Requirements for Liquid Storage and Classification

Example for Correct Labelling: Liquid fertiliser PIASAN^® 28 – Ordinance on Hazardous Substances Fertiliser with Ammonium Nitrate Group DI depressurised

Liquid fertiliser is generally delivered in tanker 25 tonne tanker lorries. To avoid bottlenecks, at least 30 tonnes of storage capacity should be made available. The storage facility must comply with recognized technology standards and must be maintained and serviced properly. According to the volume, storage facilities are divided into three categories: A for facilities up to 100m³; B for facilities between 100m³ and 1000m³; and C for facilities over 1000m3. For Level A, only a building permit is generally required. Consider the state-specific specifications during the approval procedure. The aforementioned general requirements for storage and the responsibilities of the operator should always be observed, even for Level A. For Level B, an inspection of the facility by an expert is required in water protection areas. For above-ground storage in Level B, this inspection is required before initial start-up, following significant changes and on closure. Without exception, Level C facilities must only be constructed, maintained and cleaned by specialists. Storage facilities with design approval and simple facilities do not require suitability assessment The suitability assessment of the facilities by water authorities is only required if the facility is not simple or conventional as per the WHG (Water Resources Act) or when no design approval is submitted. Facilities qualify as simple or conventional:

• when they are in hazard level A, i.e. in storage volumes of up to 100m³;

• when the containers are double walled or are above-ground single-walled containers with a liquid-tight backup container;

• when leaks from double-walled containers can be detected automatically by a leakage monitoring system;

• when the volume of large storage containers can be limited and secured in the backup container and, in case of several backup containers, at least 10% of the total volume can be stored;

• when each part is in accordance with the technical requirements.

 

Here's How Your Liquid Storage Facilities Could Look.

The examples each show a typical solution with a single walled and a double walled storage facility fashioned to contain PIASAN® 28. They follow the same legal requirements. Sufficient security of the filling station of a smaller facility can be achieved relatively easily, for example with an impermeable and resilient material such as impregnated concrete or concrete with a bitumen-containing varnish and a border stone. Furthermore, no outflow flow must be found within a five-metre radius. Filling must always be observed so that it can be stopped immediately in an emergency and further measures can be taken. An automatic safety device makes it possible to secure filling even further. Altogether, these measures make elaborate and expensive support facilities superfluous. As described above, small facilities of up to 100m³ only require a building permit in most federal states and do not need to be reported or assessed. In any case, all general technological rules and basic regulations and requirements of the Water Resources Act (WHG) must be followed. Contact the proper authorities early, they generally have a very large decision-making capacity and can approve non-standard facilities when security is carefully considered according to existing standards. Specific limitations and local regulations must be expected in water protection areas.