Chemical Storage Guidelines

Introduction:
Proper chemical storage is essential in assuring a safe work environment.
This guideline will help you store chemicals safely in your workplace.
General Guidelines:
1. Segregate incompatible chemicals. Do not store chemicals
Alphabetically, except within a hazard class. Hazard classes that
should be stored separately include:











Radioactive Materials
Pyrophoric Materials
Flammable Materials
Oxidizing Materials
Water Reactive Substances
Oxidizing Acids
Inorganic Acids
Organic Acids
Caustics
Poisons

2. Do not store excessive quantities of chemicals in research

laboratory. Purchase the minimum amount required and dispose of
unneeded chemicals in a timely fashion.
3. Date bottles of chemicals when they are opened. Peroxidizable
chemicals such as isopropyl ether should be tested periodically or
discard according to the time limits. Discard any chemical of
dubious purity (by the usual waste disposal procedures) if it cannot
be purified safely.
4. Store reagents on shelves or in cabinets. Store large bottles of
chemicals on the lowest shelves of any chemical storage area. Do
not allow bottles to extend over the edge of a shelf.
5. Do not store chemicals on bench tops. They are more readily
knocked over and are unprotected from potential exposure to fire.
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6. Provide physical segregation (sills, curbs, trays) or separation

between hazard classes.
7. Keep flammable materials by themselves in approved storage cans,
cabinets, or rooms. Store oxidizers well away from flammable
materials.
8. Store large bottles and containers close to but not on the floor.
Store acids and caustics below eye level.
9. Shelves should be securely fastened to the wall and should have
lips or restraining cord to prevent bottles from falling.
10. Secondary containment such as polyethylene or stainless steel trays
as appropriate should be provided for spill protection.
11. Chemical containers should have the chemical name, a warning
label identifying the major hazards, and information about handling
precautions. Storage areas should be labeled with hazard class.
12. Hoods should not be used for chemical storage. Hood storage
interferes with air flow in the hood, causes clutter, and increases
the fuel load in the event of a hood fire. If small quantities of
chemicals are stored in the hood, they should be placed on an
elevated shelf.
13. No chemicals (either reagents or waste chemicals) should be stored
on the floor. Floor storage presents a major safety hazard because
bottles can break if knocked over or struck together.
14. Chemical requiring refrigerated storage should be properly labeled
and sealed to prevent escape of any vapors. Use only refrigerators
designated for chemical storage. Flammable liquids must be stored
only in explosion-safe refrigerators. Do not refrigerate chemicals
unnecessarily.
15. Seal caps of open bottles of volatile chemicals using parafilm. This
will prevent odor problems and deterioration of air/moisture
sensitive reagents.

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16. Inspect storage areas periodically for damaged containers such as

cracked bottles or caps or rusted cans. Replace loose or
deteriorating labels.
17. Store acids separate from bases. Store ammonium hydroxide in a
separate cabinet, preferably ventilated.
18. Store oxidizers, including oxidizing acids such as nitric and
perchloric acids separate from oxidizable compounds such as
acetic acid. Perchloric acid must be stored where it cannot contact
organic materials.
19. Store highly toxic chemicals in unbreakable secondary containers
labeled with description of the contents. Cyanides and sulfides
must be kept safe from any contact with acids. Store cyanides in a
closed cabinet, not in a location visible to passerby. Dispose of
cyanides for which you have no current use.
20. Store pyrophoric materials separate from flammable materials, in
dry, inert atmosphere such as a nitrogen-filled desiccators or a
glove box.
21. Store flammable and combustible liquids in approved flammable
liquid storage cabinets. No more than 3 cabinets may be located in
a single fire area (laboratory). Never locate the flammable storage
cabinet by an exit door.
22. The flammable storage cabinet must be clearly labeled with a sign
which reads; "Flammable - Keep Fire Away".
23. Quantities of flammable liquids greater than one liter should be
stored in approved safety cans.
24. Acids should generally not be stored in a flammable storage
cabinet due to the corrosion of the cabinet and incompatibility with
organic solvents.

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Basic Chemical Segregation:

Class of Chemicals
Compress Gases
Flammable

Compress Gases
Oxidizing

Compress Gases
Poisonous

Corrosives acids

Recommended Storage
Method
Store in a cool, dry
area, away from
oxidizing gases.
Securely strap or chain
cylinders to a wall or
bench top.
Store in a cool, dry
area, away from
flammable gases and
liquids.
Store in a cool, dry
area, away from
flammable gases and
liquids
Store in separate acid
storage cabinet

Corrosives Bases

Store in a separate
storage cabinet

Explosives

Store in a secure
location away from all
other chemicals

Flammable Liquids

In grounded flammable
storage cabinet.

Flammable Solids

Store in a separate dry,

cool area away from
oxidizers, corrosives,
flammable liquids
Store on general
laboratory benches or
shelving preferably
behind glass doors, or
below eye level.
Store in a spill tray
inside a
noncombustible
cabinet, separate from
flammable and
combustible materials
Store separately in
vented cool, dry, in
unbreakable chemically
resistant secondary
containers.
Store in dry, cool,
location, protect from
water

General Chemicals
Non-Reactive

Oxidizers

Poisons

Water Reactive
Chemicals

Examples

Incompatibles

Methane, Acetylene,
Propane

Oxidizing and toxic

compressed gases,
oxidizing solids

Oxygen, Chlorine,
Bromine

Flammable gases

Carbon Monoxide,
Hydrogen Sulphide

Flammable and/or
oxidizing gases

Mineral acids Hydrochloric acid,

sulfuric acid, nitric
acid, perchloric acid,
Ammonium hydroxide,
sodium hydroxide

Flammable liquids,
flammable solids,
bases, oxidizers

Ammonium nitrate,
nitro urea, picric acid,
trinitroaniline,
trinitrobenzene,
Acetone, benzene,
diethyl ether, methanol,
ethanol, toluene, glacial
acetic acid

Phosphorus
Agar, sodium chloride,
sodium bicarbonate,
and most non-reactive
salts
Sodium hypochlorite,
benzoyl peroxide,
potassium
permanganate,
potassium dichromate,

Flammable liquids,
oxidizers, poisons, and
acids.
Flammable liquids,
oxidizers, poisons,
acids, and bases.
Acids, bases, oxidizers,
and poisons.

Acids, bases, oxidizers,

and poisons.

See MSDS

Separate from reducing

agents, flammables and
combustibles.

Cyanides, heavy metals

compounds

Flammable liquids,
acids, bases, and
oxidizers.

Sodium metal,
potassium metal,
lithium metal

Separate from all

aqueous solutions, and
oxidizers.

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General Rules for Safe Transport of Chemicals:

1. Use a hand-held rubber safety bottle carrier for liquids and
hazardous solids in glass containers.
2. Do not attempt to carry an armful of bottles. Use a cart with side
panels if transporting several chemicals at once. Do not allow
containers to collide with each other during transport.
3. Never pick up a bottle by the cap or lid.
4. Wear eye protection while transporting chemicals.
5. Plan to transport the extremely hazardous chemicals during times
of reduced traffic in the halls.
6. Place bottles of extremely toxic or carcinogenic chemicals in an
unbreakable outer container before transport.
7. Extremely hazardous materials should be sent in an empty elevator
to a second person waiting at the desired floor.
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