General
The design of the store depends on the quantity to be stored and local legislation.
For large quantities a separate storage building is recommended.
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The floor should be seamless, easy to clean and made from a non-combustable and non-absorbant material. A slight slope is recommended to direct liquids and allow for easier clean up.
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Since organic peroxides normally flow on water.
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To prevent a spead of the fire to other area’s, fire-fighting water (possibly with burning peroxide) should be directed from the inside of the storage building through an open gutter to an open basin. Another possibility is to direct the water (with peroxide) to a basin underneath the floor with provisions for emptying. The basin should have at least a capacity equal to the amount of peroxide stored.
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Any drainage system should not be in direct contact with the site sewer system to allow for control of the peroxide. Observe local regulations with respect to containment of fire fighting water.
- A storage building should have a proper lightning protection.
- A painted building should have light colors to prevent heat absorption from sunlight.
- Construction materials should be compatible with organic peroxides or coated to prevent contamination.
- Ventilation openings (non-cooled volatile peroxides) should be covered with gratings and should be at least 0.5% of the floor area with a minimum of 0.01 m2.
Location
Storage buildings for organic peroxides should be located away from other buildings (office buildings, public roads, railways, etc.). No definite distances can be stated as general applicable. Distances depend on type and amount of peroxide and the available safety provisions in the storage building. Typical distances are 10 m for storage of 1 ton and 20 m for storage of 10 tons of peroxide when safety provisions are in place. Local regulations should be consulted.
Construction
Based on the experience of Akzo Nobel with organic peroxides a storage building design is given below. The design is such that safety distances reach minimal dimensions.
- Storage buildings or boxes should have only one story.
- As a pressure release mechanism the building should have a venting capacity of 0.5 m2 per 1000 kg of organic peroxide. The emergency vent should be actuated at a pressure below the design pressure of the building. The roof, door(s) or wall panel can serve this function.
- Doors should always be functional from inside the store.
- The walls should be constructed of non-combustible materials and have a fire resistancy of at least 1 hour.
- It is recommended to install a system to prevent that the temperature in an ambient store can rise above 30°C (e.g. a water spray on the roof or a double-deck roof).
- Install an effective fire-fighting system. An automatic system activated by melting bulbs (57°C) is recommended.
- Manual activation of the deluge system should always be possible.
- All electrical fittings and other electrical equipment should be explosion proof.
Ambient storage buildings equipped with a heating system
- Heating systems should have a moderate capacity with a maximum surface temperature of 60°C.
- Electrical heating systems should be explosion proof.
- If warm air is used the stream should be directed away from the packages.
- A high temperature warning system should be installed in the storage room.
- To achieve a safe distance between the heater and the heater a fixed barier should be installed.
Additional requirements for cold storage
- Walls and roof should be insulated. The insulation should be non-flammable or flame-retardant.
- To avoid absorption of moisture and to retain the insulating properties, non-absorbant material (closed cell structure) should be used. Moreover the material should preferrably be resistant to the solvents used in the product to be stored. If the insulating material is not solvent resistant it should be covered with cladding material.
- Any equipment, including the cooling unit, that may generate heat or sparks should be located outside the storage building, away from the entrance so as to reduce the electrical requirements (if all wall ducts are air tight).
- Any electrical equipment having direct communication with the inside air should be explosion proof.
- The cooling agent should be non-flammable and non-reducing. Liquid air in unsuitable.
- Moving parts and openings should be protected from being icebound by atmospheric moisture.
- In contrast to non-cooled storage, there should be no ventilation openings in doors or wall. If fresh air ventilation is desired, the following items should be considered:
- The replacemenr rate should be minimum
- The outside air intake must not be allowed to warm up the stored products
- If a sprinkler or deluge system is used, it should be a dry type system.