Correct storage methods

The national law requires that all sites or premises storing or handling hazardous materials have:

• fire prevention and protection measures suitable for the goods;
• signs in accordance with legislation;
• emergency management plans when necessary; and
• a manifest box at the gate when required.

We work together with companies and organisations to ensure no hazardous materials incidents happen, and if they do, that the appropriate steps are taken to handle a possible emergency.

According to national laws, premises that handle and/or store dangerous goods are required to do so in a safe manner:

• Exterior signs are to be shown warning of significant amounts of dangerous goods on a site.
• These signs must feature the word ‘HAZCHEM’, or must display the dangerous goods diamond symbols.
• Companies or premises storing and handling dangerous goods can also invest in a manifest box which clearly marks that dangerous goods are present.
• There are limitations on the quantities of dangerous goods that can be stored in any premise before special precautions must be taken.
• The quantity of dangerous goods intending to be stored will determine how these goods can be stored and which associated fire protection, prevention and suppression systems you will need to put in place.

To find out what quantities and materials you are allowed to handle, store and transport please see the national government’s collection of national legislative documents.

Classifying hazardous materials

Hazardous materials are materials that may have hazardous properties. Our Fire and Rescue Services Department categorise the following materials together under the title 'Hazardous Materials' or 'HAZMATS':

• Dangerous goods
• Hazardous substances
• Scheduled poisons
• Hazardous waste
• Environmental pollutants

Dangerous goods
Dangerous goods are substances that may be corrosive, flammable, explosive, spontaneously combustible, toxic, oxidising, radioactive, biological, water reactive or gases under pressure or liquefied.

Hazardous substances
Hazardous substances are substances with the potential to harm health. They can be gases, liquids or solids, and can be either pure substances or mixtures.

To find out more about classification, please see South African National Standard: The Identification and Classification of Dangerous Goods for Transport by Road and Rail Modes.

Flammable substance certificate

An owner or person in charge of a premises may not store or use:

• a flammable gas in excess of 100 kilograms; or
• a flammable liquid of a danger group (i), (ii), (iii) or (iv) in excess of 200 litres.

Unless you have obtained a flammable substance certificate from the controlling authority.

City inspection services

If you are going to be storing dangerous hazardous materials in excess of the allowed quota on your premises, you have to get input from the City’s Fire and Rescue Service Department.

The City’s Fire and Rescue Service can provide expert advice on matters relating to:

• placarding (signage and identification of dangerous goods);
• fire protection; and
• emergency management planning.

We inspect premises storing or handling hazardous materials to ensure that:

• fire prevention and protection measures are suitable for the goods;
• signs are present in accordance with legislation;
• the site has emergency management plans in place; and
• the site has a manifest box at the gate when required.

Contact the Fire and Rescue Service Department for an inspection or advice.

For information on transporting dangerous goods, please see Transportation of dangerous goods.

Document downloads

• 1. Flammable Substance Certificate Application

     01/02/2002, Application form - 200.3 KB

  2. SANS 10228 (2012) The Identification and Classification of Dangerous Goods for Transport by Road and Rail Modes

     01/01/2010, Regulation - 1.8 MB