Sustainable grain certification through upgrading chemical storage requires several requirements in the self-assessment and audit checklist. Action Steel has expertise in making this happen.
Compliant chemical storage is more important than ever for cropping enterprises looking to improve on-farm safety and gain sustainable grain certification.
Hold tight - we’re checking permissions before loading more content
In response, chemical shed projects are becoming popular in 2024, and the Action Steel team are manufacturing and installing purpose-built sheds right across Victoria’s cropping regions.
This increased demand is largely driven by Sustainable Grain Australia implementing International Sustainability and Carbon Certification (ISCC) to audit growers and certify Australian grains such as canola as sustainable.
The auditing process for sustainable grain covers topics such as cropping rotations, paddock inspections, waste management, general farm safety and chemical use and storage.
A significant benefit of the ISCC system is that it provides growers and exporters with access to international markets, such as the European biofuel market which pays a premium for certified canola.
So, it pays to have compliant chemical storage.
If you are looking to gain sustainable grain certification and need to upgrade your chemical storage, there are several requirements in the self-assessment and audit checklist.
Firstly, your chemical shed needs to be a secure lock-up structure that is suitable for storing chemicals, it should be manufactured from inflammable materials and have a RE30 rating, which means it will resist a fire for 30 minutes.
Required signage is also necessary, ensuring the shed is well-ventilated and well-illuminated and has a sealed and bunded concrete slab with the appropriate storage volume and drainage.
Compliant chemical storage does seem to be a topic with limited information available; however, the building consultants at Action Steel can provide advice and recommendations.
For example, Action Steel recommend paying attention to shed access points to ensure that the shed can be safely exited in case of an emergency.
The shed layout is also an important consideration, addressing such things as storing flammable chemicals away from access points and installing pallet racking to allow solid fertilisers to be stored above liquid fertilisers.
The building consultants at Action Steel have also developed a range of Standard Chemical Sheds to address the options available for compliant storage and includes three configuration options for varying operational requirements such as sprayer bays and undercover wash down areas.
Sizes available range from 50 shuttle spaces to 70-plus shuttle spaces and the designs include lockable doors, ventilation and bunded concrete slabs for compliance.
If upgrading your on-farm chemical storage, the Standard Chemical Shed Range is an excellent starting point.
A Standard Chemical Sheds Brochure which includes sizes, prices and design options and inclusions is available at www.actionsteel.com.au
Alternatively call the Action team on 1800 687 888 to learn more.
Visit the team at site 486 at the Elmore Field Days to learn more about compliant chemical storage and discuss your farm shed project.
Action Steel recommends and gives advice on paying attention to shed access points to ensure that the shed can be safely exited in case of an emergency.
Photo by
ActionSi
22°C