Major Safety Facilities in Hazardous Chemical Storage Warehouses

Items stored in hazardous chemical warehouses generally possess toxic, harmful, flammable, and explosive properties. Improper storage can lead to safety accidents. Hazardous chemical warehouses should be equipped with facilities and equipment such as lightning protection, static electricity prevention, waterproofing, explosion prevention, ventilation, and monitoring alarms according to the characteristics of the stored hazardous chemicals. We have summarized the six major safety facilities for hazardous chemical storage warehouses, namely explosion-proof facilities, lightning protection and static electricity prevention facilities, ventilation facilities, spill containment facilities, monitoring alarm facilities, and fire-fighting facilities.

Explosion-proof Facilities:
Electrical and gas equipment, power distribution lines, and handling machinery in warehouses storing flammable and explosive hazardous chemicals should use explosion-proof types that meet requirements. When using metal conduits for electrical wiring, the threaded connections of metal conduits and junction boxes should be securely fastened. In places where wiring bends are difficult, explosion-proof flexible hoses can be used for connection.

Lightning Protection and Static Electricity Prevention Facilities:
At the entrance of warehouses storing flammable and explosive hazardous chemicals, grounding human static electricity discharge devices should be installed on the outer side. Exhaust fans, metal shelves, etc., should be equipped with grounding devices to dissipate static electricity. Hazardous chemical warehouses should be equipped with lightning protection facilities and tested at least once a year to ensure their safety and effectiveness. Lightning protection devices mainly include lightning rods, lightning belts, lightning nets, and lightning lines.

Ventilation Facilities:
Warehouses storing flammable liquids and gases should have emergency forced ventilation systems installed, with explosion-proof exhaust fans, and ventilation ducts should be made of metal and directly vented to safe outdoor locations.

Spill Containment Facilities:
Warehouses storing Class A, B, and C liquids should have facilities to prevent liquid spills, and measures should be taken to prevent water immersion when storing items prone to combustion or explosion when wet. Liquid warehouses should be equipped with spill containment and leak-proof pits to promptly collect spilled or leaked liquids to prevent environmental pollution. Additionally, protective walls and barriers can be installed around the warehouse to prevent liquid spills onto surrounding ground or water bodies. Furthermore, a series of measures should be taken for items prone to combustion or explosion when wet to ensure that water cannot enter or contact these items. For example, methods such as sealed storage, desiccant adsorption, and humidity control can be employed to ensure that items remain dry at all times.

Monitoring Alarm Facilities:
Areas in the warehouse where combustible or toxic gases are generated should be equipped with combustible gas and toxic gas alarm devices. The installation height should comply with the requirements of the specific gravity of combustible gas (toxic gas) and air, and qualified organizations should be commissioned to conduct regular inspections of gas alarm devices. When setting up monitoring alarm facilities, consideration should also be given to the layout and quantity of facilities. The layout of facilities should cover all areas in the venue where combustible or toxic gases may be generated, and the quantity should be scientifically planned based on the size of the venue and the probability of gas generation.

Fire-fighting Facilities:
Hazardous chemical warehouses should be equipped with fire extinguishing equipment that meets standard requirements. Fire hydrants, automatic sprinkler systems, and smoke exhaust outlets should not be obstructed, and fire access routes should be kept clear. In the event of a fire, the nature of the burning material should be determined first, and then appropriate fire extinguishing agents should be selected for proper extinguishment.

(1) For storage of flammable and combustible gases, facilities such as "dry powder, sand" should be equipped.

(2) For storage of flammable and combustible liquids, facilities such as "foam, dry powder, carbon dioxide" should be equipped. However, for flammable liquids such as acids, ethers, and ketones that dissolve in water, "water-resistant foam" facilities should be equipped.

(3) For storage of flammable and combustible solids, facilities such as "foam, dry powder, sand, carbon dioxide, or mist water" should be equipped.

(4) For storage of spontaneously combustible substances, facilities such as "water, dry powder, sand, carbon dioxide" should be equipped.

(5) For storage of materials that ignite upon contact with water, facilities such as "dry powder, dry sand" should be equipped.

(6) For storage of oxidizing agents, facilities such as "dry powder, water, carbon dioxide" should be equipped.