These best practices are highlights from the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) standards used to conduct inspections of ammonium nitrate (AN) facilities. This isn’t a complete list.
- Don’t keep flammable or combustible materials, including liquids and gases, inside a building that stores AN.
- Store AN in a structurally sound building.
- Check walls and bins for signs of AN saturation.
- Install and maintain all electrical components according to the National Electrical Code.
- Hang “no smoking” signs on the outside and inside of the building.
- Don’t store chemicals and substances that are incompatible with AN in the same area.
- Remove obstructions from building entrances and exits.
- Provide, maintain, and inspect portable fire extinguishers correctly.
- Install a NFPA 704 warning placard on the outside of the building.
- Don’t store fuel-powered equipment in a building where AN is stored. This includes tractors, skid-steer loaders, and front-end loaders.
- Clear bins of any materials that may contaminate the AN.
- Bins used to store AN inside the building must have a sign that says “ammonium nitrate” in uppercase, 2-inch tall letters.
- Don’t store AN within 3 feet of a building’s roof or support structures.
- Talk to the local responding fire department every year about the storage of AN, and have an emergency action plan on file.
The State Fire Marshal’s Office (SFMO) has adopted the 2015 editions of NFPA 1, Fire Code and NFPA 101, Life Safety Code. Both standards reference NFPA 400, Hazardous Materials Code, 2013 edition.
On Sept. 1, 2023, the SFMO will begin using the 2021 editions of NFPA 1 and 101, which reference NFPA 400, 2019 edition.