Solid biofuels — Safe handling and storage of solid biofuel pellets in commercial and industrial applications

This document provides principles and requirements for safe handling and storage of solid biofuels pellets in commercial and industrial applications. This document is using a risk-based approach to determine what safety measures should be considered.

Facilities with a storage capacity <100 t are covered by ISO 20023. Generally, for end-user facilities with a storage capacity of <1 000 t, ISO 20023 could also be applicable if storage principle and facility complexity is in-line with the objectives of ISO 20023.

This document covers the handling and storage process of pellets in the following applications:

— at a pellet production plant from the outlet of the cooler unit until loaded for transportation;

— at a commercial distributor from the receiving station until loaded for transportation; and

— at an industrial end-user from the receiving station until fed into the fuel preparation or combustion process.

Although unloading and loading of e.g. vessels, trains or trucks are included in the operational envelops defined above, the safety aspect of the transportation itself is beyond the scope of this document.

This document also gives specific guidance on detection and suppression systems and preparatory measures to enable safe and efficient firefighting operations. Guidance on the management of fire and explosion incidents is also specified.