Chemical storage is the storage of

controlled substance A controlled substance is generally a drug or chemical whose manufacture, possession and use is regulated by a government, such as illicitly used drugs or prescription medications that are designated by law. Some treaties, notably the Single C ...

s or

hazardous material Dangerous goods, abbreviated DG, are substances that when transported are a risk to health, safety, property or the environment. Certain dangerous goods that pose risks even when not being transported are known as hazardous materials ( syllabi ...

s in chemical stores, chemical storage cabinets, or similar devices. Chemical storage devices are usually present where a workplace requires the use of non-hazardous and/or hazardous chemicals. Proper storage is imperative for the safety of, and access by, laboratory workers. Improper chemical storage can result in the creation of workplace

safety hazard A hazard is a potential source of harm. Substances, events, or circumstances can constitute hazards when their nature would allow them, even just theoretically, to cause damage to health, life, property, or any other interest of value. The probabi ...

s, including the presence of heat, fire, explosion and leakage of

toxic gas Many gases have toxic properties, which are often assessed using the LC50 (median lethal dose) measure. In the United States, many of these gases have been assigned an NFPA 704 health rating of 4 (may be fatal) or 3 (may cause serious or perman ...

. Chemical storage cabinets are typically used to safely store small amounts of

chemical substances A chemical substance is a form of matter having constant chemical composition and characteristic properties. Some references add that chemical substance cannot be separated into its constituent Chemical element, elements by physical separation m ...

within a workplace or

laboratory A laboratory (; ; colloquially lab) is a facility that provides controlled conditions in which scientific or technological research, experiments, and measurement may be performed. Laboratory services are provided in a variety of settings: physicia ...

for regular use. These cabinets are typically made from materials that are resistant to the chemicals stored in them and occasionally contain a bunded tray to capture spillage. Chemical stores are

warehouse A warehouse is a building for storing goods. Warehouses are used by manufacturers, importers, exporters, wholesalers, transport businesses, customs, etc. They are usually large plain buildings in industrial parks on the outskirts of cities ...

s commonly used by chemical or

pharmaceutical A medication (also called medicament, medicine, pharmaceutical drug, medicinal drug or simply drug) is a drug used to diagnose, cure, treat, or prevent disease. Drug therapy (pharmacotherapy) is an important part of the medical field and re ...

companies to store bulk chemicals. In the US, the storage and handling of potentially hazardous materials must be disclosed to occupants under laws managed by the

Occupational Safety and Health Administration The Occupational Safety and Health Administration'' (OSHA ) is a large regulatory agency of the United States Department of Labor that originally had federal visitorial powers to inspect and examine workplaces. Congress established the agenc ...

(OSHA).

Principles

Proper labeling is important to ensure that chemicals are not misidentified, which is key to protecting health and safety. For example, organizing chemicals alphabetically is not generally recommended, because it may lead to incompatible chemicals placed near each other, risking a dangerous reaction. Instead chemicals should be stored according to their reactivity and other properties. For example, acids and bases are incompatible and should be stored separately, whereas sodium and potassium can be kept together as they are both

water-reactive Water-reactive substances are those that spontaneously undergo a chemical reaction with water, as they are highly reducing in nature. Notable examples include alkali metals, lithium through caesium, and alkaline earth metals, magnesium through bari ...

but do not have any added hazard when placed with one another. The United Nations

Globally Harmonized System of Classification and Labeling of Chemicals The Globally Harmonized System of Classification and Labelling of Chemicals (GHS) is an internationally agreed-upon standard managed by the United Nations that was set up to replace the assortment of hazardous material classification and labelli ...

(GHS) is an international system created by the United Nations to classify chemicals. The

Safety Data Sheet A safety data sheet (SDS), material safety data sheet (MSDS), or product safety data sheet (PSDS) is a document that lists information relating to occupational safety and health for the use of various substances and products. SDSs are a widely ...

(SDS) or

Material Safety Data sheet A safety data sheet (SDS), material safety data sheet (MSDS), or product safety data sheet (PSDS) is a document that lists information relating to occupational safety and health for the use of various substances and products. SDSs are a widely ...

(MSDS) identifies and classifies the properties and hazards of chemicals. Unnecessary storage of large amounts of chemicals can pose a hazard if the amount exceeds the limits permitted by laboratory guidelines, and is avoided by accredited workplaces and laboratories. Chemicals are usually stored in cool areas, away from direct heat sources, moisture, or light and should be regularly checked for degradation or damage.

Types of facilities

Due to chemicals' varying properties, many types of facilities are needed. Chemical storage facilities must be adequately maintained to prevent and mitigate their hazards. Accidental spillage or mixing of chemicals can be hazardous.

Shelving

Shelving must be stable, constructed of a material that is compatible with the chemicals stored on it, and not loaded beyond its rated capacity. It is recommended not to store heavy containers on the highest shelves. Storing chemicals under a sink is not recommended, with the exception of compatible cleaning agents and non-hazardous chemicals.

Cabinetry

Chemical storage cabinets are usually suited for specific classes of chemicals. Acid cabinets, for example, consist of corrosion-resistant materials and sealing to prevent the leakage of fumes. Some institutions recommend a tray to contain any spillage and regular checks for any sign of corrosion. Flammable solvent cabinets are produced from specialized wood or metal able to resist fire for at least 30 minutes. For example, a

flammable liquid A flammable liquid is a liquid which can be easily ignited in air at ambient temperatures, i.e. it has a flash point at or below nominal threshold temperatures defined by a number of national and international standards organisations. The Occupat ...

is any liquid that has a

flash point The flash point of a material is the "lowest liquid temperature at which, under certain standardized conditions, a liquid gives off vapours in a quantity such as to be capable of forming an ignitable vapour/air mixture". (EN 60079-10-1) The fl ...

lower than . Corrosive storage cabinets are designed for storing corrosive or oxidizing liquids. They contain a single-piece, leak-proof floor pan to contain spills, must be vented to the fume hood or the lab exhaust system, and their interior is constructed of corrosive-resistant materials. Wooden cabinets provide excellent strength for storing corrosives. Their laminate finish offers a high level of chemical durability.

Desiccation

Desiccation Desiccation () is the state of extreme dryness, or the process of extreme drying. A desiccant is a hygroscopic (attracts and holds water) substance that induces or sustains such a state in its local vicinity in a moderately sealed container. ...

is a chemical storage technique used to maintain or to regulate humidity, usually to store moisture-sensitive chemicals. Desiccation is generally performed with a

desiccator Desiccators are sealable enclosures containing desiccants used for preserving moisture-sensitive items such as cobalt chloride paper for another use. A common use for desiccators is to protect chemicals which are hygroscopic or which react with w ...

. Several types of desiccators are available, including standard, automatic, gas purge and vacuum desiccators.

Cold storage

Refrigerators and freezers can be used to store flammable and hazardous chemicals. In most situations, specialized laboratory refrigerators are used to ensure that the flash points of certain chemicals are not reached. For flammable chemicals, explosion-proof equipment must be used because conventional refrigerators have sources of ignition.

Maintenance

Maintaining the proper condition of chemical storage areas reduces the likelihood of accidents or injuries in the workplace. For example, work areas should always be kept neat and clean and regularly inspected for any hazards such as improperly cleaned residue.

References

{{Reflist Laboratory equipment Chemical safety