The 2024 International Fire Code (IFC), as amended by the City of Austin, requires that businesses that store or use specific quantities or types of hazardous materials aboveground obtain an Aboveground Hazardous Materials Permit. The chemical quantities requiring a permit can be very small, if a highly toxic, flammable, or reactive chemical is present. Likewise, less hazardous chemicals do not require a permit unless much larger quantities are present.
This requirement allows Austin Fire to minimize chemical safety incident risk, track potential hazards and inform responding firefighters about specific chemical hazards at certain locations.