Ammonium Nitrate Handling

Ammonium Nitrate based fertilisers (AN) are not combustible, but can increase the risk and intensity of fire in other materials with which they come into contact. In certain cases they may also decompose in a self-sustaining manner, and toxic fumes may be released when they are involved in a fire. When handling AN, you should adhere to the following practices:

Fire Prevention

• Thoroughly wash any equipment that requires welding or the application of heat to remove all fertiliser.
• Switch off all electrical machinery and lighting when not in use.
• Always park machinery and vehicles away from AN containers. Remove all keys from unattended vehicles.
• Maintain vehicles to avoid oil and fuel leaks. If leaks do occur, clean up immediately with inert absorbent granules. Dilute the resulting material with an inert substance such as limestone grit and dispose of it with due regard for environmental considerations.
• Avoid activities such as vehicle maintenance and welding near storage areas.

In Case of Fire

• Avoid breathing the fumes. Fight the fire from upwind and from outside of buildings if possible. Use a self-contained breathing apparatus if entering any area where fumes are present.
• Tackle a major decomposition with copious quantities of water, preferably with high-pressure water jets.
• Do not use halon, CO₂, dry powder or foam extinguishers, sand or other smothering agents.
• Evacuate all personnel not involved in fire fighting away from the scene. In particular, keep people away from the fumes.
• Ensure maximum ventilation as quickly as practical. Open all doors, windows and roof openings if possible to help disperse the fumes.
• Keep adjacent fertilisers cool by spraying with large amounts of water.
• If practicable and safe to do so, attempt to prevent molten AN from entering the drains where explosive confinement could occur. Prevent or minimize contamination of water courses. In the event of such contamination, inform the Water Authority immediately.

Handling and Storage Recommendations

• Ensure all storage areas are clean and dry
• Keep equipment, walls, and floors clean and free from contaminants
• Always ensure there is a one-metre walkway around stacked bags of AN, marked with oxidizing agent sign and class 5.1.
• Keep stacks of AN bags to less than 300 tonnes total size. Additional stacks may be constructed in adjacent areas if needed, but must have a minimum of one metre separation distance.
• Do not store bags of AN in the same stack with bags of any other fertilisers.
• Do not store AN where it can be affected by any source of heat and keep it separate from all combustible materials.
• Preferably store urea in a separate building from AN. However, if essential to store urea in the same building as AN, arrange the storage so these substances cannot come into contact with each other in any conceivable situation, including fire.
• Store empty pallets outside away from storage buildings. If the need arises to store the pallets inside, separate them from AN with a suitable firebreak.
• If AN is stored outside, protect stacks from sunlight and water and cover with properly secured plastic sheeting to prevent product deterioration
• Do not store or load AN on the same vehicle with combustible substances such as hay, straw, oil, grease, petrol, paint, oil-based pesticides, or with chemicals such as acids, urea, or chlorates.