BEST PRACTICES FOR THE STORAGE OF AMMONIUM NITRATE

 BEST PRACTICES FOR THE STORAGE OF AMMONIUM NITRATE

  

References Related to Best Practices – Storage of Ammonium Nitrate

Please check with your local jurisdiction having authority to determine if there is a local fire code or other regulatory code that must be utilized related to storage of ammonium nitrate. 

Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA)

OSHA Standard 1910.109(i)(4) also defines additional requirements for storage of ammonium nitrate. The following are some, but not all the requirements: 

1910.109(i)(5)(i)(a): “Ammonium nitrate shall be in a separate building or shall be separated by approved type firewalls of not less than 1-hour fire-resistance rating from storage of organic chemicals, acids, or other corrosive materials…”.

1910.109(i)(5)(i)(b): “In lieu of separation walls, ammonium nitrate may be separated from the materials referred to in paragraph (a) of this section by a space of at least 30 feet”. 

1910.109(i)(6)(i): “Electrical installations shall conform to the requirements of subpart S of this part, for ordinary locations. They shall be designed to minimize damage from corrosion”. 

1910.109(i)(7)(ii)(a): “Water supplies and fire hydrants shall be available in accordance with recognized good practices”. 

The U.S. Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works held a hearing on June 27th in Washington, D.C., and various experts from the Chemical Safety Board, Department of Homeland Security, Texas A&M University, and others all agreed with Chairperson Boxer that fire must be prevented from reaching bulk storage of ammonium nitrate. Some recommendations included: 

• Storage of ammonium nitrate in non-combustible storage facilities or at least have a one-hour fire barrier separating a storage bin of ammonium nitrate from other adjacent products

• Fire sprinklers suitable for a corrosive atmosphere

• Third party inspection of these facilities should be in place (i.e. insurance companies insuring these facilities, safety institutes, etc.)

NFPA 400 Hazardous Materials Code, 2013 Edition, Chapter 11 (Please refer to the entire standard. Below are some highlights from this NFPA standard and not inclusive of everything in this document). 

Ammonium nitrate is rated as a Class 2 Oxidizer and a Class 3 Unstable Reactive requiring automatic fire sprinklers per 6.2.1.1

Portable extinguishers shall be provided throughout

the storage area and in the loading and unloading areas in

accordance with the fire prevention code adopted by the jurisdiction

and NFPA 10, Standard for Portable Fire Extinguishers. 

Separation.

Ammonium nitrate shall be separated by fire barrier

walls of not less than 1-hour fire resistance or located in a

separate building from the storage of any of the following: 

(1) Organic chemicals, acids, or other corrosive materials

(2) Compressed flammable gases

(3) Flammable and combustible materials, solids or liquids

(4) Other contaminating substances, including the following:

(a) Wood chips

(b) Organic materials

(c) Chlorides

(d) Phosphorus

(e) Finely divided metals

(f) Charcoals

(g) Diesel fuels and oils

Walls referred to in 11.2.12.1.1 shall extend from

the floor to the underside of the roof above.

In lieu of fire barrier walls, ammonium nitrate

shall be permitted to be separated from the materials referred

to in 11.2.12.1.1 by a space of at least 30 ft (9.1 m) or more, as

required by the AHJ, and sills or curbs shall be provided to

prevent mixing during fire conditions. 

Incompatible Materials.

Flammable liquids, such as gasoline, kerosene,

solvents, and light fuel oils, shall not be stored on the premises,

unless the following criteria are met: 

(1) The storage conforms to NFPA 30, Flammable and Combustible

Liquids Code.

(2) Walls and sills or curbs are provided in accordance with

11.2.12.1.1 through 11.2.12.1.3.

LP-Gas shall not be stored on the premises, unless

such storage conforms to NFPA58, Liquefied Petroleum Gas Code. 

Indoor Storage. 

Storage Conditions/Arrangement. Storage arrangement

shall be in accordance with 11.3.2.1 through 11.3.2.3. 

Containers. Bags and containers used for ammonium

nitrate shall comply with the specifications and standards established

by the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT). 

Piles of Bags, Drums, or Other Containers.

Containers of solid ammonium nitrate shall not be

placed into storage when the temperature of the ammonium

nitrate exceeds 130°F (54.4°C). 

Bags of ammonium nitrate shall not be stored

within 30 in. (762 mm) of the walls and partitions of the storage

building. 

Piles shall comply with the following dimensions: 

(1) The height of piles shall not exceed 20 ft (6.1 m).

(2) The width of piles shall not exceed 20 ft (6.1 m).

(3) The length of piles shall not exceed 50 ft (15.2 m), unless

otherwise permitted by 11.3.2.2.3(4).

(4) Where the building is of noncombustible construction, or

is protected by automatic sprinklers, the length of piles

shall not be limited. 

In no case shall the ammonium nitrate be stacked

closer than 3 ft (0.9 m) below the roof or its supporting overhead

structure. 

Aisles shall be provided to separate piles by a clear

space of not less than 3 ft (0.9 m) in width, with at least one

service or main aisle in the storage area not less than 4 ft (1.2 m)

in width. 

Piles of Bulk Solid Storage. 

Warehouses shall have ventilation, or be capable of

ventilation in case of fire, that will, in the event of a fire, prevent

the explosive decomposition of ammonium nitrate.

Buildings shall be ventilated so as to prevent confinement

of decomposition gases. 

Bulk storage structures shall not exceed a height of

40 ft (12.2 m). 

Where bulk storage structures are constructed of

noncombustible material and facilities for fighting a roof fire

are provided, the height of the storage building shall only be

limited by the building construction type as specified in the

building code adopted by the jurisdiction. 

Compartments. 

Bins shall be clean and free of materials that can

contaminate ammonium nitrate. 

Due to the corrosive and reactive properties of ammonium

nitrate, and to avoid contamination, galvanized iron,

copper, lead, and zinc shall not be used in bin construction, except

where such bins are protected against impregnation by ammonium

nitrate. 

Aluminum bins, and wooden bins protected

against impregnation by ammonium nitrate, shall be permitted.

The warehouse shall be permitted to be subdivided

into any desired number of ammonium nitrate storage

compartments or bins. 

The partitions dividing the ammonium nitrate storage

from the storage of other products that would contaminate

the ammonium nitrate shall be constructed to prevent

the ammonium nitrate from becoming contaminated.

The ammonium nitrate storage bins or piles shall

be clearly identified by signs reading AMMONIUM NITRATE

with letters at least 2 in. (50.8 mm) high. 

Piles or bins shall be sized and arranged so that

all material in the pile is able to be moved out in order to

minimize possible caking of the stored ammonium nitrate.

The height or depth of piles shall be limited by

the pressure-setting tendency of the product; however, in no

case shall the ammonium nitrate be piled higher at any point

than 3 ft (0.9 m) below the roof or its supporting and overhead

structure. 

Ammonium nitrate shall not be placed into storage

when the temperature of the product exceeds 130°F (54.4°C). 

Dynamite, other explosives, and blasting agents

shall not be used to break up or loosen caked ammonium nitrate.

Floors.

All flooring in storage and handling areas shall be

without open drains, traps, tunnels, pits, or pockets into which

any molten ammonium nitrate is able to flow and be confined

in the event of fire. 

Note: This is not an all inclusive list of best practices related to storage of ammonium nitrate, but is provided to provide highlights from three resources to facilitate further research by the property manager and/or owner.