AQ 3067-2026 to Be Enforced: Hazardous Chemical Safety Cabinets Included in Major Hazard Inspection Scope

Regulatory Background – From Flexible Guidance to Mandatory Enforcement

China’s Ministry of Emergency Management has released several mandatory industry standards, including AQ 3067-2026 “Criteria for Identifying Major Production Safety Accident Hazards in Chemical Enterprises”, which will come into force on September 1, 2026.

This regulation formally incorporates hazardous chemical safety cabinets into the scope of major safety hazard inspections, redefining their role from optional equipment to mandatory compliance infrastructure.

 Key Change – Mandatory Use of Compliant Safety Cabinets

Under AQ 3067-2026, enterprises must meet the following requirements for indoor hazardous chemical storage:

• Elimination of non-compliant reagent cabinets and non-explosion-proof storage units
• Mandatory classified storage of flammable, explosive, and corrosive chemicals
• Use of compliant safety cabinets with integrated protection functions

Core functional requirements include:

• Fire-resistant cabinet structure
• Explosion-proof and anti-static design
• Integrated spill containment system
• Mandatory ventilation capability

 Technical Requirements – Parameter-Based Compliance

The standard defines multi-dimensional technical indicators for safety cabinets, including:

• Segregated storage capability for different chemical types
• Ventilation systems to control vapor accumulation
• Grounding protection for static electricity control
• Leak containment capacity
• Fire resistance duration of the cabinet

These parameters will serve as key criteria for equipment selection and regulatory inspection.

 Enterprise Actions – Compliance Upgrade Timeline

Before the enforcement date, enterprises are required to:

• Conduct compliance audits of existing storage cabinets
• Eliminate improper mixed storage of hazardous chemicals
• Improve safety labeling and management systems
• Plan replacement or upgrading of non-compliant equipment

Non-compliant cabinets will be classified as major safety hazards, potentially leading to:

• Regulatory penalties
• Mandatory rectification
• Production suspension risks

 Industry Impact

The implementation of AQ 3067-2026 indicates:

• Transition from flexible management to strict enforcement
• Safety cabinets becoming essential infrastructure in hazardous chemical storage
• Increased demand for compliant fire-resistant and explosion-proof storage equipment

Summary

AQ 3067-2026 establishes clear compliance boundaries for hazardous chemical storage equipment. Enterprises must adopt parameter-based selection and standardized safety cabinets to meet regulatory requirements and reduce operational risks.