Download CHEMICAL STORAGE GUIDELINES

CHEMICAL STORAGE GUIDELINES
The following hazard class hierarchy (based on the Department of Transportation) is provided as a guide for prioritizing
which hazard classes pose the greatest risks.
HAZARD CLASS
INHALATION HAZARDS
STORAGE GUIDELINES
Store in a ventilated cabinet or a fume hood with other compatible materials only.
Ex: Bromine, Phosgene
UNSTABLE EXPLOSIVES
Do not store in the lab. Stabilized materials such as Wetted Picric Acid should be stored
appropriately (see MSDS or container label).
Ex: Dry Picric Acid, Mercury Fulminate, Trinitrobenzene
PYROPHORIC
OR WATER-REACTIVE
(“REACTIVES”)
Store together sealed against moisture or air, away from aqueous solutions, water and
alcohols. Ex: Activated Zinc, Aluminum Powder/ Carbide/ Hydride, Iron Pentacarbonyl,
Phosphorus (white), Sodium Borohydride
FLAMMABLE &
COMBUSTIBLE LIQUIDS,
SOLIDS, & GASES
CAUTION: Many Flammable Solids are also Reactives.
Store in flammable cabinet when not in use.
Ex: Acetone, Acetylene, Aerosols, Ethyl Acetate, Ethyl Alcohol, Napthalene, Paraformaldehyde,Toluene
PEROXIDE-FORMING
M ATERIALS
Peroxide-Forming Materials should be dated when opened and disposed of through EH&S
within one year from date of opening, or by the manufacturer’s expiration date, whichever
comes first. They can be stored in the flammable cabinet with other flammables &
combustibles.
Ex: Dioxane, Ethers (e.g. Ethyl/ Methyl/ Isopropyl), Tetrahydrofuran
CORROSIVE / INORGANIC
ACIDS
Inorganic Acids should be stored in a designated corrosives cabinet. Ex: Perchloric, Sulfuric,
& Nitric Acid should be stored each in its own secondary containment.
Hydrochloric Acid, Hydrofluoric Acid, Nitric Acid, Perchloric Acid, Phosphoric Acid, Sulfuric
Acid
CORROSIVE / ORGANIC
ACIDS
Store in the corrosives cabinet segregated from oxidizing acids Ex: Perchloric, Sulfuric, Nitric)
by secondary containment. Acetic Acid, Formic Acid, Propionic Acid
CORROSIVE /
BASES
(LIQUIDS & SOLIDS)
Store in a designated corrosives cabinet. Bases may be stored with the acids, however they
must be separated from the acids by utilizing secondary containment.
Ex: Ammonium Hydroxide, Potassium Hydroxide, Sodium Hydroxide
OXIDIZERS
Store separate from all Flammable, Combustible and Organic Compounds.
Ex: Chlorates, Chlorites, Nitrates, Nitrites, Perchlorates, Permanganates
ORGANIC PEROXIDES
Store away from flammables and combustibles. Ex: Benzoyl Peroxide
HIGHLY TOXIC / TOXIC
(SOLIDS)
Can store in general chemical storage, segregated from incompatibles. Ideally they would be
stored separately from other chemicals and easily identifiable within the lab.
Ex: Carcinogens, Reproductive Hazards, Teratogens
HIGHLY TOXIC / TOXIC
(LIQUIDS)
The organic solvents and solutions (Formaldehyde, Chloroform), should be stored in a
flammable cabinet. The inorganic solutions & compounds should be stored in general
storage in secondary containment.
Ex: Chloroform, Cyanide, Formaldehyde, Other Inorganic Solutions & Compounds
LOW TOXICITY M ATERIALS
/ IRRITANTS
Should be stored in general chemical storage.
Ex: Agars, Amino Acids, Sodium Chloride