Summer Chemical Storage: Reduce Risk with Temperature Control

As temperatures heat up during the summer months, so too does the risk of unsafe chemical storage. Temperature control is something that is usually overlooked but is essential to chemical storage safety, particularly during hotter months when ambient temperatures can rise rapidly above safe levels. 

Mike Brodie, Managing Director of Chemstore UK, explains why this is one risk businesses cannot afford to overlook.

Why temperature control can't be ignored

Each hazardous chemical has specific handling and storage protocols, outlined in its Safety Data Sheet (SDS), specifically in Sections 7 and 9. The most frequent and risky oversights are perhaps neglecting to heed the temperature guidelines.

Failing to maintain substances at their recommended temperature range not only degrades their quality – it also creates acute safety hazards. This is especially acute in the summer, where sun-exposed containers can reach internal temperatures well above ambient temperature.

The practical consequences of inadequate temperature control

Dangerous substances stored at the wrong temperature can deteriorate, react suicidally, or even burn. Below are some high-risk examples:

• Organic Peroxides: Highly reactive materials that can cause a runaway reaction when stored above Self-Accelerating Decomposition Temperature (SADT), generating intense heat and even igniting. Fires involving these materials are notoriously difficult to extinguish.
• Lithium-Ion Batteries: Commercial grade, these batteries can undergo thermal runaway or explode if overheated. Storing them without temperature control, particularly during summer, increases the risks.
• Resins and Adhesives: Frequently used in composite manufacture, these will depend on even temperatures to function efficiently. Severe heat or cold will influence curing times, reduce bonding strength and lead to costly manufacturing issues.
• Pharmaceuticals and Biologicals: Oftentimes needing tight temperature tolerance levels. Even short-term exposure to unsuitable conditions will affect their functionality or be potentially harmful to health.

Why standard steel storage units are not fit for purpose

A popular error is the storage of hazardous material in ordinary single-skin steel containers. While these may appear to be cost-effective to start with, they act as greenhouses in sunlight—absorbing and then emitting heat, which rapidly heats the inside temperature to levels well above ambient conditions. This ‘oven effect' can result in a very high risk, particularly in summer when solar gain is maximised.

The advantages of fire-rated and climate-controlled storage

Purpose-specific storage containers, supporting fire-rated material, insulation and climate control, are designed to provide required protection. These systems typically include:

• Thermal insulation to reduce heat accumulation
• Active climate control to generate safe temperatures
• Fire-rated construction for passive fire protection
• Full agreement with HSE standards and best industry practice

It's also worth not mixing up fire-resistant and fire-rated. Fire-resistant materials will slow the spread of fire, but fire-rated units are separately tested for holding extremely high temperatures over specified periods of time – crucial for temperature-sensitive storage.

DSEAR compliance, ATEX zoning and specifying correctly

If you handle hazardous, temperature-sensitive materials, a DSEAR evaluation (Dangerous Substances and Explosive Atmospheres Regulations) is significant. 

It provides invaluable guidance on zoning and ensures that equipment like temperature control systems are ATEX-rated for possibly explosive environments.

It is not always clear which units are ATEX and fire safety compliant. Two storage rooms can appear identical, but only one can be compliant with ATEX and fire safety standards. 

Another common problem is incorrect penetrations for pipes or cables that breach the fire rating by the absence of adequate fire-rated lead-through points. These openings will render the whole fire safety certification of the unit invalid.

Also, if you store flammables inside a building, you're practically creating an ATEX zone within that space. Doorways and vents create channels for vapour migration, so electrical machinery in the vicinity would have to be ATEX-rated as well. 

We've had cases where companies buy compliant storage and introduce non-ATEX-rated machinery around it – the complete opposite of safety. It is precisely for this reason that you should make sure you work with specialists who understand these nuances.

Custom temperature-controlled storage for specialised requirements

Certain materials need constant temperatures with little or no variation. Storage of flammable solvents, temperature-sensitive chemicals or assets, specialist suppliers can provide solutions that:

• Maintain precise bands of temperature
• Maintain remote monitoring and alarm systems
• Expand module by module with business growth

The benefit of expert-led specification

Every site poses its own risks and regulatory needs. Off-the-shelf storage tanks rarely have the strict safety and compliance standards necessary for hazardous materials.

At Chemstore UK, we don't just supply the storage. We advise customers to assess risks, define operation requirements and develop bespoke, fully compliant storage solutions to protect people, assets and the environment.

Summer temperatures shouldn't compromise safety
Speak with a Chemstore UK specialist today and find the right temperature-controlled storage for your use.

For more information, go to www.chemstore.co.uk