Identify, Classify & Safely Store Chemicals to Prevent Fires, Reactions & Regulatory Non-compliance.
Table of Contents
Why Conduct a Chemical Segregation Study?
Improper storage and handling of hazardous chemicals is one of the leading causes of warehouse fires, toxic gas releases, and explosions across oil & gas terminals, chemical warehouses, laboratories, and manufacturing sites in Qatar. In most cases, the root cause is chemicals with incompatible properties being stored or handled together without proper segregation.
At iFluids Engineering Qatar, our Chemical Segregation and Handling Study combines a rigorous chemical compatibility study, hazardous chemical storage assessment, and chemical warehouse safety review into a single, audit-ready engineering package. The study is geared to:
- Safe segregation of hazardous materials by HAZMAT class and reactivity type
- Evaluation of water compatibility to support safe firefighting response
- Compliance with NFPA 400, International Fire Code (IFC), OSHA, UN compatibility guidelines, and Qatar’s statutory HSE requirements
What’s Included in Our Study?
Our chemical storage assessment and warehouse compliance review covers the following areas:
| Area | Description |
| Chemical Compatibility Study | Cross-analysis of how each stored chemical reacts with others and with water |
| Chemical Segregation Study & Storage Layout | Separation distances, storage zoning, ventilation needs, and a compliant chemical storage layout |
| Hazard / HAZMAT Classification | Chemical grouping per HSG-71 (UK), US DOT, BG RCI (Germany), GHS, and NFPA hazard classes |
| MAQ Calculation & Control Area Assessment | Maximum Allowable Quantity verification and control-area compliance in line with NFPA 400 |
| Secondary Containment Design & Spill Containment Assessment | Primary and secondary containment sizing, plus spill containment adequacy verification |
| Fire Code Compliance & Firefighting Water Reactivity | Identification of chemicals where water use during firefighting may be hazardous |
| Safe Handling SOPs | Step-by-step procedures and required PPE for chemical transfer, use, and storage |
Detailed Methodology – How We Perform the Study
Our Chemical Compatibility & Storage Compliance Study is developed on internationally recognized best practices, including NFPA 400, the International Fire Code (IFC), OSHA, UN compatibility guidelines, HSG-71 (UK), US DOT, and BG RCI (Germany) tailored to the operating context of industrial and logistics facilities in Qatar. The study follows a structured, six-stage methodology:
a) Kickoff & Data Collection
- Kickoff meeting to confirm study scope, inventory boundaries, and points of contact
- Collection of the current chemical inventory, Safety Data Sheets (SDS), storage details, and container/packaging sizes, along with reasonably anticipated future inventory
- Review of warehouse drawings, fire protection details, and existing containment or civil drawings
- Review of existing containment systems and any prior compliance studies
b) Site Walkthrough
- Verification of actual storage conditions, racking arrangement, and segregation practices against SDS requirements
- Confirmation of ventilation, spacing, clearances, and fire protection system adequacy (detection, suppression, spill containment)
- Identification of hazards, incompatibilities, and any immediate non-conformances observed on site
c) Chemical Compatibility & Segregation Study
- Evaluation of SDS Section 10 (stability & reactivity) data across the full inventory, current and anticipated
- Development of a chemical compatibility matrix specific to the facility’s inventory
- Development of a storage segregation chart/matrix by hazard class
- Identification of incompatible chemical groups and definition of required separation distances and physical barriers
d) Engineering & Containment Assessment
- Primary containment calculations in accordance with NFPA 400
- Secondary containment sizing and spill containment verification
- MAQ (Maximum Allowable Quantity) calculations based on current and reasonably anticipated storage quantities
- Control-area assessment and separation distance / fire barrier verification
e) Layout Development
- Development of an NFPA / IFC-compliant warehouse storage layout
- Definition of segregated storage zones and spill containment zones
- Layout issued in both PDF and DWG formats
f) Gap Analysis & Recommendations
- Practical, prioritized remediation recommendations for each identified gap
- Identification of gaps and non-conformances against applicable codes and regulatory requirements
Water Compatibility & Firefighting Considerations
A dedicated step within the compatibility study investigates how each chemical behaves with water — an important consideration for firefighting. Chemicals marked “not compatible with water” may not be reactive on their own, but water use around them can be counterproductive or dangerous during a fire.
- Example: Oils and hydrocarbon solvents — water use can spread the fire
- Example: Reactive metals — water can generate explosive hydrogen gas
Example Reactions Considered in Compatibility Checks
| Incompatible Combination | Potential Hazard |
| Acids + Hypochlorites | Chlorine gas release |
| Acids + Alkalis | Heat generation |
| Acids + Sulfides | Hydrogen sulfide gas |
| Flammables + Oxidizers | Fire / explosion risk |
| Water-reactive metals + Water | Hydrogen gas explosion |
Standards & Codes We Work To
Our chemical storage compliance and NFPA 400 compliance reviews are aligned with the latest applicable editions of:
- NFPA 400 – Hazardous Materials Code
- International Fire Code (IFC)
- OSHA 29 CFR 1910
- Globally Harmonized System (GHS)
- UN Recommendations on the Transport of Dangerous Goods
- NFPA 30 – Flammable and Combustible Liquids
- NFPA 45 – Laboratories
- NFPA 13 – Sprinkler Systems
- NFPA 72 – Fire Alarm Systems
- HSG-71 (Health & Safety Executive, UK)
- BG RCI Germany (industrial risk classification)
- Qatar statutory HSE requirements and local authority requirements, where applicable
Deliverables You Will Receive
- Chemical Inventory Review Report
- Detailed Chemical Compatibility Matrix (color-coded)
- Chemical Segregation Chart / Matrix and Storage Layout Plan (PDF & DWG)
- Chemical Storage Classification Table & Hazard Classification Register
- MAQ Assessment Report & Control Area Assessment
- Primary & Secondary Containment Calculations
- Spill Containment Assessment
- Water Compatibility Chart for Firefighting
- Handling Procedures & SOPs
- Compliance Gap Assessment & Engineering Recommendations
- Executive Summary Report
- Qatar-specific Regulatory Compliance Checklist
Inputs Required from You
To get started on your chemical storage assessment, we need:
- Latest chemical inventory
- Safety Data Sheets (SDS) for every chemical
- Existing storage layouts and container/packaging sizes
- Warehouse drawings and fire protection system details
- SOPs for transfer and handling (if available)
- Historical incident reports (if applicable)
Our Approach
| Data Collection |
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| Site Assessment |
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| Chemical Compatibility Analysis |
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| Engineering Calculations |
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| Storage Layout Development |
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| Compliance Verification |
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| Final Report & Recommendations |
Optional Engineering Services
- Warehouse redesign
- Fire protection system review
- Hazardous Area Classification (HAC)
- Fire & Gas Detection Assessment
- HAZOP / HAZID
- Emergency Response Planning
- PSM support
- Regulatory approval documentation support
Additional Value-Added Services
- Chemical inventory rationalization
- Hazard classification verification
- Warehouse capacity optimization
- Inspection checklist development
- Chemical storage procedures (SOPs)
Industries We Serve in Qatar
- Mesaieed, Ras Laffan and Dukhan – Oil & Gas Terminals
- Chemical Storage Warehouses
- Petrochemical Plants
- R&D and Analytical Labs
- Water Treatment Plants
- Logistics & Repackaging Facilities
Why iFluids Engineering – Qatar?
- Process safety, HAZOP & chemical risk assessment experts
- Local presence in Doha
- Full-service delivery — from hazard identification through to SOP implementation
- Warehouse compliance aligned with OSHA, NFPA, HSG-71 guidelines, and Qatar-based regulatory guidance
Schedule a Chemical Safety Assessment Today
Minimize chemical storage risks and ensure compliance.
📧 info@ifluids.com.