Fire Hazardous Material Storage and GHS

Storage of Fire Hazardous Materials

• Fire hazardous materials: raw materials, by-products, semi or fully finished products
• Hazardous materials (Hazmat) are anything that, if not properly contained, could cause injury, death, damage to life, property, or the environment.
• It's crucial to identify and store fire hazardous materials in appropriately designed facilities to minimize fire risks.

Globally Harmonised System (GHS)

• The GHS is a standardized globally developed by the United Nations for chemical classification and hazard communication, using labels and SDS (safety data sheets).
• Failure to communicate hazards may lead to accidents, injuries, or death.

Benefits of GHS

• Improves hazard communication, enabling better:
  • Risk assessments
  • Risk management
  • Health and safety for chemical users
  • Environmental management
• Enhances the protection of human health and the environment.
• Provides a framework for countries lacking existing systems.
• Reduces the need for redundant testing using established methods like OECD, UN, ISO, and national standards.
• Facilitates international trade in chemicals and promotes sustainable development.
• Singapore uses SS586: 2008 as the standard for hazard communication concerning dangerous goods and hazardous chemicals.

GHS Classification

• Physical hazards: 16 classes (e.g., Oxidizers, Flammables, Explosives, Gases under pressure, Corrosives)
• Health hazards: 10 classes (e.g., Acute Toxicity, Carcinogen, Irritant)
• Environmental hazards: 2 classes

United Nations Classification System

• Class 1: Explosives (e.g., TNT, Fireworks)
• Class 2: Flammable Gases
  • Class 2.1: Flammable gases (e.g., acetylene, LPG, hydrogen)
  • Class 2.2: Non-flammable gases (e.g., acetylene, LPG, hydrogen)
  • Class 2.3: Poisonous (toxic) gases (e.g., carbon monoxide, chlorine)
• Class 3: Flammable Liquids (e.g., Naphtha, Kerosene).
• Class 4: Flammable Solids
  • Class 4.1: Flammable solids (e.g., sulphur, matches)
  • Class 4.2: Substances liable to spontaneous combustion (e.g., carbon monoxide, chlorine)
  • Class 4.3: Substances which, on contact with water, emit flammable gases (e.g., carbon monoxide, chlorine)
• Class 5: Organic Peroxides
  • Class 5.1: Oxidizing agents (e.g., nitric acid (HNO3), ammonium nitrate)
  • Class 5.2: Organic peroxides (e.g., benzoyl peroxide)
• Class 6: Poisonous Material
  • Class 6.1: Poisonous substances (e.g., ammonia, cyanide)
  • Class 6.2: Infectious substances (e.g., anthrax, ebola)
• Class 7: Radioactive Material (e.g., cesium-137, cobalt-60)
• Class 8: Corrosive Material (e.g., acid - sulphuric acid alkalis - potassium hydroxide)
• Class 9: Miscellaneous (e.g., aerosols, bitumen)
• SCDF regulates these classes

Identification and Labeling of Hazardous Materials

• Fire Safety Managers (FSMs) should know what these materials are and how to recognize them for safe handling and storage.
• Information sources include:
  • Safety Data Sheet (SDS) in GHS format
  • Product Hazard Labelling

Safety Data Sheet (SDS)

• SDS: A summary document containing information on a material along with its hazards and safety precautions.
• The 16 sections of an SDS are:
  • Product & company information
  • Composition information on ingredients
  • Hazards identification
  • First aid measures
  • Fire fighting measures
  • Accidental release
  • Handling & storage
  • Exposure controls, personal protection
  • Physical, chemical properties
  • Stability & reactivity
  • Toxicological information
  • Ecological information
  • Disposal considerations
  • Transport information
  • Regulatory information
  • Other information

Review and Re-issue of Safety Data Sheet (SDS)

• Manufacturers/suppliers of chemicals must review and reissue the SDS if:
  • There's a change in formulation affecting the substance's properties.
  • The substance's health, safety, or environmental hazards change.
  • Regulations, standards, codes, or guidelines change.
• Suppliers must update the SDS within 6 months of receiving information that necessitates a revision.
• Suppliers should also review existing SDS documents every 5 years.
• Manufacturers/suppliers must keep SDS documents up-to-date and provide users with the latest edition.

Product Hazard Labelling

• E.g. LPG (liquefied petroleum gas)
• In Singapore, LPG:
  • is a mixture of 70% Butane and 30% Propane;
  • has a specific gravity of 1.8 (heavier than air);
  • has a pressure of 7 bars;
  • has a expansion ratio of 250:1
  • is highly flammable
  • is highly explosive
  • is not toxic and is odourless
  • heavy concentration will cause asphyxiation
  • can cause fire and explosion if ignited, (during tansportation)
  • commonly used in eating establishments.

Flammable Liquid/Vapour Labelling

• Flammable liquid labels should include:
  • Product identifier
  • Pictogram
  • Signal words
  • Hazard statement
  • Precautionary statement
  • Supplier information
  • Supplementary information
• Signal words indicate the hazard's severity. "Danger" signifies a more severe hazard, while "Warning" indicates a less severe hazard.
• Hazard statements describe the nature of the hazard.
• Precautionary statements describe measures to minimize risks.

Statutes and Regulations

• FSMs should know the statutes/regulations governing flammable materials storage.
• Reference must be made to:
  • The Fire Safety Act (FSA) Part VI – Control of Petroleum and Flammable Materials
  • The Fire Safety (Petroleum & Flammable Materials) Regulations

Petroleum and Flammable Materials (PFM)

• Petroleum includes hydrocarbons with a flash point below 93°C, divided into Classes 0, I, II, and III based on flash point.
  • Flash point: temperature at which a liquid's vapour ignites with an ignition source.
• Flammable materials are non-petroleum-based.
• They can be solid, liquid, or gaseous.
• These are listed in the Fourth Schedule of the Fire Safety (Petroleum & Flammable Materials) Regulations (currently 366 items).

P & FM Licence Exemptions

• Products exempted from P & FM Licence:
  • Adhesives
  • Cigarette lighters
  • Cosmetic and beauty products (including hairstyling products)
  • Food and beverages (including beer, wine, and liquor)
  • Insecticides and pesticides
  • Lacquer solvents
  • Lubricants
  • Paints
  • Pharmaceutical products
  • Varnishes

Petroleum & Flammable Materials Import Licence

• Anyone importing P & FM above exemption quantities needs an import license.
• Annual fee: $70 per license.
• The purpose is to enhance security control, accountability, and traceability of P&FM movement.

Petroleum & Flammable Materials Transport Licence

• It ensures safe P&FM transportation and proper fire safety.
• The Fire Safety Act mandates:
  • Transportation vehicle certification
  • Approved transportation emergency response plan
  • Driver to hold a valid Hazardous Material Transportation Driver Permit (HTDP)
  • Transportation within approved hours/routes

Exemption for P & FM Transport Licence

• Petroleum – less than 130 kg in not more than 2 cylinders.
• Flammable materials – less than 130 kg or 20 litres.

Petroleum & Flammable Materials Storage Licence

• A license is needed under the FSA to store P& FM above the exemption quantity.
• A guidebook on the "Application for PFM Licence" is available on the SCDF website.
• SCDF regulates Class 0, I, & II petroleum and only Diesel under Class III.

Storage Requirement

• No proximity to heating or ignition sources (e.g., stove, welding activity)
• Containers must be closed when not in use.
• Handling personnel must be aware of hazards.

Minor Storage of PFM

• Small PFM quantities in buildings don’t need a license if they are a negligible fire hazard and fire-fighting facilities are adequate.
• SS532 gives the exemption quantity for PFM storage.

Class 0 Petroleum (LPG)

• Private use: not more than 30 kg in not more than 2 cylinders
• Eating Place (Hawker Centre): not more than 30 kg per stall (occupied or not), max. 200 kg to be stored in that eating place
• Restaurant: not more than 200 kg
• Factory: not more than 300 kg per factory
• Exceeding minor storage quantities requires a safety cabinet with:
  • Minimum 30 minutes fire resistance rating
  • Located at least 3m from any naked flame
• Maximum Allowable Quantity (MAQ): refer to Table 3 of SS 532
  • Industrial premises: 2 litres/m²
  • Non-industrial premises: 1 litre/m²

Design for Licensed Premises

• Storage design for flammable materials should focus on:
  • Avoidance of ignition sources
  • Separation of hazards
  • Avoidance of flammable concentration

Avoidance of Ignition Source

• To prevent fires, eliminate potential ignition sources like open flames, sparks, and friction from electrical appliances.

Separation of Potential Hazards

• Separating hazards can reduce the size of a fire using distance, physical barriers, fire-rated walls, partitions, and fire protection systems.

Avoidance of Flammable Concentration

• Ensuring insufficient flammable vapor concentration in the air reduces ignition risks.
• Enclose vapor sources or dilute vapors with ventilation.