Advanced Manufacturing: Considerations for Technical Gas and Chemical Systems

Technical Gas and Chemical Systems

In advanced manufacturing, the quality of your final product depends on the safe, consistent delivery of process gases and chemicals. Whether you’re producing semiconductors, medical devices, or solar/battery cells, even minor errors in storage or distribution can lead to contamination, downtime, or safety risks. Early planning should account for gas and chemical purity, volume requirements, indoor vs. outdoor storage, leak detection, delivery access, and the long lead times often tied to specialty systems. Making the right decisions early helps keep the project on schedule, protects product quality, and reduces the risk of costly rework.

Storage that Protects Both People and Product:

Proper storage starts with selecting the right containment based on the material and its intended use. This isn’t just about safety; it also protects product purity and process integrity. The type of system you choose (along with how and where it’s installed) affects infrastructure needs, code compliance, and long-term performance.

• Gas Storage: Can include high-pressure cylinders, cryogenic tanks, tonners, or tube trailers, depending on volume and demand. These systems require supporting infrastructure like concrete pads, fire walls, controlled access, power & controls, and bulk gasses such as compressed air and/or nitrogen, all of which typically fall under the general contractor’s scope. Clarifying responsibilities early helps prevent gaps during the installation process.
  
  
• Chemical Storage: Often uses double-walled tanks or dispensing modules equipped with leak detection and spill containment. Every storage system must be compatible with the chemical or gas it holds and take into account corrosion resistance, pressure cycling that can cause material fatigue, and temperature extremes. Effective containment reduces the risk of spills that could impact both personnel and property.
  
  
• Gas Cabinets: These should include forced ventilation, automated alarms, and emergency shutoff. Design teams must also account for maximum allowable quantities and adhere to strict personnel (OSHA) and life-safety codes (NFPA, IFC, etc). Whenever possible, high-hazard materials should be stored outside the building to reduce risk, and may require hazard classifications based on the total volume of material storage

Get ahead of storage planning during early design. These systems affect far more than layout; they impact safety, code compliance, and your construction timeline. Addressing infrastructure needs and code limitations upfront reduces risk later.

Safe & Consistent Distribution

In advanced manufacturing, gas and chemical distribution systems have to do more than move material from point A to point B. They need to maintain stable pressure and flow, prevent contamination, and meet strict safety and code requirements. Designing for those needs starts with consistency, cleanliness, and compliance.

• Consistency: Pressure and flow must be tightly regulated to match process tool specifications. Inconsistent delivery can lead to defects, equipment damage, or costly downtime.
  
  
• Cleanliness: Some applications may require ultra-high purity, up to 7N (99.99999%). Even trace contamination can compromise the quality of the final product. That level of purity demands cleanroom-grade materials, such as polished stainless-steel piping, and connection methods that minimize particle generation and resist corrosion.
  
  
• Safety and Compliance: Distribution systems must be designed to prevent, detect, and contain failures. This includes features like redundant shutoff valves, excess-flow protection, gas monitoring, and leak detection. Designs must comply with national and local codes, which vary based on the specific gas or chemical and its classification.

The key is to align distribution system design with your process requirements early. Small decisions, such as pipe material or valve placement, can have significant downstream effects on product quality, tool uptime, and safety.

Integration Matters

Successful projects require close coordination between the end user or operator, the contractor, and the gas and chemical providers. These systems often benefit from a design-build approach, where designers and installers work alongside process engineers, safety teams, and facility managers. This collaboration ensures the system functions as intended while meeting space constraints, budget goals, and schedule demands.

Technical gas and chemical systems are complex, and poor integration can lead to rework, code compliance issues, or maintenance challenges down the line. With the right planning, these systems support advanced manufacturing reliably and safely behind the scenes. At ARCO/Murray, we design and build gas and chemical storage and distribution systems that align with your operational goals and optimize layout, cost, and constructability for long-term performance.