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Name
Phone Number
Safe
Storage of
Hazardous
Chemicals
Conten
ts
Page
Introduction
Segregate Incompatibles
Common Incompatibles
14
Corrosives
17
Toxics
19
Highly Toxics
20
Oxidizers
22
Compressed Gases
24
Cryogens
26
28
29
30
34
Introduction
The safe storage of hazardous chemicals is an
essential part of an environmental, health, and
safety program. Chemical storage facilities must
meet certain minimum standards to satisfy diverse
regulations, such as those of Cal/OSHA, the local
sanitary district, and the California Fire Code. This
manual provides guidelines to help you meet these
standards.
In addition, laboratories and work areas on campus
must observe several requirements that incorporate
safe storage:
Keeping an up-to-date chemical inventory
Maintaining a chemical hygiene plan and
documenting staff training
Conducting annual self-inspections
EH&S provides more information on the above
programs at its website http://ehs.berkeley.edu.
The five sections of this brochure cover the main
elements of a safe chemical storage program:
Section Information
1
Illustrations by Oruc
Cakmakli
at a central location.
Manufacturers Labels
Segregate Incompatibles
Chemical Families
flammables/combustibles
corrosive acids
corrosive bases
toxics
highly toxics
oxidizers
compressed gases
cryogens
pyrophorics
water reactives
explosives
Segregate Families
Common Incompatibles
Do not store incompatible chemicals in close
proximity to each other. In an earthquake, fire, or
other spill, they could mix and react violently and/or
release poisonous gas.
Laboratory Material
Alkali metals like
calcium, potassium, and
sodium
Acetic Acid
Acetone
Acetylene
Ammonia, Anhydrous
Ammonium Nitrate
Aniline
Bromine
Chlorates
Incompatible with
water, carbon dioxide,
carbon tetrachloride, other
chlorinated hydrocarbons
chromic acid, nitric acid,
hydroxyl-containing
compounds, ethylene
glycol, perchloric acid,
peroxides,
permanganates
concentrated sulfuric or
nitric acid mixtures
copper (tubing), halogens,
silver, mercury, and their
compounds
mercury, halogens, calcium
hypochlorite, hydrogen
fluoride
acids, metal powders,
flammable
liquids,
chlorates, nitrates, sulfur,
finely divided organics or
combustibles
nitric acid, hydrogen
peroxide
ammonia, acetylene,
butadiene, butane,
hydrogen, sodium carbide,
turpentine, finely divided
metals
ammonium salts, acids,
metal
powders,
sulfur,
carbon,
finely
divided
organics, combustibles
Chlorine
Cyanides
Hydrogen Peroxide
Hydrogen Sulfide
Hydrocarbons
(general)
Iodine
Mercury
Nitric Acid
Oxygen
Oxalic Acid
Perchloric Acid
Potassium
Permanganate
Sodium Peroxide
Sulfuric Acid
ammonia, acetylene,
butadiene, benzene, other
petroleum fractions,
hydrogen, sodium carbide,
turpentine, finely divided
powdered
metals
acids
copper, chromium, iron,
most metals or their
respective salts,
flammable liquids or
combustible materials,
aniline,
nitro-methane
nitric acid,
oxidizing gases
halogens, chromic acid,
sodium peroxide
acetylene, ammonia,
chlorine
acetylene, ammonia,
lithium
acetic, chromic, and
hydrocyanic acids, aniline,
carbon, hydrogen sulfide,
flammable material, readily
nitrated substances
oils, grease,
hydrogen;
flammable
silver, mercury,
chlorites, strong
oxidizers
acetic anhydride, bismuth
and its alloys, alcohol,
paper, wood, other organic
materials ethylene glycol,
glycerine,
benzaldehyde, sulfuric acid
any oxidizable substances
chlorates,
perchlorates,
permanganates
Chromic Acid
Storage Cabinets
doorways,
Storage Shelves
Keep aisles,
entryways clear.
exits,
and
Storage Containers
Storage Donts
11
13
Reactivity
Special
(White)
13
Non-Laboratory Chemicals
Characteristics
Laboratory Chemicals
Flammable Solids
Flammable Liquids
gasoline
lighter fluid
paint
thinner
Flammable Gases
Combustible Liquids
acetylene
antifreeze
diesel
fuel
engine
oil
Flammable Solids
Flammable Liquids
Storage Limits
naphthalene (HT)
finely divided metal (e.g.,
aluminum, cadmium,
4
chromium, titanium,
zinc)
(P)
1
1
alcohols - methanol,
ethanol
esters - ethyl
acetate ethers diethyl ether
ketones - acetone,
cyclohexane
Flammable Gases
Combustible Liquids
hydroge
n
methan
e
ethyl ether
1
1
0
glycerine
14
15
Quant
ity
Limits
within
Flam
mable
Stora
ge
Cabin
ets
Flamm
able
liquids
stored
in
approv
ed
cabinet
s
within
laborat
ories
or
classro
oms
shall
not
exceed
sixty
(60)
gallons
.
c
a
p
a
ci
ty
of
gl
a
s
s
c
o
n
ta
in
e
rs
s
h
al
l
n
ot
e
x
c
e
e
d
o
n
e
Maxim (1
)
um
Contai g
al
ner
Capaci lo
n.
ty
The
T
ca
h
pa
e
city of all
other
containers
(including
safety
cans) shall
not exceed
two (2)
gallons.
See the Fact
Sheet on the
storage of
flammable
liquids at
http://ehs.berk
eley.edu. If you
need additional
information,
please contact
the Campus
Fire Marshal at
642-4409.
14
15
Corrosives
Characteristics
Laboratory Chemicals
Acids
Bases
Organic Acids
acetic acid (C)
citric acid ( C )
WR)
formic acid (C, T)
oxalic acid (T)
Inorganic Oxidizing
Acids
chromic acid (O, T)
nitric acid (HT, O)
perchloric acid (O,
PEC) sulfuric acid (O,
T, WR)
http://ehs.berkeley.ed
u.
OX
nitric
acid
16
17
sodium hydroxide
Non-Laboratory Chemicals
Acids
Bases
16
17
Toxics
Characteristics
Laboratory Chemicals
Solids
Liquids
Gases
acrylamide
aniline (C)
ammonia
cadmium chloride
chlordane
hydrogen fluoride
(CA) potassium fluoride (CA)
phenol (C, CA)
vinyl bromide
Non-Laboratory Chemicals
Solids
Liquids
diazinion
copper sulfate
4
0
hydrogen
sulfide
2
3
phenol
18
19
Highly Toxics
Characteristics
Laboratory Chemicals
Solids
Liquids
Gases
arsenic salts
acrolein
diborane (P, WR)
calium cyanide hydrocyanic acid (CA, F) fluorine (CA,
O, WR) organic mercury nicotine (C) nitrogen dioxide
(O)
compounds
4
4
3
W
potassium dichromate
diborane
Additional hazardous characteristics: CCombustible; CA
Corrosive acid; FFlammable; OOxidizer; PPyrophoric; WR
Water reactive
21
20
21
Oxidizers
Laboratory Chemicals
Solids
Liquids
Gases
ammonium nitrate
bromine
chlorine (HT)
calcium nitrate (T)
chromic acid (CA, T)
fluorine (CA, HT,
WR) potassium chlorate
hydrogen peroxide
nitrogen
dioxide (HT) potassium nitrate
nitric
acid
(CA,
HT)
oxygen
sodium dichromate (H, T) perchloric acid
ozone (H,
T) sodium nitrate
(CA, PEC)
sulfuric acid (CA, T, WR)
Non-Laboratory Chemicals
Solids
Liquids
oxygen
chlorine
(T)
0
W
OX
sulfuric
acid
22
Gases
fertilizers (e.g.,
bleaching agents
ammonium
(e.g.,
nitrate) pool
hyrogen
chemicals
(e.g., bromine tablets) peroxide,
sodium
hypochlorit
0
e)
3
0
1
silver
nitrate
23
22
23
Compressed Gases
Characteristics
Laboratory Chemicals
argon
hydrogen (F)
butane (F)
methane
(F) carbon monoxide (T) nitrogen
chlorine (T,O)
ethylene (F)
Non-Laboratory Chemicals
OX
chlorine
acetylene (F)
compressed
air oxygen
(O)
Additional hazardous
characteristics:
FFlammable; TToxic; OOxidizer
acetylene
An acceptable means includes using two noncombustible restraints, such as chains, one restraint
located approximately one-third of the cylinder
length from the top, and the other restraint one-third
from the bottom.
Keep cylinders away from heat and open flames.
Leave the valve protection cap on the cylinder
unless it is in use.
Never store cylinders in walk-in freezers. The
confined space with no ventilation poses a potential
hazard.
If you suspect that a cylinder is leaking, do not
attempt to sniff the leak out. Apply a soap solution
to the cylinder and locate the leak by noting where
the bubbles appear.
Toxic gases, highly toxic gases, and pyrophoric gases
must be managed in accordance with the campus
toxic gas program requirements. See the Fact Sheet
about the campus Toxic Gas Program at
http://ehs.berkeley.edu. Contact EH&S for details
about ventilation and quantity limitations.
25
incompatible chemicals.
Limit the quantity of compressed gas cylinders
on site to what will be used within a reasonable
period of time.
24
25
Cryogens
Characteristics
Laboratory Chemicals
liquid argon
liquid
(F) liquid carbon monoxide (F, T)liquid
(F) liquid ethylene (F)
liquid
liquid fluorine (CA, HT, O, WR) liquid
(O) liquid helium
hydrogen
methane
nitrogen
oxygen
0
0
OX
liquid oxygen
liquid
nitrogen
27
surfaces.
26
27
Water
Reactives
Characteristics
SPONTANEOUSLY
DANGEROUS
COMBUSTIBLE
Laboratory Chemicals
Solids
Liquid
Gases
sodium (WR)
aluminum
diborane (HT, WR)
finely divided metal
borohydride (CB,WR) phosphine (HT,
WR)
(e.g., aluminum,
diethylzinc (WR)
silane
(WR) chromium, zinc)
Laboratory Chemicals
Solids
Liquids
2
W
silane
WHEN
WET
Characteristics
zinc
2
W
antimony
potassium hydroxide
29
28
29
Explosive and
Potentially Explosive
Chemicals
Characteristics
Nitrogen-Oxygen
Chemicals (e.g.,
Nitrates, Nitro)
ethylidene dinitrate
picric acid (dry)
thallium aci-phenylnitromethanide
trinitrotoluene (TNT)
Oxides, Peroxides, and Related
Chemicals
(See Peroxide Forming Chemicals)
benzoyl peroxide (97%) (dry)
bis (1-chloroethylthallium chloride)
oxide
Nitrogen-Rich
Chemicals
(e.g., Azo-, Diazo, Triazo, Tetrazole)
aluminum
azide 5aminotetrazol
e 1bromoaziridine
chromyl
azide
chloride
diethyl
diazomalonate
hydrogen
azide
(>17%) lead azide
mercury (I&II) azide
molybdenum diazide tetrachloride
sodium diazomethanide
tetrazole
1,2,3triazole
Perchlorate Chemicals
ammonium
perchlorate
31
4
4
4
4
trinitrotoluene
30
31
33
Peroxide
Forming
Chemicals
t
i
m
e
,
t
h
e
s
e
C
h
a
r
a
c
t
e
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r
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m
p
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p
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i
o
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32
o
f
33
t
h
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p
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32
h
e
a
c
t
i
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s
.
c
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a
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e
33
n
t
h
e
be
tested
for
peroxide
concentration, and
when it should be
discarded. Dispose
of the chemical
before the discard
date indicated on
the container or
follow
the
guidelines below.
l
a
b
o
r
a
t
o
r
y
,
w
h
e
n
D
i
s
p
o
s
e
i
t
w
a
s
o
p
e
n
e
d
,
w
h
e
n
o
f
w
i
t
h
i
n
2
4
H
o
u
i
t
s
32
2
2
h
o
u
l
d
r
s
:
u
n
i
n
h
i
b
i
t
e
d
)
a
c
r
y
l
i
c
a
c
i
d
Test or Dispose of
within 3 Months:
(
u
n
i
n
h
i
b
i
t
e
d
)
b
u
t
a
d
i
e
n
e
(
33
Storage
and
Disposal
of
Peroxid
e
Forming
Chemic
als
By the expiration
date, the
owner/user should
either dispose of
the chemical or
test it for peroxide
content. Dispose
of any chemicals
found to have a
peroxide
concentration
greater than or
equal to 100
parts per million.
(Call EH&S for
assistance.)
Materials that
have lasted
beyond the
recommended
shelf life but
have been
b
u
t
a
d
i
e
n
e
(
i
n
h
32
Important note:
Never test
containers of
unknown age or
origin. Old
bottles are likely
to contain
concentrated
peroxides, and
peroxides may
have crystallized
in the cap
threads, which
can present a
serious hazard
when the bottle
is opened for
testing.
ibited)
chloro
prene
divinyl
acetyle
ne
isoprop
yl
e
t
h
e
r
Test or
Dispose of
within 12
Months:
a
c
e
t
a
l
d
e
h
y
d
e
a
c
r
o
l
e
i
n
b
e
n
z
y
l
e
t
h
e
r
t
h
y
l
2
b
u
t
a
n
o
l
v
i
n
y
l
e
t
h
e
r
c
y
c
l
o
h
e
x
a
n
o
l
2
h
e
x
a
n
o
l
3methyl1butanol
tetrahy
drofura
n
d
i
e
t
h
y
l
e
t
h
e
r
e
33
acrylic acid
C
o
n
t
a
c
t
ainers and
for additional
guidelines on the
safe storage and
handling of
peroxide forming
chemicals.
E
H
&
S
diethyl ether
4
1
f
o
r
h
e
l
p
w
i
t
h
m
a
n
a
g
i
n
g
o
l
d
e
r
c
o
n
t
32
33
37
NOTES
36
37