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Chemical Storage

Safe chemical storage is extremely important in maintaining a safe lab and preventing injury, fire, explosion and spills.

General Chemical Storage Guidelines

  1. Read the MSDS to determine how the chemical should be stored. Ensure that MSDS for all chemicals being used are readily available.
  2. Ensure that all containers are labelled and in good condition. Date chemicals when they are purchased, especially peroxide formers.
  3. Segregate incompatible chemicals according to guidelines below.
  4. Storage areas must be dry and well ventilated.
  5. Do not store chemicals near heat sources or in direct sunlight.
  6. Minimum quantities of hazardous chemicals should be stored. Dispose of chemicals that are no longer required.
  7. Flammables must be stored in approved flammable liquid storage cabinets, or in approved explosion-proof refrigerators.
  8. Secure gas cylinders away from heat sources and according to uWaterloo's Cryogenic and Compressed Gas Safety Program.
  9. Never store chemicals on the floor.
  10. Chemical storage shelves should have a raised lip to prevent containers from falling. Secondary containers or bins should be used to limit spills should they occur.
  11. Shelves should not be overloaded, and must be secured against tipping.
  12. Never store liquid or corrosive chemicals above eye-level.
  13. Chemical containers should be checked on a regular basis for leakage.
  14. All containers must have tightly sealed caps when not in use.
  15. Store chemicals close to work areas to minimize transport distance. When transporting glass containers, use secondary containment receptacles to minimize breakage and spillage if the container is dropped.
  16. Prevent access to storage areas of unauthorized persons.
  17. Do NOT store chemicals in fume hoods. This will reduce the effectiveness of the hood and increase the risk of spills and interaction of incompatible chemicals.

Specific Chemical Storage Guidelines

Material

Storage Conditions

Examples

Flammables
  • Store in grounded flammable liquid storage cabinet
  • Separate from oxidizing materials
  • Acetone
  • Ethanol
  • Glacial acetic acid

Non-Flammable Solvents

  • Store in cabinet
  • Can be stored with flammable liquids
  • Separate from oxidizing materials
  • Carbon tetrachloride
  • Ethylene glycol

Acids
  • Store in cabinet of non-combustible material
  • Separate oxidizing acids, organic acids and mineral acids. 
  • Use plastic bins to provide separate areas in the same cabinet
  • Separate Perchloric acid from all other acids using ceramic, glass or clay bins
  • Separate from caustics, cyanides, sulfides
  • Nitric acid
  • Hydrochloric acid
  • Sulfuric acid

Caustics

  • Store in cabinet, dry area
  • Separate from acids
  • Ammonium hydroxide
  • Sodium hydroxide
  • Potassium hydroxide

Water Reactive Chemicals

  • Store in cabinet, dry location
  • Separate from aqueous solutions
  • Sodium
  • Potassium
  • Lithium

Oxidizers

 

 
  • Store in cabinet of non-combustible material
  • Separate from flammable and combustible materials
  • Sodium hypochlorite
  • Benzoyl peroxide
  • Potassium permanganate

Non-volatile, Non-reactive Solids

  • Store in cabinets or open shelves with edge guards
  • Agar
  • Sodium Chloride
  • Sodium bicarbonate

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