|
Chemical Storage Guidelines Chemical Storage
Chemicals shall be segregated to minimize the hazard(s) associated with accidental mixing. In general, chemicals should be segregated
according to the following categories:
- Solvents, which include flammable/combustible liquids and halogenated hydrocarbons (e.g., acetone, benzene, ethers, alcohols) Note: Treat glacial acetic acid as a flammable liquid
- Inorganic acids (e.g., nitric, sulfuric, hydrochloric, and perchloric acids).
- Bases (e.g., sodium hydroxide, ammonium hydroxide)
- Oxidizers
- Poisons
- Explosives or unstable reactives, such as picric acid. Store separately outdoors in flammable storage cabinets
Do not sort and store chemicals alphabetically until they have first been segregated into hazard classes. The following general storage guidelines shall be observed:
- Store all hazardous liquid chemicals in secondary containers that are chemically resistant and unbreakable.
- Evaluate/test stored chemicals that can form peroxides (see
Controls for Peroxide Forming Chemicals) for crystal formation, deterioration, and integrity. Make certain that the recommend peroxide label is used.
- Limit the amount of chemicals permitted for storage to amounts that are as small as practical.
- Avoid exposure of chemicals to heat or direct sunlight.
- Install lips, strips, or bars across the width of reagent shelves to restrain the chemicals in case of earthquake.
- Use flammable storage cabinets to store flammable liquids.
PUB 3000,
Chapter 12, Fire Prevention and Protection and the Controls for
Flammable and Combustible Liquids section contain more information on safe handling and storage of flammable and combustible materials.
Do not store chemicals in refrigerators used for food storage. Refrigerators used for storing either chemicals or food must be appropriately labeled.
- Explosion proof refrigerators and freezers are required if used for storing flammable liquids. Do not store ethanol in refrigerators unless they are explosion proof.
The following incompatibility matrix and table contains examples of incompatible chemicals: Chemical Incompatibility Matrix
|
|
Acids, Inorganic |
Acids, Oxidizing |
Acids, Organic |
Alkalis (Bases) |
Oxidizers |
Poisons, inorganic |
Poisons, organic |
Water reactives |
Organic solvents |
|
Acids, Inorganic |
|
|
X |
X |
|
X |
X |
X |
X |
|
Acids, Oxidizing |
|
|
X |
X |
|
X |
X |
X |
X |
|
Acids, Organic |
X |
X |
|
X |
X |
X |
X |
X |
|
|
Alkalis (Bases) |
X |
X |
X |
|
|
|
X |
X |
X |
|
Oxidizers |
|
|
X |
|
|
|
X |
X |
X |
|
Poisons, inorganic |
X |
X |
X |
|
|
|
X |
X |
X |
|
Poisons, organic |
X |
X |
X |
X |
X |
X |
|
|
|
|
Water reactives |
X |
X |
X |
X |
X |
X |
|
|
|
|
Organic solvents |
X |
X |
|
X |
X |
X |
|
|
|
X = Not compatible – do not store together
(From Manufacturing Chemists' Association, Guide for Safety in the Chemical pp.215-217.)The Chemical Hygiene and Safety Plan has additional information on safe storage.
|
