Dear Debbie, Kevin made some good remarks. But not only NFPA and/or local building code limits not allow compact storage system approach, but the structural capacity of the storeroom floor may be insufficient to safely hold the increased load of materials that can be placed on shelving of the compact storage system.

A structural analysis of the existing floor's live-load capacity should be performed before considering compact storage. Live-load is the structural engineering term for imposed load on a structural system. Building codes may require additional safety margin, for floor load capacity, where compact storage systems are installed.

The building code may require higher-capacity fire protection system to be installed where the is significant Increase of chemical quantities in a storeroom. This too requires evaluation by a qualified fire protection engineer to make sure the room meets the code.

Do you intend to install flammable liquid storage cabinets or acid cabinets on the compact storage frame? There are several significant risks possible in this application. Compact storage involves manually moving rows of storage units, or with a motor. Would this movement shake or otherwise knock over chemical containers? Could this cause leaks from, or broken containers?

If this happens to a container on an open shelf lined with an appropriate spill control tray, perhaps the someone would notice the spill. If the container is stored within a certified chemical storage cabinet, that is installed on the compact storage frame, would anyone notice a spill? How long might a spill be left unnoticed before it is cleaned up? What are the possible consequences of this scenario?

This is to say that management of chemicals stored in a compact storage system needs to be carefully analyzed for operational risks, as well as code compliance. Alternative static-storage can reduce the risks, if properly selected and installed, but likely the amount of chemicals will be less. Is that a reasonable trade-off?

Janet Baum, DivCHAS

Laboratory Architect

On Tue, Mar 21, 2017 at 11:46 AM, Kevin Creed <kcreed**At_Symbol_Here**stanford.edu> wrote:

Hi Debbie,

I do not have any experience with these systems but what occurs to me is that the use of such a system may allow for inadvertent exceedance of building code maximum allowable quantities and/or NFPA density limits on various hazardous materials categories. So, some code review, projection of hazard category quantities by control area would be prudent prior to committing to purchasing.

Hope this helps,

Kevin

Kevin Creed, Manager

ChemTracker Program

EH&S

Stanford University

650-723-4767

--- This e-mail is from DCHAS-L, the e-mail list of the ACS Division of Chemical Health and Safety. For more information about the list, contact the Divisional secretary at secretary**At_Symbol_Here**dchas.org

--- This e-mail is from DCHAS-L, the e-mail list of the ACS Division of Chemical Health and Safety. For more information about the list, contact the Divisional secretary at secretary**At_Symbol_Here**dchas.org