Chemstore supplies hazardous chemical storage solutions to food and drink manufacturers, breweries, dairies, beverage plants and processing facilities across Ireland. These sites may store cleaning and sanitation chemicals, caustic and acidic products, flammable liquids, refrigerants, gases and maintenance chemicals. Irish workplaces must manage hazardous chemical agents under the Chemical Agents Regulations and HSA guidance. Chemstore provides bunded, fire-rated, corrosion-resistant, gas and bespoke storage systems tailored to each site.
Food and drink production facilities can use a surprisingly wide range of hazardous chemicals. These materials may be required for cleaning and disinfection, production processes, water treatment, refrigeration, engineering, laboratories, maintenance and waste management.
Typical substances that may require controlled storage include:
The storage requirement depends on the hazards associated with each substance rather than simply the type of container it arrives in. A cleaning chemical, for example, may be corrosive, oxidising, environmentally hazardous or incompatible with another chemical stored nearby.
Safety Data Sheets should therefore be reviewed when deciding how chemicals are stored. They provide information on the hazards associated with the substance, safe handling and storage conditions, chemical incompatibilities and measures to take following an accidental release.
The Safety, Health and Welfare at Work (Chemical Agents) Regulations apply to Irish workplaces where hazardous chemical agents are used or generated. This includes activities involving the production, handling, storage, transport and disposal of hazardous chemicals.
Food and drink manufacturers should identify the hazardous chemical agents present on site and assess the risks created by the activities in which those chemicals are used or stored. The assessment should consider the hazardous properties of the substance, the quantity present, information in the Safety Data Sheet and the potential for workers to be exposed.
The Health and Safety Authority also publishes guidance on the storage of hazardous chemicals, covering both smaller quantities and larger warehouse or drum-storage applications.
Food manufacturers have an additional responsibility to prevent chemicals from creating a food-safety risk. Food businesses in Ireland operate food safety management systems based on HACCP principles, which include identifying and controlling chemical hazards that could contaminate food.
Cleaning chemicals, disinfectants and other hazardous substances should therefore be stored in designated areas and managed so that they do not create a contamination risk within production, processing or food-storage areas.
Chemical segregation is important on any industrial site, but it is particularly relevant in food and drink manufacturing where a chemical incident could affect both employees and the products being manufactured.
Incompatible chemicals can react dangerously if they leak into the same containment area. Acids and alkalis, oxidising products, flammable materials and other reactive substances may therefore require separate storage or containment depending on the products involved.
Storage areas should also be positioned and managed so that spills, leaks, fumes or contaminated equipment cannot affect food ingredients, packaging, finished products or food-contact surfaces.
Chemstore engineers can review Safety Data Sheets and the substances being held on site before recommending the appropriate segregation and containment arrangement.
Food and drink facilities often require several types of hazardous-material storage because the chemicals used for cleaning, processing, maintenance and utilities can have very different properties.
Drums and IBCs containing detergents, disinfectants, water-treatment chemicals and other hazardous liquids may require secondary containment so that leaks or damaged containers can be contained within the storage area.
Chemstore’s Hazvault range provides bunded storage for drums, IBCs and packaged hazardous liquids. Units can be supplied in standard configurations or adapted to suit the quantity of chemicals and available space on a food-production site.
Caustic cleaning products, acids and other aggressive chemicals require storage materials that are compatible with the substances being held.
The Corvault range is specifically designed for corrosive chemical storage and can incorporate corrosion-resistant containment systems and finishes appropriate to the materials being stored.
Alcohol-based products, solvents, maintenance chemicals and other flammable liquids may require dedicated fire-rated storage depending on their properties, quantities and location on the site.
Chemstore’s Firevault range provides fire-rated and bunded storage for flammable materials, with configurations available for drums, IBCs, pallets and walk-in storage.
Compressed gases may be used within food and beverage production for processing, dispensing, laboratories, maintenance, utilities and other applications.
The Gasvault range provides secure and ventilated gas-cylinder storage in standard and bespoke configurations.
Some chemicals and process materials need to be protected from high or low temperatures to maintain their stability or performance. Where hazardous materials require controlled storage conditions, both the chemical hazard and the temperature requirement need to be considered.
Chemstore’s Thermovault range provides insulated and bunded storage with heating and cooling options for temperature-sensitive materials.
Chemstore has worked with organisations in Ireland’s food and beverage industry over many years. Danone has previously used Chemstore and the Chempli hazardous-material management platform as part of its chemical-safety procedures in Ireland.
In feedback provided by Danone’s safety team, Chemstore and Chempli were presented to visiting international Health & Safety personnel as part of the site’s approach to chemical safety and accountability. The project demonstrates the importance of combining suitable physical storage with clear information, inspection records and chemical-management procedures.
Chemstore has also previously supplied organisations including Britvic and other food and beverage manufacturers. These references demonstrate sector experience but are not used as a substitute for assessing the individual chemicals, quantities and operating conditions present at a new site.
Selecting a chemical store starts with identifying the materials that need to be held and understanding their hazards. Chemstore engineers can review the Safety Data Sheets for the substances on site and consider their classifications, chemical compatibility, quantities, container sizes and required storage conditions.
The proposed location is equally important. A storage area may need to be separated from production areas, ingredients, packaging, pedestrian routes, vehicle movements, ignition sources or other hazardous materials.
The assessment can also consider how chemicals arrive on site, how they are moved internally and whether operators need to dispense or transfer materials from the storage area.
Where incompatible substances are present, separate bunds or dedicated storage areas may be recommended to reduce the risk of chemicals mixing following a leak or spill.
A Chemstore site assessment allows an engineer to review the hazardous materials being stored, the existing chemical-storage arrangements and the layout of the facility before recommending an appropriate solution.
Depending on the site, the assessment can consider:
Following the assessment, Chemstore can recommend an appropriate standard product or develop a bespoke chemical-storage system around the particular requirements of the facility.
Yes. Food and beverage production sites are often highly developed facilities where available space, vehicle access, hygiene zones and existing production areas can restrict where hazardous chemicals can be stored.
Chemstore can manufacture storage units around individual site requirements, including bespoke dimensions, internal layouts, separate containment areas, door configurations, ventilation, temperature control and other site-specific features.
This allows the hazardous-material storage system to be designed around the site’s chemicals and operating conditions rather than forcing the facility to accommodate a standard unit.
Yes. A site assessment does not have to relate to a new-build project. Chemstore can review existing hazardous-material storage where a facility is increasing production, changing chemicals, introducing new processes or addressing issues identified during an internal or external safety review.
Existing Chemstore units can also be inspected and maintained through our Service & Maintenance team, including inspection of the structure, containment systems and other components.
Whether you operate a food-processing plant, dairy, brewery, beverage facility or another type of food-production site, Chemstore can review the hazardous materials on your premises and recommend an appropriate storage solution.
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