Chemstore supplies hazardous material storage solutions to engineering, fabrication, manufacturing and heavy industrial facilities across Ireland. Industrial sites may store fuels, oils, paints, solvents, corrosive process chemicals, compressed gases and lithium-ion batteries. Irish workplaces must manage hazardous chemical risks under the Chemical Agents Regulations and HSA guidance. Chemstore provides bunded, fire-rated, corrosion-resistant, gas, battery and bespoke storage systems designed around each site’s materials and operating conditions.
Heavy industrial facilities can use a wide range of hazardous materials across production lines, workshops, maintenance departments, utilities, warehouses and external compounds. The substances present depend on the manufacturing processes carried out and the equipment operated on the site.
Typical materials that may require controlled storage include:
The correct storage arrangement depends on the hazardous properties of each substance, the quantity being held, its container type and how the material is handled within the production environment.
Safety Data Sheets should form part of the assessment because they provide information on hazards, safe storage conditions, chemical incompatibilities and the measures required following a leak or 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 industrial activities involving the handling and storage of hazardous substances.
Employers should identify the hazardous chemicals present within the workplace and assess the risks associated with their use and storage. The assessment should consider the hazardous properties of each substance, the quantity present, information supplied in the Safety Data Sheet and the potential for workers to be exposed.
Health and Safety Authority guidance also addresses the storage of hazardous chemicals, including issues such as segregation, secondary containment, ventilation, access control, spill response and the storage of flammable and incompatible substances.
The controls required on an engineering or manufacturing site should therefore be based on the actual chemicals, quantities and processes present rather than applying the same storage arrangement to every industrial facility.
Industrial sites that use or store flammable gases, liquids or other substances capable of creating an explosive atmosphere may also need to consider workplace requirements relating to explosive atmospheres.
Where an explosive atmosphere could occur, the risk assessment may affect the location of the storage area, control of ignition sources, ventilation and the electrical or mechanical equipment used within hazardous zones.
ATEX requirements are therefore site and process dependent. The presence of a flammable material does not by itself determine the complete specification of a chemical store; the way the material is stored, handled and used must also be considered.
Some industrial facilities hold larger quantities of dangerous substances. Where the substances and quantities present exceed specified thresholds, the Chemicals Act (Control of Major Accident Hazards Involving Dangerous Substances) Regulations 2015 may apply.
COMAH implements the Seveso III framework in Ireland and places additional responsibilities on establishments that hold qualifying quantities of dangerous substances.
Whether a site falls within COMAH depends on the substances and quantities present rather than simply the type of industry operating there. Sites handling significant inventories of hazardous materials should therefore determine whether the relevant thresholds apply to their operations.
Industrial chemical stores frequently contain products from several different hazard groups. These materials should not automatically be placed within one common storage area or bund.
Acids and alkalis, oxidising substances, flammable liquids and other incompatible chemicals can react dangerously if their containers leak and the materials are allowed to mix.
The Safety Data Sheets for the chemicals being stored should therefore be reviewed before deciding how the materials are grouped and contained.
Where necessary, separate bunds, compartments or dedicated stores can be used to maintain segregation between incompatible substances.
Industrial sites often need several types of hazardous-material storage because fuels, oils, process chemicals, gases and batteries present very different risks. Chemstore can supply individual storage units or develop a larger bespoke solution around the requirements of the facility.
Oils, lubricants, cleaning chemicals, process liquids and other materials stored in drums or IBCs may require secondary containment so that a leak or damaged container can be controlled 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 manufactured around the quantity of material and available space on the industrial site.
Paints, coatings, solvents, fuels, thinners and other flammable products may require dedicated fire-rated storage depending on their properties, quantities and location.
The Firevault range provides fire-rated and bunded storage for flammable materials, with configurations available for drums, IBCs, pallets and larger walk-in applications.
Metal treatment, cleaning, production and maintenance processes can involve acids, alkalis and other aggressive chemicals. The containment system needs to be compatible with the materials it may come into contact with following a leak or spill.
Chemstore’s Corvault range is designed specifically for corrosive and aggressive chemicals and can incorporate corrosion-resistant containment systems and protective finishes appropriate to the substances being stored.
Engineering and manufacturing facilities commonly use compressed gases for welding, cutting, fabrication, testing, calibration and production processes.
The Gasvault range provides secure and ventilated storage for gas cylinders. Standard and bespoke configurations are available depending on the types of gas, cylinder quantities and site layout.
Lithium-ion batteries are increasingly common within industrial environments through power tools, forklifts, mobile equipment, automated systems, maintenance equipment and other rechargeable technology.
Chemstore’s Electrovault range provides dedicated lithium-ion battery storage and charging solutions that can be configured around the batteries, equipment and operating requirements present on a particular industrial site.
Facilities reviewing an existing charging or battery-storage area can also use Chemstore’s Lithium-Ion Battery Storage Site Survey to review storage arrangements, fire controls, charging practices and emergency planning.
Some production chemicals, coatings, resins and other materials need to be maintained within specific temperature conditions. Where these products are also hazardous, the storage solution must address both environmental control and chemical containment.
The Thermovault range provides insulated and bunded storage with heating and cooling options for temperature-sensitive hazardous materials.
Chemstore has previously supplied hazardous-material storage solutions to engineering and industrial organisations throughout Ireland. Keltech is among the Irish industrial references contained within Chemstore’s existing project and customer material.
Heavy manufacturing environments can present particularly demanding storage conditions because chemical stores may need to operate alongside production equipment, vehicle movements, fabrication areas and busy material-handling routes.
Previous industrial projects demonstrate Chemstore’s experience working within these environments, but each new store is specified around the substances, quantities, processes and site constraints present at the individual facility.
Industrial facilities can store substantial quantities of oils, fuels and process chemicals. If a drum, IBC or other container fails, secondary containment provides an additional barrier that can prevent the liquid spreading beyond the storage area.
The bund itself must be suitable for the substance being stored. A containment material suitable for oil or fuel may not necessarily be suitable for an aggressive acid or another corrosive chemical.
Where several hazardous materials are stored together, the design should also consider whether incompatible chemicals need separate containment so that they cannot mix following a leak.
Paints, thinners, coatings, cleaning solvents and similar materials can create a significant fire risk where they contain flammable substances.
Storage requirements should be based on the product’s classification, flash point, quantity and Safety Data Sheet, as well as the location of the proposed storage area.
The risk assessment should also consider ignition sources, ventilation and the activities taking place around the store. Larger inventories may require dedicated external fire-rated storage rather than being distributed across general-purpose workshop cabinets.
Gas cylinders should be kept secure and protected from accidental damage, particularly within busy engineering and manufacturing environments where forklifts, vehicles and lifting equipment may operate nearby.
The gases present also need to be considered because different gases can have different hazards and may require segregation from one another.
A dedicated ventilated gas-storage area can help control access, keep cylinders upright and organised and separate them from general workshop activity.
The process begins with identifying exactly what needs to be stored. Chemstore engineers can review Safety Data Sheets and assess factors including hazard classification, flash point, chemical compatibility, quantities, container sizes and required storage conditions.
The physical site is equally important. Manufacturing facilities can include vehicle routes, loading areas, production lines, external pipework, restricted compounds and equipment that must remain accessible for maintenance.
The location of a hazardous-material store therefore needs to take account of the way people, vehicles and materials move through the facility as well as the properties of the chemicals themselves.
Where several hazard classes are present, the assessment can also identify whether separate storage areas or bunds are required for incompatible materials.
A Chemstore site assessment allows an engineer to review the hazardous materials, existing storage arrangements and physical layout of a manufacturing or engineering 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 hazardous-material storage system around the requirements of the industrial facility.
Yes. Heavy industrial facilities frequently present conditions that cannot be addressed using a standard storage unit. Available space may be restricted by production equipment, roads, pipework, loading areas or existing buildings.
There may also be requirements for unusual container sizes, separate containment zones, specialist access arrangements, controlled temperatures or electrical equipment suitable for a particular site environment.
Chemstore can manufacture hazardous-material stores with bespoke dimensions, internal layouts, containment systems, doors, ventilation, electrical equipment, heating and cooling and other site-specific features where required.
Yes. Changes in production processes, chemical inventories or site layouts can mean that an existing storage arrangement no longer reflects the materials being held or the way they are used.
Chemstore can assess an existing chemical-storage area and identify where improved containment, segregation or specialist storage may be appropriate.
Existing Chemstore units can also be inspected through our Service & Maintenance team, helping sites identify maintenance requirements before they develop into larger issues.
Whether you operate an engineering plant, fabrication facility, manufacturing site or other heavy industrial operation, Chemstore can assess the hazardous materials on your premises and recommend an appropriate storage solution.
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