Ammonium Nitrate Storage — Fertilizer Solution & Regulatory Reality
Storing Ammonium Nitrate Solution? Poly Works — the Regulation Is the Hard Part
Ammonium nitrate fertilizer solution is fully compatible with a poly tank. But this is the most regulated fertilizer in US commerce — it's an oxidizer and an explosive precursor, so the security, recordkeeping, and siting rules matter far more than the tank choice.
Can you store it in a poly tank? Yes.
Saturated ammonium nitrate solution is rated Satisfactory in HDPE/XLPE at all concentrations — use a 1.9 SG vertical tank, EPDM or Viton gaskets, and no aluminum and no carbon steel on wetted parts. 316L stainless is the alternative for heated blending.
The safety that actually matters
- Oxidizer — keep it away from fuels, organics, and combustibles (it's the classic oxidizer-fuel hazard).
- Explosive-precursor regulation — DHS CFATS, ATF tracking, and state rules apply. Security, inventory control, and siting are required, not optional.
- Strong containment; no aluminum/carbon steel wetted parts.
Common questions
- Poly OK for ammonium nitrate solution?
- Yes — HDPE/XLPE at 1.9 SG, EPDM/Viton gaskets, no aluminum or carbon steel wetted parts.
- What's the real challenge?
- Regulation — it's an oxidizer and explosive precursor under DHS/ATF rules. Keep it segregated from fuels and meet the security/recordkeeping requirements.
Ammonium Nitrate storage tanks from OneSource
For ammonium nitrate storage, specify HDPE rated to specific gravity 1.9. Verified, compatibility-matched options:
- Snyder Industries 22 Gallon ASTM XLPE Black Heavy Duty Vertical Storage Tank (1.9 SG)
- Snyder Industries 150 Gallon XLPE Chemical Feed Station Tank (1.9 SG)
- Snyder Industries 500 Gallon ASTM XLPE Black Double Wall Tank (1.9 SG)
- Snyder Industries 1500 Gallon 45 Degree XLPE Cone Bottom Tank in White (1.9 SG)
- Snyder Industries 5000 Gallon XLPE Vertical Liquid Storage Tank with ASTM Certification (1.9 SG)
Confirm chemical compatibility and a ZIP freight quote with our team at 866-418-1777.
Sources & References
All compatibility ratings, hazard classifications, and chemical identifiers on this page are sourced from authoritative third-party publications. Verify against the original references before final specification.
- PubChem Compound Database — entry for Ammonium Nitrate (CID 22985, CAS 6484-52-2). pubchem.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov. National Library of Medicine / NCBI. Canonical chemical-identity reference.
- Snyder Industries Chemical Resistance Recommendations — system-of-construction guidance for polyethylene chemical-storage tanks at industrial ASTM 1.9 SG design rating. SNY-3041 Chemical Resistance Chart. Snyder Industries, current edition. Resin + fitting + gasket + bolt MOC matrix.
- Equistar Technical Tip — Chemical Resistance of Polyethylene — LDPE / MDPE / HDPE rating chart by concentration and temperature, distributed by Enduraplas. enduraplas.com (PDF). Equistar polyethylene resin chemical-resistance data, distributed via Enduraplas.
- NFPA 704: Standard System for the Identification of the Hazards of Materials for Emergency Response. nfpa.org. NFPA 704 'fire diamond' health/flammability/instability/special-hazard rating system (0–4 scale).
- UN Globally Harmonized System of Classification and Labelling of Chemicals (GHS), current revision. unece.org/transport/ghs. GHS pictograms, signal words, and H-statement codes referenced in this guide.
- ASTM D1998 — Standard Specification for Polyethylene Upright Storage Tanks, current edition. astm.org. Cited as the design-specific-gravity standard (typically 1.9 SG) for industrial chemical-service polyethylene tanks.
- NIOSH Pocket Guide to Chemical Hazards — occupational exposure limits, PPE, and IDLH data for Ammonium Nitrate. cdc.gov/niosh/npg. CDC / NIOSH chemical-specific occupational-safety reference.