NATIONAL TECHNICAL REGULATION ON SAFETY IN PRODUCTION, COMMERCE, USE, STORAGE AND TRANSPORTATION OF HAZARDOUS CHEMICALS

Foreword

Amendment 1:2024 QCVN 05A:2020/BCT is developed by the Drafting Team. submitted by the Vietnam Chemicals Agency for approval; appraised by the Ministry of Science and Technology, promulgated together with the Circular No. 19/2024/TT-BCT dated October 10, 2024 by the Minister of Industry and Trade.

Amendment 1:2024 QCVN 05A:2020/BCT only contains amendments to certain regulations of QCVN 05A:2020/BCT. Other contents of QCVN 05A:2020/BCT promulgated together with the Circular No. 48/2020/TT-BCT dated December 21, 2020 of the Minister of Industry and Trade shall remain applicable.

NATIONAL TECHNICAL REGULATION ON SAFETY IN PRODUCTION, COMMERCE, USE, STORAGE AND TRANSPORTATION OF HAZARDOUS CHEMICALS

I. General

1. Point 3.6 is added as follows:

“3.6. “collection system” means one of the means: dikes, booms, collection ditches, recovery pits/tanks and storage trays for the purpose of collecting chemicals and preventing chemical spills and escapes to the environment.”

II. Technical regulations

2. Point 1.5 is added as follows:

“1.5. QCVN 06:2022/BXD - National Technical Regulation on Fire safety of Buildings and Constructions and Amendment 1:2023 QCVN 06:2022/BXD.”

3. Point 1.12 is added as follows:

“1.12 TCVN 3890:2023 - National Standard for Fire protection - Fire protection equipment for building and construction - Equipment, Installation”

4. Point 5.1 is added as follows:

“5.1. The design, construction and renovation of factories and warehouses containing hazardous chemicals shall comply with the regulations set out in TCVN 4604:2012, TCVN 3890:2023, and other relevant regulations of law, and shall be suitable for the nature, scale and technologies for manufacturing and storing chemicals.”

5. Point 5.2 is repealed.

6. Point 5.8 is added as follows:

“5.8. Each factory or warehouse containing hazardous chemicals must have a length or width of 3m (≥ 3m) or more and at least two doors, including an entrance door and an exit door. The exit door must not be installed on the same side as the entrance door, can be opened from the inside and must have an “Exit” sign.

For any factory or warehouse having a length and width of less than 3m, the exit door is not required.”

7. Point 5.9 is added as follows:

“5.9. Factories and warehouses containing hazardous chemicals must be equipped with mobile eyewash equipment or emergency eyewash and shower equipment, except for the case specified in the second paragraph of this point.

Factories and warehouses containing corrosive chemicals must be equipped with emergency eyewash and shower equipment within a maximum range of 17m from the storage area.”

8. Point 5.12 is added as follows:

“5.12. Chemicals in a warehouse shall be placed to meet the following specifications:

- Bagged chemicals must be placed on pedestals or racks, at least 0.5 m from the wall;

- Water reactive chemicals must be placed on pedestals or racks at least 0.3m above the ground;

- Chemicals must be placed at least 1.5m from the warehouse ceiling;

- Paths in factories and warehouses must be at least 0.75m wide. In case forklifts are used, the paths must be at least 2m wide".

9. Point 5.14 is added as follows:

“5.14. Chemical containers must be stacked in such a manner as to ensure that the permissible load capacity of a pallet is not exceeded. Containers with a capacity of less than 1,000 liters and over 1,000 liters must not be stacked more than three (03) and two (02) tiers high respectively.. Chemicals must not be placed at a height of more than 2 m if stacks are not available.”

10. Point 5.15 is added as follows:

“5.15. Factories and warehouses containing liquid hazardous chemicals must have a collection system to ensure that: chemicals do not escape to the environment; chemicals do not come into contact with reactive chemicals in the event of spills or leaks of other hazardous chemicals.”

11. Point 8.1.3 is added as follows:

“8.1.3. Flammable and explosive chemicals must not be stored together with oxygen and substances capable of releasing oxygen under storage conditions, hazardous and incompatible chemicals, substances subject to different fire extinguishing requirements or substances capable of triggering hazardous reaction in the case of contact or fire.”

12. Point 8.4.9 is added as follows:

“8.4.9. In the event of a fire or explosion incident, every person that is present must use PPE to participate in rescuing victims and responding to the incident.  Persons who do not have personal protective equipment to ensure safety are not permitted to participate in the incident response.”

13. Point 9.1.1 is added as follows:

“9.1.1. Factories and warehouses having corrosive chemicals in liquid form must have a chemical collection system. The minimum capacity of the collection system must be at least 110% of the capacity of the largest container.”

14. Point 9.1.4 is added as follows:

“9.1.4. Factories and warehouses having corrosive chemicals in liquid form must take anti-corrosion measures.

15. Point 10.1.3 is added as follows:

“10.1.3. Factories and warehouses containing toxic chemicals in liquid and gas form must have appropriate leak and spill warning devices. For solid poisons, surveillance cameras must be installed. For toxic chemicals capable of being dispersed into the environment in gas form, it is required to install equipment for absorbing and treating toxic gases or automatic sprinklers to respond to incidents."

16. Point 10.1.7 is added as follows:

“10.1.7. Factories and warehouses containing toxic chemicals in liquid form must have a collection system. The minimum capacity of the collection system must be 110% of the capacity of the largest container.”

17. Point 11.2 is added as follows:

“11.2. The storage capacity of the dike system must be at least 110% of the capacity of the largest container.”

18. Point 12.1 is added as follows:

“12.1. Upon transport of hazardous chemicals, the regulations set out in the Government’s Decree No. 34/2024/ND-CP dated March 31, 2024 and applicable legislative documents shall be complied with.”

III. Implementation

19. Point 2.3 is added as follows:

“2.3. In the cases where any of the legislative documents and regulations referred to in this is amended, supplemented or replaced, the newest one shall prevail”.

Annex A

PICTOGRAMS INDICATING HAZARDS OF CHEMICALS

Annex A of QCVN 05A:2020/BCT National technical regulation on safety in production, commerce, use, storage and transportation of hazardous chemicals promulgated together with the Circular No. 48/2020/TT-BCT dated December 21, 2020 of the Minister of Industry and Trade is replaced with Annex A promulgated together with Amendment 1:2024 QCVN 05A:2020/BCT.