HAZARDOUS CHEMICALS (15-28-040 et seq.)

Municipal Code of Chicago tit. 15, ch. 15-28, art. II

in effect

Municipal Code of Chicago § 15-28-040 Storage requirements.

15-28-040 Storage requirements. No hazardous chemicals, as defined in Section 15-28-020, shall be used for any purpose in any room other than a hazardous chemical room constructed as required. It shall be unlawful to store in any building more than ten pounds of metallic potassium, metallic sodium, phosphorous or sodium peroxide, or more than 20 pounds of aluminum powder or calcium phosphide, or more than 600 pounds of calcium carbide or more of any other such chemical or material than is determined by the fire commissioner to be a safe limit except in a hazardous chemical storage building or vault constructed as required in Chapter 15-28 of this Code. If stored in a vault, such chemicals shall be stored upon a platform or upon a shelf or shelves not less than one foot, six inches above the floor. No such chemical or material shall be stored or used in any building room or vault now existing or hereafter designed, erected, altered or converted, which is equipped with a sprinkler system or sprinkler heads. (Prior code § 92-4; Amend Coun. J. 6-14-95, p. 2841; Amend Coun. J. 5-18-16, p. 24131, § 152)

Municipal Code of Chicago § 15-28-041 Scope.

15-28-041 Scope. The provisions of Section 15-28-040, Sections 15-28-050 through 15-28-080, and 15-28-100 through 15-28-190 shall only apply to buildings or areas classified as Group H occupancies in accordance with Chapter 14B-3. (Added Coun. J. 10-7-20, p. 21791, Art. VI, § 64)

Municipal Code of Chicago § 15-28-050 Construction requirements.

15-28-050 Construction requirements. Type I, II, III, or IV construction shall be used for any hazardous chemical storage building. Every such building of Type IV construction shall be not more than two stories in height. Every such building of Type III construction shall not be more than one story in height and shall have no mezzanine. Every such building of any type of construction shall be without any basement except a basement provided and used solely for the purpose of a heating plant for the building which shall be separated from every other part of the building by a fire wall and shall have no doorway, window or other opening between such space and any other part of the building. Every such building shall be so constructed as to be dry. (Prior code § 92-5; Amend Coun. J. 10-7-20, p. 21791, Art. VI, § 65)

Municipal Code of Chicago § 15-28-060 General safety clearances.

15-28-060 General safety clearances. Every building hereafter designed, erected, altered or converted for the purpose of storing more of any hazardous chemical than the limited quantity provided for such chemical in Section 15-28-040 shall be isolated by a safety clearance of not less than 100 feet except as otherwise provided by this section. Type I or IIA Construction. Every such hazardous chemical building of Type IA, IB or IIA construction shall be isolated from any other building on the same premises by a safety clearance of not less than ten feet; provided, however, that such safety clearance shall not be required for any such building having no openings within ten feet of any openings in any other wall or building on the same premises, or for any such building which is separated from any adjoining buildings by a fire wall without openings therein. Types IIB, III, or IV Construction. Every such hazardous chemical building of Type IIB, IIIA, IIIB, or IV construction shall be isolated from any other building on the same premises by a safety clearance of not less than 20 feet; provided, however, that such safety clearance will not be required for any such building having no openings within ten feet of any openings in any other wall or building on the same premises or for any such building which is separated from any adjoining building by a fire wall without openings therein. (Prior code § 92-6; Amend Coun. J. 10-7-20, p. 21791, Art. VI, § 66)

Municipal Code of Chicago § 15-28-070 Floor area limit.

15-28-070 Floor area limit. No hazardous chemical room or storage building shall have a floor area of more than 600 square feet. (Prior code § 92-7)

Municipal Code of Chicago § 15-28-080 Ventilation.

15-28-080 Ventilation. Every hazardous chemical room shall have means of natural ventilation or vent flues as required by Section 15-28-260 for material heating rooms; provided, however, that the combined area of ventilating openings which shall have closures arranged to open automatically in case of explosion or fire shall be not less than five percent of the total wall area of the room. (Prior code § 92-8)

Municipal Code of Chicago § 15-28-090 Sprinklers - Where prohibited.

15-28-090 Sprinklers - Where prohibited. No sprinkler system shall be permitted in any hazardous chemical room or in any hazardous chemical storage building, where the chemical has the ability to react with water to produce substances or violent chemical reactions which increase the hazard. When the presence of water will not add to the hazard, a standard sprinkler system shall be required in such hazardous chemical room or building as directed in Chapter 14B-9. (Prior code § 92-9; Amend Coun. J. 10-7-20, p. 21791, Art. VI, § 67)

Municipal Code of Chicago § 15-28-100 Danger signs.

15-28-100 Danger signs. Every hazardous chemical room and every hazardous chemical storage building shall have the words "Hazardous Chemical – Use No Water" painted in a conspicuous position on the outside of every entrance door thereto. Such wording shall be in plainly legible bright red letters on a white background with letters not less than six inches high and with the principal strokes thereof not less than three-fourths inch in width. (Prior code § 92-10)

Municipal Code of Chicago § 15-28-110 Special safety clearances.

15-28-110 Special safety clearances. No hazardous chemical storage building shall be located nearer than 100 feet to any building in which there is Group A, E, or I occupancy, except as otherwise provided. (Prior code § 92-11; Amend Coun. J. 10-7-20, p. 21791, Art. VI, § 68)

Municipal Code of Chicago § 15-28-120 Fire prevention requirements.

15-28-120 Fire prevention requirements. The storage and handling of hazardous chemicals shall comply with the following requirements: (1) Quantities in excess of the limits specified in Section 15-28-040 or in excess of one day's supply shall be stored or used in rooms or buildings complying with the requirements herein. Whenever one day's supply exceeds the amount specified in Section 15-28-040, a notarized letter from the user stating the amount used in one day shall be filed with the fire commissioner. Upon any change in that amount, the fire commissioner shall be notified within 24 hours. (2) All shelving used in connection with the storage of such hazardous chemicals shall be of substantial noncombustible construction. (3) No other combustible material or flammable liquids shall be permitted in any such room. (4) Defective containers which permit leakage or spillage shall be disposed of or repaired in an approved manner. No spilled materials shall be allowed to accumulate on floors or shelves. (5) Signs having a white field with red letters four inches high and a one-half-inch stroke shall be conspicuously posted. Such sign shall read "Hazardous Chemicals – Keep Fire Away". (Prior code § 92-12; Amend Coun. J. 5-18-16, p. 24131, § 153)

Municipal Code of Chicago § 15-28-130 Fire-resistive separation.

15-28-130 Fire-resistive separation. Every hazardous chemical room, other than a vault for the storage of a hazardous chemical shall be separated from all other parts of the building by a four-hour fire separation, with no window or other opening, except a doorway or doorways between such vault and any other part of a building protected with a 3-hour-rated fire door installed in accordance with Chapter 14B-7. (Prior code § 92-13; Amend Coun. J. 10-7-20, p. 21791, Art. VI, § 69)

Municipal Code of Chicago § 15-28-140 Standard fireproof vaults.

15-28-140 Standard fireproof vaults. Every vault for the storage of hazardous chemicals shall be a dry, waterproof, standard fireproof vault. No such vault shall be located in any floor or building in which it is prohibited under Section 13-112-140. (Prior code § 92-14; Amend Coun. J. 6-14-95, p. 2841)

Municipal Code of Chicago § 15-28-150 Tank storage.

15-28-150 Tank storage. Tanks, which contain more than 55 gallons of hazardous chemicals, shall be located outside of any building or buried below ground level. When aboveground, said tank or tanks containing liquids, shall be diked. Each dike shall have a capacity of not less than one and one-half times the combined capacity of the tank or tanks it surrounds. Dike construction shall be as specified in Section 15-24-170 of this Code; provided, however, the material of the dike walls shall be inert with respect to the materials contained within the tank or tanks. (Prior code § 92-14.1)

Municipal Code of Chicago § 15-28-160 Tank construction material.

15-28-160 Tank construction material. The provisions of this section shall apply to all existing as well as newly installed tanks. All tanks, piping and fittings shall be compatible with the material to be stored or handled. Outlets and inlets of all aboveground tanks shall have a shutoff valve as close as possible to the tank, with no branches or outlets between the tank and valve. All inlet pipes shall have an additional check valve as close as possible to the tank valve. In addition to any other valves when the material stored is reactive with air or water, there shall be a valve at each pipeline connection to any tank below the liquid level which valve shall be effective inside the tank shell or head and can be operated manually to prevent the flow of liquid from the tank even though the pipelines are broken from the tank. All remote reach rods to valves shall be of substantial construction and shall be accessibly located and clearly marked "Emergency Shutoff Valve". There shall be an effective flexible connection between that tank valve and piping system or the piping shall be so arranged with swing joints to prevent stress and strain between the piping system and tank. Where the exterior piping and sides of the tank are not inert to the material being stored, the piping, piping supports and tank shall be made inert by coating or some other means to one and one-half times the height of the dike. (Prior code § 92-14.2)

Municipal Code of Chicago § 15-28-170 Safety clearances.

15-28-170 Safety clearances. Tankers or tank cars of hazardous chemicals of any capacity shall not be located within one-eighth mile from any building containing a Group A, E, I, or R occupancy. (Prior code § 92-14.3; Amend Coun. J. 10-7-20, p. 21791, Art. VI, § 70)

Municipal Code of Chicago § 15-28-180 Emergency requirements.

15-28-180 Emergency requirements. Whenever a hazardous chemical can be chemically changed to a less dangerous and more stable material, a qualified chemist of the manufacturer shall state in writing the safest and quickest method of changing the total capacity of the tank or tanks in case of a rupture, spillage or other emergency. The owner and/or operator of said tank or tanks shall keep sufficient quantities of the changing agent as hereinbefore determined so as to be readily available in the event of an emergency. (Prior code § 92-14.4)

Municipal Code of Chicago § 15-28-190 Breathing apparatus required.

15-28-190 Breathing apparatus required. The name and address of the manufacturer or the nearest producer of the specific hazardous material being used and a placard outlining emergency first aid directions shall be posted and remain posted in a conspicuous place at the points of unloading and use and in at least one other approved location. Oxygen-generating or self-contained air or oxygen masks having a United States Bureau of Mines or National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health approval for a minimum of one-half hour protection shall be maintained in a readily accessible location, outside the areas of probable contamination and sufficient for all personnel associated with the operation. Additional air or oxygen containers which will provide for a minimum of one hour use of each mask shall be kept at the location of each gas mask. All personnel that may be required to use gas masks must be required at reasonable intervals to practice their application and use. Gas masks must be kept in condition, ready for immediate use at all times with fully charged containers. An approved repair kit with all the necessary tools, appurtenances and material required to repair a leak or replace a defective valve or other part, shall be kept in a location accessible to the tank car and outside the probable area of contamination. Protective clothing suitable for use with the materials stored shall be provided and kept in good condition where its use will provide effective protection against the hazardous material. Gas masks, repair kit and duplicate wrenches shall be kept in a conspicuous location and shall be conspicuously labeled for immediate identification. (Prior code § 92-14.5)

Source: City of Chicago, Municipal Code of Chicago (American Legal Publishing, codelibrary.amlegal.com)URL: https://codelibrary.amlegal.com/codes/chicago/latest/chicago_il/0-0-0-2679599Fetched: 10/24/2026