A pesticide store describes a building, area or container dedicated to the storage of chemicals such as plant protection products. It serves an important purpose on tillage farms. In addition to providing a secure place for chemicals, it also helps to contain any chemical spillages or leakages. Pesticide stores can be adjacent to buildings, attached to other buildings, or comprise of compartments within buildings.

Earlier in the month, we visited a simple but effective chemical store, which ticks all of the boxes in terms of legal requirements.

The store was a modified storage container. The walls were constructed with an aluminium outer wall and a plastic-lined inner wall, with fireproof insulation to allow for the safe storage of chemicals over winter. The base of the container was modified to include a permanent bund designed to retain up to 200% of the total chemical contents.

Chemical filling area

The store was located under a lean-to bay behind the farm’s grain store, next to a dedicated sprayer filling station on a concrete base.

The sloped base contained a series of gullies to channel any spillages from the sprayer into a dedicated chemical collection tank.

  • Picture one: The lean-to shed was built in 2017 and shelters the chemical store and sprayer filling area. The canopy cost approximately €3,000 and also acts as a shelter for the sprayer when it is not in use. The concrete base is 5in deep and cost around €500. The sloped concrete leads to a curb and gully, which captures accidental chemical spillages when filling the sprayer.
  • Picture one.

  • Picture two: The storage container cost approximately €1,300 and was installed on a sunk concrete tank, which forms the bunded area for the store. A door was installed to the rear of the store, which is secured with a padlock. Ventilation and lighting were installed at minimal cost in order to meet the requirements for a chemical store set out by the Department of Agriculture.
  • Picture two.

  • Picture three: The roller door in the container allows for quick loading and unloading of chemicals with a forklift.
  • Picture three.

  • Picture four: The gully in the concrete base leads to a drain which is piped to a dedicated chemical collection tank. Spilled chemicals and run-off are collected and disposed of.
  • Picture four.

  • Picture five: The drain leading to the chemical collection tank.
  • Picture five.

  • Picture six: A galvanised chemical container drip tray is installed at the rear of the store. This allows washed chemical containers to dry, with drips going into a collection tank.
  • Picture six.

  • Picture seven: The base of the chemical store was removed and replaced with steel mesh, at a cost of €500. Any chemical spillages within the store will fall directly into a sealed area.
  • Picture seven.

  • Picture eight: The 10,000l plastic tank collects rainwater from the grain store. The water is used to fill the sprayer.
  • Picture eight.

  • Picture nine: The chemical store is clearly marked with emergency contacts and warning signs.
  • Picture nine.

  • Picture 10: A simple 10l container is used to store the lids and seals from chemical containers.
  • Picture 10.