Hazardous Materials and Building Codes--An Update

Remember the day you finally got an area to handle hazardous materials or a storage area for hazardous wastes?

Was it in the worst part of a building in an area no one else wanted?  Did you struggle with Agency Notice of Violations until you finally and completely met the storage or satellite accumulation area requirements?  Since that time, did you change the characteristics of the materials handled, waste stored or satellite areas managed?  Do you know if your building or area ever met the building codes for classification as High Hazard?  Can you document that with engineering plans and a building permit? Can you meet the current codes?

This paper and presentation will review the relatively recent progression of building codes as they became grounded into international standards.  Also, how those standards now affect the transfer and storage of hazardous materials and wastes.   Specific situations for ventilation, fire protection, tanks, spill protection and combustible dusts will be discussed.  Finally, how a CHMM can positively affect the design, permitting, operation, maintenance, inspection and auditing of areas classified as High Hazard.