Chemical Storage Building<\/h2>\r\n

Step 1: Identify Your Chemicals and Their Hazards<\/h3>\r\nSuppliers issue a Safety Data Sheet (SDS) with every chemical. It describes the properties of the chemical and the hazards associated with it.\r\n\r\nhow can you keep employees safe and meet regulatory requirements at a reasonable cost? There are many types of buildings with various features. How do you know which one is right for your needs?\r\n\r\nDepending on their location in proximity to other occupied buildings or property lines, chemical storage buildings may require fire-rated construction. Flammables and other chemicals with low flash points will need explosion-proof electrical components.\r\n\r\nExhaust fans, fire suppression, and other components could be required to remain compliant with local and national regulations. Always consult with your local code authority.\r\n

Step 2: Decide on Your Storage Location<\/h3>\r\nInternational Building Code (IBC), NFPA<\/a><\/u>, OSHA<\/a><\/u>, and other governing bodies set requirements for the proper storage of any chemicals, including flammables, combustibles, corrosives, oxidizers, organic peroxides, pesticides, etc.\r\n\r\nWall construction requirements depend on the proximity of the chemical storage to occupied buildings and property lines. Remember, right-of-way buffer zones count as property lines. Select a fire rating for your chemical storage building based on these general criteria:\r\n