| General Rules: |
| Do not store hazardous chemicals above eye level. |
| Do not store chemicals on the floor. |
| Do not store liquid radioactive waste on the floor (unless stored in a secondary container). |
| Store incompatible chemicals separately |
| Do not store hazardous chemicals in containers without lids |
| Completely close all container lids |
| Label storage cabinets and shelves with the name of the chemical group. |
Chemical Storage Groups | Examples/ Special Instructions |
| Flammable/ Non-Flammable Volatile Liquids Minimize the amount of flammable liquids outside of the flammable storage cabinet. Place in a flammable storage cabinet, or near a chemical fume hood if possible. 10 gallons of flammable liquids are not permitted outside of a flammable storage cabinet. 5 gallon containers must be stored in a flammable storage cabinet. |
Volatile, Flammable: Alcohols, Amines, Amides, Imines, Imides, Hydrocarbons, Esters, Aldehydes,
Ketones, Ethers (peroxidizable: also see "Oxidizers"). Volatile, Non-Flammable: Carbon Tetrachloride, Chloroform. |
| Liquid Acids Store separate from flammables, bases, and poisons. Store in a dedicated area (but not under the sink), preferably in its own storage cabinet. Use secondary containment when storage in an acid storage cabinet is not possible. | Store Nitric, Acetic, Picric, Chromic, and Perchloric Acid separately from each other and all other chemicals. Use secondary containment for each if complete separation is not possible. |
| Liquid Bases Store bases separate from acids, flammables, and poisons. Organic bases may be stored with flammables. Use secondary containers if complete separation from incompatibles is not possible. | Hydroxides, Sodium Hypochlorite (Clorox), Imidazole, etc. |
| Flammable/Water/Air-Reactive Solids These solids are usually (and must be) packaged in mineral oil and/or a secondary container. Store in a flammable storage cabinet. | Sulfur, Phosphorous, Phosphorous Pentoxide, Metals (e.g. Sodium, Potassium, and Metal Dusts). |
| Acidic Solids Store separately from poisons, bases, and flammables. Use secondary containment if complete separation from incompatibles is not possible. | Trichloroacetic, boric, triflouroacetic, etc. |
| Basic Solids Store separately from poisons and acids. | Hydroxides, non-flammable amines |
| Oxidizers (solids and liquids) Store separately from all other chemicals. Store peroxidizing chemicals at minimum temperatures required to slow decomposition. Avoid freezing or precipitation of peroxides; either process increases their heat- or shock-sensitivity . Avoid grinding or using metal spatulas with peroxides. Properly dispose of expired oxidizers. |
Ethers, Chlorates, Perchlorates, Chlorites, Hypochlorites, Peroxides, Hydroperoxides, Borates, Chromates, Manganates, Permanganates, Amides, Nitrates, Nitrites. |
| Chemicals Requiring Refrigeration (liquids and solids) Flammable materials must be placed in a flammable-storage refrigerator or explosion-proof refrigerator. Oxidizers must be grouped away from flammables in a separate secondary container. |
Flammables: Acetaldehyde, Dimethylether Oxidizers: Dibenzoyl Peroxide, Hydrogen peroxide (5%) Other: Methyliodide, Methylbromide |
| Controlled Substances, Carcinogens and Poisons/ Toxic Chemicals (liquids and solids) Controlled substances must be inventoried & stored in a locked cabinet. Carcinogens and poisons must be stored in the order of the magnitude of hazard ie., store as flammables first if applicable, then as acids, and then as toxics/poisons. Separate from other categories when storing as toxics/poisons. |
Maintain antidotes when applicable. |
| Buffers, and Salts (liquids and solids) Hazardous salts (such as cyanides, flourides, etc.) must be stored as toxic chemicals. Do not place toxics near incompatibles. Only non-hazardous salts, sugars, and buffers may be stored alphabetically. |
Selenides, Phosphides, Carbides, Nitrides, Sulfates, Sulfites, Thiosulfites, Phosphates, Silicates, Carbonates, Glycols, Sulfides, etc. |
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