new to a small chemical company and need some advice. basic operation is to take a bunch of chemicals and mix them into a liquid that we then sell. One of the raw materials is ethanol. The manufacturing area is a separate area within a larger factory. The process was hazoped and is designated a atex zone 2. Fire risk assessment for area (by external consultant) says risks are managed. Bulk ethanol (1000L IBC) is stored in external flam store and transported to factory and located in a small pump room (part of the atex zone). the pump room is self contained with extraction. My thoughts are that additional safety measures are needed. Firstly a vapour alarm to detect if the pump connection is leaking and/or the extraction has failed. Secondly although the pump room is atex zone 2 the corridor next to it is not, and should there be a fire in the rest of the building then the pump room should offer at least 1hour fire rating to protect the bulk ethanol.

am i being over cautious ?

Paulcrg, having recently seen some of the arrangements at whisky distilleries I think you would be horrified there.

David
Twelve years ago someone from the Health and Safety Lab spent some time visiting whisky distilleries around the world (It’s a hard job but someone has to do it!) and produced this report: http://www.hse.gov.uk/re...sl_pdf/2003/hsl03-08.pdf
It shows that at the time the HSE did not regard whisky as a serious issue as far as fire and explosion are concerned.