The guidance sets out good practice for the industry and it will provide a reference point for the HSE in assessing operating standards.
New guidance has been published covering the storage of liquids in composite intermediate bulk containers (IBCs).
It has been prepared by CBA and the Solvent Industries Association (SIA) in consultation with the UK Health and Safety Executive (HSE).
The full text can be downloaded from CBA's website.
In addition to the CBA, SIA and HSE, no fewer than 14 organisations were consulted in the preparation of the new guidance.
Douglas Leech, CBA's technical manager, said: "IBCs are now being widely used by the industry and its customers, not just for transport, but also for longer-term storage and other purposes, such as waste disposal.
"Research following a number of incidents has shown that composite IBCs can release their contents when exposed to flames and this can easily accelerate the spread of a relatively minor fire when the contents are combustible".
This problem has been found to relate particularly to plastic or composite IBCs containing non-aqueous liquids that can fail rapidly and produce large volumes of free burning liquid.
"The new guidance should not be regarded as an authoritative statement of the law, but by following its advice companies will normally be doing enough to comply with health and safety law in relation to the issues on which the guidance provides advice," said Douglas Leech.
