Info-Authority: Chemical Storage

Chemical storage is a term covering a wide variety of practices, from the maintenance of relatively benign laboratory chemicals to the handling of toxic or hazardous materials. The term "chemical" is fairly broad—it can refer to any element found on the periodic table, but is commonly used to refer to useful chemical compounds, chemicals produced by industrial methods for profit, or byproducts of the industrial process.

Storing Chemicals

Because chemicals can react together in a variety of dangerous ways, they require careful monitoring even when not in use. In a laboratory setting chemicals should be kept carefully organized, labeled, and dated. Hazardous chemicals should be kept apart from other chemicals, and grouped in sets. Such chemicals should be kept on low shelves to prevent the need for reaching. In addition, the shelves should be checked periodically for sturdiness and the chemicals should not be overloaded onto any one shelf. The shelves should also be coated with a substance or paint to render them chemical-resistant in the event of a spill, and possess a barrier such as a door or raised edge to prevent seepage. Particularly corrosive chemicals should be placed in trays to prevent damage to the shelf. All chemicals should be kept away from heat sources or direct sunlight.

Handling Specific Chemicals

Certain chemicals require specific care.

Acids must be kept away from bases and should be kept low or in storage units designed to hold them.

Careful attention should be paid to the properties of surrounding chemicals to ensure that they do not produce lethal gases when exposed to acid.

Bases should be treated with similar precautions.

Flammable chemicals can be extremely dangerous, and only a limited number should be kept in any given setting, particularly if there is no emergency sprinkler system to neutralize a potential disaster.

If flammables or explosives are placed in a refrigerator, care must be taken to ensure that there is no danger of ignition from exposed electrical contacts.

Peroxide-forming and water-reactive chemicals should be kept in cool, dry areas

Securing Hazardous Materials

Even stronger precautions need be taken for the storage of hazardous materials, sometimes called “hazmat,” found outside of the laboratory. Dangerous gases and liquids are usually kept in heavy steel storage units. Such units may resemble small sheds or long shipping containers, and are designed to prevent leaks as well as withstand fires for several hours.

Transporting Hazardous Materials

When it is necessary for such materials to be moved, they are routinely transported in color-coded canisters—red for flammables, blue for kerosene, etc., with careful routes of travel established, as certain roads and tunnels may prohibit use by trucks containing dangerous chemicals. The storage and transportation of hazardous materials is a sensitive issue, particularly due to recent concerns of terrorist activities, and is carefully monitored by both the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA). These agencies enforce strict guidelines to ensure that hazardous materials are properly secured.

By Matthew Ingalls




	Chemical Storage Chemical storage is a term covering a wide variety of practices, from the maintenance of relatively benign laboratory chemicals to the handling of toxic or hazardous materials. The term "chemical" is fairly broad—it can refer to any element found on the periodic table, but is commonly used to refer to useful chemical compounds, chemicals produced by industrial methods for profit, or byproducts of the industrial process. Storing Chemicals Because chemicals can react together in a variety of dangerous ways, they require careful monitoring even when not in use. In a laboratory setting chemicals should be kept carefully organized, labeled, and dated. Hazardous chemicals should be kept apart from other chemicals, and grouped in sets. Such chemicals should be kept on low shelves to prevent the need for reaching. In addition, the shelves should be checked periodically for sturdiness and the chemicals should not be overloaded onto any one shelf. The shelves should also be coated with a substance or paint to render them chemical-resistant in the event of a spill, and possess a barrier such as a door or raised edge to prevent seepage. Particularly corrosive chemicals should be placed in trays to prevent damage to the shelf. All chemicals should be kept away from heat sources or direct sunlight. Handling Specific Chemicals Certain chemicals require specific care. Acids must be kept away from bases and should be kept low or in storage units designed to hold them. Careful attention should be paid to the properties of surrounding chemicals to ensure that they do not produce lethal gases when exposed to acid. Bases should be treated with similar precautions. Flammable chemicals can be extremely dangerous, and only a limited number should be kept in any given setting, particularly if there is no emergency sprinkler system to neutralize a potential disaster. If flammables or explosives are placed in a refrigerator, care must be taken to ensure that there is no danger of ignition from exposed electrical contacts. Peroxide-forming and water-reactive chemicals should be kept in cool, dry areas Securing Hazardous Materials Even stronger precautions need be taken for the storage of hazardous materials, sometimes called “hazmat,” found outside of the laboratory. Dangerous gases and liquids are usually kept in heavy steel storage units. Such units may resemble small sheds or long shipping containers, and are designed to prevent leaks as well as withstand fires for several hours. Transporting Hazardous Materials When it is necessary for such materials to be moved, they are routinely transported in color-coded canisters—red for flammables, blue for kerosene, etc., with careful routes of travel established, as certain roads and tunnels may prohibit use by trucks containing dangerous chemicals. The storage and transportation of hazardous materials is a sensitive issue, particularly due to recent concerns of terrorist activities, and is carefully monitored by both the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA). These agencies enforce strict guidelines to ensure that hazardous materials are properly secured. By Matthew Ingalls Related Links: Chemical Storage Containers A sample listing of various chemical storage and hazmat containers.