CARGO STORAGE AND WAREHOUSING

INTRODUCTION
Meaning of warehousing
Warehousing is when you purchase goods from a manufacturer and store them
before they are shipped to another location for fulfillment. You may store these
goods in a warehouse, spare room, or other facilities. This all depends on how
much stock you have, and how big your business is. If you’ve a small business
your warehousing option doesn’t need to include transport access.

Warehousing is the act of storing goods that will be sold or distributed later. While
a small, home-based business might be warehousing products in a spare room,
basement, or garage, larger businesses typically own or rent space in a building
that is specifically designed for storage.

What Are The Functions of Warehousing?

The main function of a warehouse is to store products or goods before moving
them to another location. But there can be some secondary functions of
warehousing that enhance a warehouse’s space.
Shipment Hub
When warehouses are placed in a very strategic location, these can become
shipping hubs that receive shipments until they can be moved to other storage
facilities across the country.
Assembly Line
Where products are delivered by the manufacturer in several pieces, companies
can allocate areas within their warehouse to assemble products for retailers or
customers.
Rental Storage Space
Whether sales are down, or you possess a warehouse that is too big for your stock
at the moment, renting space in your warehouse to other businesses is a good
option for you if you have space. 
Warehousing Elements
Whether the purpose is strictly storage or storage plus order fulfillment,
warehouses use specific elements that help manufacturers, distributors, and
retailers monitor inventory and store it safely. An overview of basic elements
includes:
 Shelving and rack systems that offer maximum storage capacity and easy
product access.
 A climate control system for the product being stored. This is particularly
important for frozen products or those requiring refrigeration, including
certain pharmaceutical or laboratory products, and others that degrade if
exposed to too much heat.
 Inventory control software that tells the product owner – who isn’t
necessarily the building owner – where all individual units are in the system
at all times.
 Equipment that can move products from point A to point B – forklifts, pallet
jacks, bins that hold products for orders, and conveyor belts, for example. 
 Shipping supplies for order fulfillment.
 People who load products into a warehouse and others (“pickers”) who fill
orders in a true distribution center, plus those who manage the facility and
operation. 
 Security to protect stored products.
 Access to cost-effective transportation to bring products in or move them out
as orders are fulfilled. That often means easy access to interstates, rail lines,
or airports.

The Origin of Warehouses

Warehouses are used by companies to store large amounts of product inventory.
Although a lot of warehouses today are run by automation (Amazon warehouses
being a prime example of this), warehousing had a far humbler beginning.
Inventory storage and warehousing have been around for thousands of years, with
the first warehouses dating back to the early Roman Empire. Today warehouses are
a crucial part of our economy.
Let’s look back in history to see how warehouses developed into what they are
now.
Ancient Rome
 
The first type of public warehouse was the Roman Horreum. Originally
constructed during the 2nd century BC, these buildings were used to store grain,
olive oil, wine, food items, clothing, and marble. The biggest of these was the
Horrea Galbae, which contained 140 rooms on the first floor alone. In total, the
Galbae covered more than 225,000 square feet! To help you understand the
Galbae’s size, less than half of warehouses in the U.S. are larger than 100,000
square feet.
Although these horrea (plural for horreum) were the first of their kind, they were
undoubtedly ahead of their time. When Roman emperor Septimius Severus died in
211 AD, he left the Horrea Galbae stocked with enough food to feed all 1 million
citizens of Rome for 7 years! Additionally, ancient Roman horrea were built with
ramps instead of stairs, which made transporting goods in and out of the buildings
a breeze. Horrea were built with thick walls to reduce the chances of fire, and high
windows to reduce the chance of theft. These ancient warehouses were often
located close to major shipping ports which streamlined the process of importing
and exporting goods. The Ancient Romans really thought of it all!
The Industrial Revolution

The Industrial Revolution of the 18th and 19th centuries brought new advancements

to warehouses which made them more specialized. The dramatic and sudden
increase in globalization during this period caused warehouses to emphasize
product movement. This emphasis brought forth some of the earliest large-scale
supply chains.
Once the railway system began to take hold in the United States, more people
began to travel and colonize previously barren areas. This development led to the
creation of several “rail warehouses” that were conveniently located alongside
railways. Rail warehouses and railways allowed companies to transport goods over
land more efficiently than ever before.
The twentieth century brought warehousing to the next stage. Machine-operated
factories were sprouting up everywhere and consumer goods were being produced
at an astounding rate. Advancements in communication and transportation
technologies increased globalization and urbanization, which led to warehouses
being created all over the world.
The 21st Century

This brings us to the current period. Here in the 21st century, we are currently
witnessing the next major development in warehousing– automation. Whereas in
the past when heavy boxes full of goods would have to be moved by humans,
automated machines now handle most of the heavy lifting. These warehouses
usually only require a few human operators to schedule tasks while the machines
handle the rest. Products move on automated conveyors and are organized
completely by automated machinery. Although most warehouses today are still
operated predominantly by real people, the trend of warehousing automation is
growing.
It’s clear that warehousing is continuing to evolve and grow. Warehousing
technology is getting more advanced and more efficient, and it doesn’t seem to be
slowing down. Since 1967, Build Industries has been serving the warehousing and
packaging needs of the San Fernando Valley with cutting edge technology. The
team at Build Industries are experts in providing state-of-the-art efficient
warehousing and packaging solutions.
Logistics and warehousing
Logistic is the process of planning, controlling and implementation of storage
goods from the starting points and movement of the final product. Warehousing is
a planned space for the handling and storage of goods and material. By storing the
goods throughout the year and releasing them as and when they are needed,
warehousing creates time utility.
Warehousing is holding inventory in a location. Logistics is the entire process of
obtaining material from sources to putting it in the hands of users. Logistics
includes transportation, information systems, warehousing and distribution,
procurement, finance, performance metrics and so on.

Warehousing is a key component of logistics management and how businesses

manage the transportation and storage of their inventories. Warehousing and
logistics must be aligned within a firm to have the most efficient effect on overall
manufacturing production as well as outbound logistics activities. The
collaboration between these two functions must be utilized effectively while also
maintaining high levels of synchronization in order to garner the most efficiency
and effectiveness within the firm, as well as the supply chain as a whole.
What’s the Difference?
Warehousing and logistics are two different aspects of similar functions within the
supply chain. Warehousing is the safe storage of goods, inventory, information,
etc. within a specified area or building. Logistics is the overarching principles and
function of: transportation, warehousing, internal movement, of the same goods,
inventory, information, etc. to a manufacturing line or back to the firm from the
customer (reverse logistics). Warehousing and logistics are a tandem in terms of
their operational scope so ensuring these components collaborate in regards to
operations is key.
Customized Warehousing
Warehousing has been utilized by manufacturing companies to manage their
inventory and storage needs since its inception successfully. In the current supply
chain and retail scenario, warehouses utilization isn’t limited to being ‘just a
traditional storage room.’ Warehouses today have evolved and double up as kitting
and assembly hubs, contributing significantly in today’s competitive retail
scenario. 
Furthermore, with e-commerce players expanding their operations to meet the
growing demands of the consumer, the need for warehouses has increased. There
has been a sharp increase in warehouse occupancy in both tier I and II markets,
especially in states like Delhi NCR, Mumbai, Pune, Bengaluru, and Chennai.
Customized warehouses have allowed companies to speed up their delivery and
assembly processes while investing lower capital on the core manufacturing
process. With the introduction of warehouse automation, operations like picking,
warehouse robots, barcode labels, and other technology-infused developments
have allowed companies to cut manufacturing time and reduce expenses. It has
also provided opportunities to reach out to compete at a global level by expanding
to countries like the US, China, and others.

Activities of warehousing
Warehouse happens to be a key function and destination of in the over-all supply
chain planning and execution. It has its purpose not only receiving and distributing
materials/goods but to many companies it is a strategic function too.
In general, a typical warehousing can be seen to be performing the following
activities:
1. Receiving goods
 Accepts goods from outside transportation or attached factory
 Check goods vs order/bill
 Check the quantity
 Check for damage
 Damage reports
 Inspect goods, if required

2. Identifying the goods

 Stock-keeping-unit-number (part number)
 Quality received is recorded
3. Dispatching goods to storage by sorting and putting away
4. Holding goods by keeping and preserving
5. Picking goods
6. Marshalling the shipment such as goods making up a single order are
brought together and checked for discrepancies. Order records are updated
7. Dispatching the shipment
Orders are packaged, shipping documents are prepared, goods loaded to
vehicles
8. Operating an information system
Item record must be maintained (quality on hand, quantity received, quantity
issued and location)

9. Quality assurance
It needs to be followed in all the stages of operation
TOPIC 2: TYPES OF WAREHOUSING

Types of warehousing

There are three types of warehouses as described below:

Private Warehouses:
The private warehouses are owned and operated by big manufacturers and
merchants to fulfill their own storage needs. The goods manufactured or
purchased by the owner of the warehouses have a limited value or utility as
businessmen in general cannot make use of them because of the heavy
investment required in the construction of a warehouse, some big business
firms which need large storage capacity on a regular basis and who can
afford money, construct and maintain their private warehouses. A big
manufacturer or wholesaler may have a network of his own warehouses in
different parts of the country.

Examples:
(a) Warehouses constructed by farmers/producers near their fields/places of
work.
(b) Warehouses owned and managed by wholesalers and retailers close to
their selling centers.
(c) Warehouses constructed by manufacturers near their production units.
(d) Warehouses taken on rent by retail stores.
(e) Retailers may have several regional warehouses to cater the needs of
their stores.

(f) Warehouses owned/leased by a wholesaler where it stores and distributes.

Maintaining private warehouses involves fixed as well as variable costs.
Examples of fixed costs are basically the investments made in terms of
insurance, capital, interests and taxes. The variable costs on the other hand,
include maintenance costs and operating costs.

Public Warehouses:
A public warehouse is a specialised business establishment that provides
storage facilities to the general public for a certain charge. It may be owned
and operated by an individual or a cooperative society. It has to work under
a license from the government in accordance with the prescribed rules and
regulations.

Public warehouses are very important in the marketing of agricultural

products and therefore the government is encouraging the establishment of
public warehouses in the cooperative sector. A public warehouse is also
known as duty-paid warehouse.

Public warehouses are very useful to the business community. Most of the
business enterprises cannot afford to maintain their own warehouses due to
huge capital Investment. In many cases the storage facilities required by a
business enterprise do not warrant the maintenance of a private warehouse.
Such enterprises can meet their storage needs easily and economically by
making use of the public warehouses, without heavy investment.

Public warehouses provide storage facilities to small manufacturers and

traders at low cost. These warehouses are well constructed and guarded
round the clock to ensure safe custody of goods. Public warehouses are
generally located near the junctions of railways, highways and waterways.

They provide, therefore, excellent facilities for the easy receipt, despatch,
loading and unloading of goods. They also use mechanical devices for the
handling of heavy and bulky goods. A public warehouse enables a
businessman to serve his customers quickly and economically by carrying
regional stocks near the important trading centres or markets of two
countries.

Public warehouses provide facilities for the inspection of goods by

prospective buyers. They also permit packaging, grading and grading of
goods. The public warehouses receipts are good collateral securities for
borrowings.

For example, before festivals or before marriage seasons, retailers may order
extra merchandise to avoid ‘out of stock’ situations. These warehouses are
typically regulated by the government bodies. Costs incurred by the private
firms for the use of public warehouses are considered as variable. These
warehouses are mainly used by manufacturers/producers, exporters and
importers.

Bonded Warehouses:
Bonded warehouses are licensed by the government to accept imported
goods for storage until the payment of custom duty. They are located near
the ports. These warehouses are either operated by the government or work
under the control of custom authorities.

The warehouse is required to give an undertaking or ‘Bond’ that it will not

allow the goods to be removed without the consent of the custom authorities.
The goods are held in bond and cannot be withdrawn without paying the
custom duty. The goods stored in bonded warehouses cannot be interfered
by the owner without the permission of customs authorities. Hence the name
bonded warehouse.

Bonded warehouses are very helpful to importers and exporters. If an

importer is unable or unwilling to pay customs duty immediately after the
arrival of goods he can store the goods in a bonded warehouse. He can
withdraw the goods in installments by paying the customs duty
proportionately

Other types are:

4. Co-operative Warehouses
As the very name implies, these warehouses are owned, managed and
controlled by co-operative societies. These societies provide storage
facilities on the most economical rates to their members only. The basic
purpose to run such warehouses is not to earn profit but to help their
members.
 5. Distribution centres
This type of storage facility usually has large space, which enables fast
movement of large quantities of stores for short period. While, on the other
hand, conventional warehouses hold goods for long time, say 2 months or 1
year.
These warehouses basically by nature, serve as points in the distribution
system at which goods are procured from different suppliers and quickly
transferred to various customers. These centers provide computerized
control, which make movement of goods quick, fast and reliable.
In order to minimize delivery time, these storage facilities are found close to
transportation centers. In some cases, distribution centers handle the goods
for less than a day period such as in case of fast foods or perishable
products. Most of the goods enter in the early morning (dawn time) and is
transferred/distributed by the evening time.

Characteristics of various types of warehouse of customs

Warehouse Qualities to Look For

Different types of warehouses set themselves apart in their own unique

ways. However, there are some general characteristics that an efficient and
safe warehouse should have. These include:
 Safety and security
 Trained staff
 Accessibility and market proximity
 Appropriate storage space
 Latest mechanical appliances
 Properly designed interiors
 Emergency protocol up to the latest standards
 Organized picking and receiving processes
 Quality check
 Updated software
 Prompt delivery and customer service
Characteristics of controlled warehouses

For perishable products / goods such as medical supplies and

pharmaceuticals, it is essential that the warehouses in which they are stored
are attentively controlled. Variations in humidity and temperature may have
consequences of disastrous proportions if they cause things such as
medicines to become ineffective or result in the collapse of vital medical
equipment.
Ensuring the temperature stays within a given range is fairly straightforward
for a small area. However, when goods get transferred to larger spaces,
especially warehouses, a variety of problems may arise. Inconsistencies in
temperature can occur as racking or shelves may cause "hot spots" by
obstructing air circulation. Temperatures also tend to be higher by heaters or
lower next to dock loading bays where the doors are constantly opened and
closed.
New technologies now enable the recording and logging of detailed
information for changes in things such as the average temperature inside a
specific package within a warehouse. These devices, or data loggers,
monitor temperature, humidity and other conditions for items in storage or
transit. The highest / lowest temperatures are recorded, and any time spent
outside of these preset limits.

In temperature controlled warehousing, the packaging in which products are

stored is of equal importance. However, with recent changes to the world
due to global warming and the overall environmental impact that we have on
the planet, packaging has changed considerably. Many conventional
solutions for packaging are now scarce, and have brought forth temperature-
controlled packaging via PCMs, or phase change materials. PCMs can
frequently be reused as well which assists not only in minimizing our carbon
footprint, but allows companies to operate more efficiently.
TOPIC 3: GOODS AND THEIR STORAGE
Categories of stored cargo
Types of goods

Practically all products you use in your day-to-day life have passed through
the Port of Antwerp. And every product requires its own method of
transport, or packaging. Five types of cargo can be distinguished: container
cargo, liquid bulk, dry bulk, breakbulk and ro-ro.

Container cargo

Toys, televisions, DVDs, clothing, meat and computers; containers are the
best way to transport these and many similar products. By efficiently loading
the goods, they can be transported simultaneously in large quantities. One
twenty foot container can hold the shopping of 300 trolleys! Or 3,000 game
computers! Or 1,000,000 pencils! And the goods are well protected against
the elements by the container's metal walls. The fixed size of the containers
also has a major advantage. The standard sizes mean containers fit on sea-
going vessels, lorries, inland barges and train wagons.
Liquid bulk

Crude oil, petrol, fuel oil, vegetable oils and even wine; all liquid products
which are often transported on big tankers or through a pipeline to the next
destination. A lot of liquid bulk passes through the Port of Antwerp every
year. For the refineries, crude oil is the raw material they need to produce
new goods, such as fuel oil, petrol and kerosene. These products also find
their way as liquid bulk to the next destination. People heat their houses with
fuel oil or aircraft at Brussels Airport use kerosene from the Port of
Antwerp.

Dry bulk
Dry bulk refers to grain, coal, iron ore, cement, sugar, salt and sand. They
are not packaged separately, but transported in large quantities in the hold of
a ship, wagon or lorry. A lot of the dry bulk arriving in Antwerp is processed
into construction products. Blast furnaces use iron ore and coal to produce
steel. But there are also tastier examples. A lot of yeast arrives in bulk in
Antwerp, which is used to make beer or whisky.

Breakbulk

Paper, wood, bags of cocoa, rolls of steel, parts of wind turbines; these are
all products that can be transported in a container or simply put on a vessel.
The name says it, it breaks easily. To be able to lift general cargo, it is often
packaged on pallets, in crates or racks. A crane or forklift truck can easily
load or discharge the goods. Antwerp's dockworkers have considerable
expertise with this kind of work and an outstanding reputation, which has
allowed Antwerp to grow into the leading breakbulk port in the world.

Ro-ro
 Ro-ro refers to 'roll on / roll off'. This name explains how the cargo is
discharged and loaded. This concerns cargo that can be driven which is only
done by especially trained drivers. Ro-ro is used for cars, busses, trucks,
agricultural vehicles and cranes. To transport as many of these vehicles in
one go, enormous ro-ro vessels have been built. Some ro-ro vessels have
enough room for more than 8,500 cars! In the Antwerp port area, ro-ro is
chiefly on the Left bank.

Classification of goods subject to storage:

 Conventional goods
 Non-standard sized goods: boilers, masts, heaters, presses, locomotives,
boats, satellites, military equipment;
 Dangerous goods without classes 1 and 7 (ADR/RID/IMDG/IATA DGR)
 Special goods, including valuable objects, perishable goods, diplomatic and
personal luggage, exhibition exhibits, humanitarian aid

Types of goods stored in warehouses

 electronics
 spare parts
 machine parts
 equipment
 personal items
 vehicle parts
 printed materials
 stationery
 telecommunication equipment
 trade fair and exhibition exhibits
 bulk and packaged goods
 glass
 dry and liquid goods
 medical supplies
 packaged food and chocolate items
 cosmetics and personal hygiene products
 household and industrial appliances
 goods under customs control (temporary warehouses and warehouses of type
1)
 textiles (including such on racks and in cardboard boxes)
 dangerous good such us chemicals, paints, crop protection materials etc.
(without classes 1 and 7)

Manufacturing
Manufacturing firms can warehouse their inventory to coincide with
production needs. Raw materials are the basic components of production.
Similar raw materials can be grouped together based on when they will be
needed on the assembly line. Work in process is your inventory that is not
yet completed. These units can be stored until they are ready to return to the
production line. Finished goods are completed inventory that is ready for
sale to your customers. Finished goods can be displayed on your store
shelves or warehoused near the loading dock in anticipation of future sales.

Hazardous Materials
Hazardous materials you use in your manufacturing operations must be
stored safely, according to federal and state regulations. Some hazardous
materials with special storage requirements are compressed gas, fuels,
alcohol-based products, corrosive materials and toxic materials. Your
hazardous materials must be stored in separate containers in a temperature-
controlled environment. This inventory is best stored in a separate
warehouse from your other materials.
 Perishables
You will need a temperature-controlled warehouse to store perishable
inventory such as flowers, food and beverage. You can store nonconsumable
flowers and plants together until they are sold. State and federal agencies
highly regulate inventory meant for human consumption. In many states,
you must obtain a license from the state before you can store perishable food
in a warehouse. To ensure food safety, the state will periodically inspect
your warehouse to see whether your inventory is properly stored.

Retail
Retail inventory can be stored in a warehouse until you receive a customer’s
order. Retail inventory is the finished goods you buy to resell at a profit.
You can sell your inventory directly from the warehouse, through your retail
outlets or online. Merchandise will flow in and out of your warehouse based
on the method you use, such as first in, first out, or last in, first out. Using an
inventory system helps you track how fast your items sell.

Storage requirements

 Decide on the level of stock required and ensure good stock management.
 Determine storage space requirements based on the level of stock required.
 Select a warehouse that meets adequate design requirements including
security, access, size, ventilation, location and utilities.
 Ensure all goods are received by the storekeeper and inspected on delivery.
 Ensure the warehouse space is organised to facilitate effective storekeeping
and comply with safety standards, and allow sufficient space for delivery
and packing.
 Implement good piling/stacking practices.
 Implement an appropriate rotary system for the order of stock coming in and
out, considering expiry dates.
 Ensure food storage complies with a food safety checklist.
 If good quality warehouse options are not available, consider emergency
storage solutions such as containers and Rubb halls.
 Implement minimum standards for warehouse management tools, including
the use of waybills, and other standard warehouse and inventory
management documentation.
 Put in place adequate warehouse staffing including storekeeper and loaders.
 Consider sharing warehouse space with other NGOs as a cost-saving
measure but ensure very clear delineation of space, controls and liabilities.
 Supply the warehouse with adequate levels of materials and equipment.
 Ensure safety measures are in place including safety equipment and
practices.
 Put controls in place to minimize security risks to warehouse and stock.

Commodity organization

Commodity associations are organizations that bring together a wide

spectrum of interest groups related to a particular commodity or sector (such
as horticulture) in a particular country, whether the commodity is for export,
for the domestic market or for both. Such associations can draw membership
from individual farmers or their associations, from crop buyers, processors,
distributors and exporters, as well as from suppliers of support services.
Sometimes government agencies are also members.

Storage requirements for hazardous storage

Dangerous goods are solids, liquids or gases that are harmful to people,

property and the environment. Dangerous Goods include substances that are;
explosive, flammable, spontaneously combustible, oxidizing, toxic,
corrosive and water reactive. Some commonly used dangerous goods
include; petrol, solvents, paints, acids and pesticides.
Workplace incidents involving dangerous goods have the potential to cause
severe or fatal injuries to people and large-scale destruction to workplace
property and the surrounding environment.
As dangerous goods pose significant risks upon the people and property of
your organisation, it makes it very important to store your dangerous goods
in a safe and compliant manner. If you fail to store your dangerous goods
 safely, results can range from property damage and financial liability due to
non-compliance, through to death.
The safe storage of dangerous goods can be achieved by adhering to the
requirements outlined in the Australian Standards. The Australian Standards
are not law, however they are accepted as an important part of a solution for
meeting legislative compliance. We will now outline the storage
requirements for the different classes of dangerous goods.

Class 1 - Explosives
The Australian Standard that outlines the requirements for the storage and
handling of explosives is AS2187.1-1998 - Explosives - Storage transport
and use - Storage.
This standard outlines the design requirements for internal portable
magazines and explosives cabinets. The main requirements for these
explosive storage devices include;

 Fully welded steel or aluminium sheet metal construction no less than 1.1
mm thick.
 Internally lined with wood that is securely fastened to the steel or aluminium
 Fitted with a close fitting lid secured by steel hasp, staple and hinges.
 Fitted with a lock and handles for lifting
 Painted both internally and externally

Class 2 - Gases
The Australian Standard that outlines the requirements for the storage and
handling of gases in cylinders is AS 4332-2004 - The storage and handling
of gases in cylinders.
This standard outlines the design and construction requirements for gas
cylinder storage cages used for the storage of:
 Division 2.1 - Flammable Gas
 Division 2.2 - Non-flammable non toxic gas
 Division 2.3 - Toxic Gas
The indoor storage of gases in cylinders must be avoided wherever possible.
The main design requirements for gas cylinder storage cages include:
 Must be constructed from a non-combustible material.
 Doors must open outwards
 A natural ventilation system that consists of at least 2 opposing walls with
louvers. The total area of the vents shall be at least 0.1m2 per one metre of
wall length.
 Must be fitted with restraining chains and bars to protect the gas cylinder
from being knocked over or falling.

Class 3 - Flammable liquids

The Australian Standard that outlines the requirements for the storage and
handling of flammable liquids is AS1940-2017 - The storage and handling
of flammable and combustible liquids.
This standard outlines different requirements for indoor storage and outdoor
storage of flammable and combustible liquids.
The design requirements for indoor flammable liquids storage
cabinets include:

 Double walled sheet metal construction with at least 40mm air gap between
the walls.
 Self-closing closing fitting doors that latch at 2 or more points.
 The inner base of the cabinet shall form a liquid tight spill containment
sump that is at least 150 mm deep. Cabinets with a storage capacity
exceeding 250L must have a spill containment sump that has the capacity to
hold at least 25% of the aggregate storage capacity of the cabinet.
 Perforated shelves to allow for free air-movement within the cabinet.
The main design requirements for outdoor chemical storage containers used
for the storage of flammable liquids include:
 A liquid tight spill containment sump in the base of the store. The capacity
of this spill containment sump depends on the aggregate storage capacity of
the chemical storage container. Specific details on the spill containment
capacity can be found here.
 A natural ventilation system comprising of at least two walls of fixed
louvers having at least 50% of its area as opening.
 The relevant dangerous goods signage to warn workers and visitors of the
risks associated with the flammable liquids being stored.
 Class 4 - Flammable Solids
The Australian Standard that outlines the requirements for the storage and
handling of flammable solids is AS/NZS - The storage and handling of class
4 dangerous goods.
This standard outlines the design and construction requirements
for cabinets used for the storage and handling of:
 Division 4.1 - Flammable Solids
 Division 4.2 - Spontaneous Combustibles
 Division 4.3 - Substances which in contact with water emit flammable gases
The main requirements for indoor storage cabinets used for the storage of
class 4 dangerous goods include:
 The cabinet shall be of a double walled sheet steel construction having a
thickness of at least 0.75mm. The gaps between the walls shall be at least
40mm.
 The doors of the cabinet shall be self-closing close-fitting and capable of
releasing in the event of build up of pressure inside the cabinet.
 The cabinet must have a base with a spill containment sump that is at least
150mm deep and capable of holding at least 100% of the largest package
stored inside the cabinet.
 Any shelves within the cabinet must be perforated to allow for free air-
movement within the cabinet.

Division 5.1 - Oxidising Agents

The Australian Standard that outlines the requirements for the storage and
handling of oxidising agents is AS 4326-2008 - The storage and handling of
oxidising agents.
This standard outlines the design and construction requirements for
indoor oxidising agents storage cabinets. The main construction
requirements include:

 The cabinet must have a double walled sheet steel construction with at least
a 40mm air gap between the walls
 The doors shall be self-closing close-fitting and capable of automatically
releasing in the event of a build up of pressure within the cabinet.
 The cabinet must have a liquid-tight spill containment sump in its base that
is at least 150 mm deep and capable of holding 25% of the cabinets total
storage capacity.

Division 5.2 - Organic Peroxides

The Australian Standard that outlines the requirements for the storage and
handling of organic peroxides is AS2714-2008 - The storage and handling of
organic peroxides.
Section 4.6 of AS2714 outlines the requirements for the design and
construction of indoor organic peroxide storage cabinets. The main
requirements for organic peroxide storage cabinets include:

 The cabinet must have a dual skinned sheet metal construction of at least
0.75mm thick. The gap between the two sheet metal walls must be at least
40mm.
 The cabinet must have self-closing close-fitting doors that automatically
release in the event of a build up of pressure within the cabinet.
 The inner base of the cabinet shall form a liquid tight spill containment
sump that is at least 150 mm deep. This spill containment sump must be
designed to prevent packages being stored in the compound.

Division 6.1 - Toxic Substances

The Australian Standard that outlines the requirements for the storage and
handling of toxic substances is AS NZS-4452-1997 - The storage and
handling of toxic substances.
The requirements for the design and construction of indoor toxic storage
cabinets is outlined in section 4.6 of AS NZS-4452. The main design
requirements include:

 The walls, door, floor and roof of the cabinet shall be a double walled sheet
steel construction. The sheet steel must be at least 0.75mm thick and the gap
between the two walls must be at least 40mm.
 The cabinet must have lockable doors.
 The doors of the cabinet must be self-closing and close-fitting.
 The base of the cabinet must form a liquid tight spill containment sump that
is capable of holding at least 25% of the total capacity of the cabinet.

Class 8 - Corrosive Substances

The Australian Standard that outlines the requirements for the storage and
handling of corrosive substances is AS3780-2008 - The storage and
handling of corrosive substances.
Section 4.6 of this standard outlines the design and construction
requirements for corrosive storage cabinets. Unlike other dangerous goods
storage cabinets, class 8 corrosive storage cabinets don’t need to have a
sheet metal construction because corrosive substances will dissolve metallic
substances by chemical action. The main requirements for corrosive storage
cabinets include:
 The doors of the cabinet must be self-closing close-fitting and held shut by
catches at two or more points. The doors of the cabinet must not open
inwards and have the ability to be opened from within the cabinet.
 The base of the cabinet must form a liquid tight sump that is 150mm deep
and capable of holding at least 25% of the maximum storage capacity of the
cabinet.

METHODS OF STORAGE
Methods of storage

I- Scientific Storage Method

II- Traditional Storage Method

I- Scientific Storage Method

Holding and preservation of stocks stored to maintain the quality
synchronous to time lag and to keep it at a particular level during various
operation such as loading/unloading of stock and unkeep the stocks stored
hygienically sound for a length of time till its liquidation is known as
scientific method of storage which may either be in bags or in bulk. This
method of storage is generally practiced by Govemment/Semi-Govemment,
warehouses, which have enough infrastructural facility available and various
coordinating factors viz. trained personnel and adequate scientific know-
hand, regular input availability and a network of go downs. This method of
storage can either be in bags or in bulk.

(i) Bag Method:-

In this method of storage, wheat is filled in jute bags keeping in view the
fact that wheat is a living organism requiring respiration which is not
possible in polythene bags. After filling wheat in bags the mouth of bag is
stitched and stencilled to mark the marketing year. Then bags are stored in
go downs in a block pitched to a scientific height so that easy counting of
bags could be possible. These go downs are built on a raised plate form of 3
to 4’ in height to ensure non-proliferation of rodents and adequate length and
width to economize cost with the bags stored to a certain height provide it
with a kind of roofing and ventilators so as to ensure it free from moisture,
insects and adequate aeration. Moreover, the block formation is typical and
of a certain prescription in which the bags are pitched from block to block to
make a stake which has a certain number of bags again and is uniform in
nature. The stacks are fonned in such a manner as to keep specifically ways
to the entire length of a particular unit and galleries before doors for easy
preservation and other related operations. These galleries also help in
periodic inspection/treatment of stocks stored in go down.
(i) Bulk Method
This is one of the form of storing surplus grain in an improved structures of
storage designed with latest technological know-how by using steel
reinforced concrete of different size. The bins traditionally used are built and
reformed in certain capacity in different shape and size and also fitted with
mechanized grain lifting devices which form the elevator silos. There are
three types of improved bulk storage methods in use:-

(a) Hexagonal Bins

In the recent years standard famous concrete hexagonal bins with main hole
at top and spout at the bottom are constructed in different sizes.

(b) Circular Bins

Using the same material and principle used in hexagonal bins, the circular
over ground bins are built which can be put in pair and row with grain
discharged from opposite side.

(c) Elevator Silos

On the basis of shape and principle used in bins the big structure of circular
square, hexagonal, opatagonal, flopper bottom, flat bottom, deep and
shallow ‘BUNJURE’ are constructed of various capacities provided with
mechanical grain filling, storing devices. This has revolutionized the system
of scientific storage throughout the world to keep the grain hygienically safe
for a period of time with proven immunity from various loss causing agents.