Explosives and safety experts say a Beirut-style mega-blast could not happen in the UK – because of strict production and storage rules on the substance linked to the tragedy.
The Health and Safety Executive said the control of Ammonium Nitrate was tightly regulated, while chemical explosive experts said it was produced to a standard that made it difficult to blow up.
The majority of it has less than 28 per cent nitrogen, a directive introduced after the IRA had used it to make explosives in the Seventies.
There are at least three Ammonium Nitrate producing plants in the county, which make it to supply the farming industry its fertiliser.
A total of 134 sites are on HSE books after declaring they are each storing more than 1,250 tons of the substance.
The destroyed port area in the aftermath of a massive explosion in downtown Beirut, Lebanon,
Three plants in the UK make and distribute Ammonium Nitrate but half of UK’s is imported in
The crystalline material has been blamed for the explosion that ripped through Beirut, killing at least 135 people.
Professor Jackie Akhavan, a specialist in explosive chemistry and the Head of the Centre for Defence Chemistry at Cranfield University.
She said regulations in the UK meant it could not suffer a similar disaster to Beirut.
Prof Akhavan told MailOnline: ‘Ammonium Nitrate is fertiliser in this country and because the IRA used to use it is subject to very strict regulations.
‘It can only be transported and stored in one metre bales, which means a detonation cannot happen.
‘When it is brought into this country they do put it in large piles – but only for one day. We never stockpile Ammonium Nitrate.
‘The with it in Beirut was it was stored and it has been there for sometime. They should have moved it into smaller quantities.
‘The mistake was they shouldn’t have stored it for such a long time in those silos, combined with whatever was the cause of the fire – it was was obviously not highly insulated.
Ammonium Nitrate is made in Britain by firms including Cheshire-based CF Fertilisers
‘The reason it went was the fire – it wouldn’t have gone otherwise.’
Her thoughts were echoed by Dr Katherine Haxton, Senior Lecturer in Chemistry at Keele University, who researches public attitudes towards chemicals.
Dt Haxton said: ‘Tragic events like the explosion in Beiruit focus our attention on chemicals like ammonium nitrate which is explosive but it is also used and stored safely all around the world every day.
‘It’s natural to feel a bit alarmed by this event. In the UK there are tight guidelines from the Health and Safety Executive on how much ammonium nitrate can be stored and how it must be stored.
‘It’s really important to keep it away from fire, other chemicals, and things that can burn. Really large quantities need to be kept in specially designed facilities.’
Leading forensic explosives engineer Adrian Wilkinson said the UK needed Ammonium Nitrates, but its content was carefully controlled.
He told the MailOnline: ‘There is legislation here that restricts the amount of nitrogen in it and that’s because less than 28 per cent makes it difficult to make into an explosive.
‘As soon as people see explosions they get very worried. We don’t have these massive stores of Ammonium Nitrate.
‘If this stuff didn’t exist we would live a much poorer life. This stuff is being used by the hundreds of thousand of tonnes in the UK for fertiliser.
‘The ammonium nitrate fuel oil is used by the quarry industry for explosives. They use instead of military explosive – it crates a less shattering effect. The regulations here are good.’
Over half of the Ammonium Nitrate used in this country is imported in.
Britain has at least three plants that make it, two of which are run by Cheshire-based firm CF Fertilisers.
Their facilities are situated in Ince, Cheshire, and Billingham, Cleveland, and make the chemical for the farming industry.
Company details say they make more than 1.5million tons every year, which makes up 40 per cent of fertiliser needs in the UK.
Derbyshire-based Plater Group also make the crystal salt in its Glossop chemical plant.
It says it offers the product in 25kg and bulk bags for the UK, Ireland and Europe.
Ammonium nitrate is classed as an explosive under the UN classification system, which means it is subject to strict controls under the Explosives Act 1875.
It is not combustible on its own but can explode under heat or severe shock.
Health and Safety Executive guidance says that fertilisers with less than 28 per cent nitrogen do not present a danger.
Those with more than that amount in the UK have to be packaged in a specific way and subject to quality control regulations.
The HSE says the chemical should be stored in single storey and well-ventilated specially-dedicated buildings made from material does not burn – like bricks or steel.
If it is being made near to populated areas it can be stored outside, but away from other combustible materials.
The outdoor element also reduces any risk from fire from lights or any other electrical equipment.
Makers are also told to limit any stacks of Ammonium Nitrate to a maximum of 300 tons, with low density types to be kept below two metres high.
There should also be space of at least a metre between it and the walls, or any pipes or lights.
The rules also state that it should not be stored anywhere near any flammable liquids or powdered metals or acids.
A HSE spokesperson said: ‘While our thoughts are with people in Beirut, especially those who have lost loved ones, operators in Britain are subject to some of the most stringent controls in the world.
‘The storage of Ammonium Nitrate in Great Britain is subject to a robust regulatory framework, which considers the hazards posed by storage, product safety and measures to deal with emergencies.
‘As with all industrial disasters around the world, we will take on board any significant findings from the investigation as and when they emerge.’
Jo Gilbertson, the Agricultural Industries Confederation’s Head of Sector for Fertilisers, said storage and testing in the UK meant it was safe.
He told MailOnline: ‘Ammonium Nitrate is only a problem is it is mixed with other chemicals it is incompatible with. It is not dangerous on its own, just when mixed with other things.
‘It is tested to make sure it is stable and it’s stored in a way that it can’t mix with anything that would make it dangerous.
‘The law under EU regulations adopted in the UK require that every batch can’t even be put on the market until it’s been tested.
‘It goes to another organisation and tested very thoroughly, including with an explosive charge to check it can’t be blown up.’