APPENDIX B CHEMICAL STORAGE SEGREGATION SCHEME

Developing safe storage practices for laboratory chemicals is not always easy and often
requires a considerable amount of thought and planning. Your ability to develop a safe storage
system will depend on your knowledge of chemicals or your ability to find information on the
hazards associated with materials you have.
The goal of your storage system should be to separate materials according to chemical
compatibility and hazard class. You will need to develop a segregation scheme to fit your
specific needs; but, do not store chemicals alphabetically until you have them properly
segregated. Use the following broad hazard classes as a guide for segregating your hazardous
chemicals. Storing solids above and liquids below is a good practice.

CLASS OF RECOMMENDED STORAGE INCOMPATIBLES

CHEMICALS METHOD CHEMICAL EXAMPLES SEE MSDS IN ALL CASES

Store in a cool, dry area, at

least 20 feet away from
Compressed
oxidizing gases. Securely Oxidizing and toxic
Gases - Methane, Acetylene,
strap or chain cylinders to a compressed gases,
Flammable Hydrogen
wall or bench top. Some oxidizing solids
(Includes
gases may require a
Combustible)
sprinklered and/or ventilated
gas storage cabinet.

Store in a cool, dry area, at

least 20 feet away from
oxidizing gases.
Securely strap or chain
cylinders to a wall or bench
top. Some gases may require
Compressed a sprinklered and/or Oxidizing and toxic
Gases - ventilated gas storage Propane, Butane compressed gases,
Liquefied cabinet. Limit storage inside oxidizing solids
Flammable buildings to 16 oz. containers
or less. Larger cylinders are
for day use only inside
buildings. Permanent storage
should be located outside of
the building.

Store in a cool, dry area, at

least 20 feet away from
Compressed
flammable gases and liquids.
Gases - Oxygen, Chlorine,
Securely strap or chain Flammable gases
Reactive Bromine
cylinders to a wall or bench
(includes
top. Some gases may require
Oxidizing)
a ventilated gas storage
cabinet.

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 CLASS OF RECOMMENDED STORAGE INCOMPATIBLES
CHEMICAL EXAMPLES
CHEMICALS METHOD SEE MSDS IN ALL CASES

Compressed
Store in a cool, dry area,
Gases -
away from flammable gases
Threat to
and liquids. Securely strap or Carbon monoxide, Flammable and/or oxidizing
Human
chain cylinders to a wall or Hydrogen sulfide gases
Health
bench top. Some gases may
(includes
require a ventilated gas
Toxic and
storage cabinet.
Corrosive)
Inorganic (mineral) acids
- Hydrochloric acid,
Sulfuric acid, Chromic
acid, Nitric acid. Note:
Store in a separate, Flammable liquids,
Nitric acid is a strong
Corrosives - lined/protected acid storage flammable solids, bases,
oxidizer and should be
Acids cabinet or plastic secondary and oxidizers. Organic
stored by itself. Separate
INORGANIC container acids
nitric acid from other acids
by storing in a secondary
container or a separate
acid cabinet.
Store in a separate, Flammable liquids,
Organic acids - Acetic
Corrosives - lined/protected acid storage flammable solids, bases,
acid, Trichloroacetic acid,
Acids cabinet or plastic secondary and oxidizers. Inorganic
Lactic acid
ORGANIC container acids
Ammonium hydroxide,
Store in a separate storage
Corrosives - Potassium hydroxide, Oxidizers and Acids
cabinet
Bases Sodium hydroxide
Ammonium nitrate, Nitro
Urea, Sodium azide,
Store in a secure location
Trinitroaniline,
away from all other
Trinitroanisole, All other chemicals.
Explosives chemicals. Do not store in an
Trinitrobenzene,
area where they can fall.
Trinitrophenol/Picric Acid,
Trinitrotoluene (TNT).
Store in a flammable storage
cabinet. Note: Peroxide
Acetone, Benzene, Diethyl
forming chemicals must be
Flammable ether, Methanol, Ethanol, Oxidizers and Acids
dated upon opening, e.g.,
Liquids Hexanes, Toluene
ether, tetrahydrofuran,
dioxane
Store in a separate dry cool
Phosphorus, Carbon,
Flammable area away from oxidizers, Oxidizers and Acids
Charcoal
Solids corrosives
Store in a dry, cool location.
Protect from water and the
Sodium metal, Potassium
Water fire sprinkler system, if Separate from all aqueous
metal, Lithium metal,
Reactive applicable. Label location - solutions, and oxidizers
Lithium Aluminum hydride
Chemicals WATER REACTIVE
CHEMICALS -

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 CLASS OF RECOMMENDED STORAGE INCOMPATIBLES
CHEMICAL EXAMPLES
CHEMICALS METHOD SEE MSDS IN ALL CASES

Store in a spill tray inside a
non-combustible cabinet,
Oxidizers separate from flammable and
combustible materials.
Store separately in a vented,
cool, dry, area in chemically
Toxics
resistant secondary
(Poisons)
containers
Store on general laboratory
General
benches or shelving. Use
Chemicals
upper shelving for non-
Non-
hazardous chemicals only.
Reactive
Sodium hypochlorite,
Benzoyl peroxide,
Potassium permanganate,
Potassium chlorate,
Potassium dichromate.
Note: The following Separate from reducing
chemical groups are agents, flammables,
considered oxidizers: combustibles and organic
Nitrates, Nitrites, materials.
Chromates, Dichromates,
Chlorites, Permanganates,
Persulfates, Peroxides,
Picrates, Bromates,
Iodates, Superoxides.
Cyanides, heavy metal
compounds, i.e.
See MSDS
Cadmium, Mercury,
Osmium
Agar, Sodium chloride,
Sodium bicarbonate, and See MSDS
most non-reactive salts

The following gases will require ventilated storage: Ammonia, Arsenic pentafluoride, Arsine,
Boron trifluoride, 1,3-Butadiene, Carbon monoxide, Chlorine trifluoride, Chloroethane,
Cyanogen, Diborane, Dichloroborane, Dichlorosilane, Dimethylamine, Ethylamine, Ethylene,
Ethylene oxide, Fluorine, Formaldehyde, Germane, Hydrogen chloride, Hydrogen cyanide,
Hydrogen fluoride, Hydrogen selenide, Hydrogen sulfide, Methylamine, Methyl bromide, Methyl
chloride, Methyl mercaptan, Nitrogen oxides, Phosgene, Phosphine, Silane, Silicon tetrafluoride,
Stibine, Trimethylamine, Vinyl chloride

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