Storing Hazardous Substances and Their Hazard Classes

Chemicals and solvents in the laboratory can release toxic gases over time even in closed containers, with serious consequences for users. Laboratory standards and occupational safety therefore require such chemicals to be stored in dedicated cabinets.

Chemical risk can be reduced by keeping the quantity of chemicals in use to a minimum, and it is reduced considerably by storing and using the chemicals kept on site correctly. A standard storage arrangement requires conditions to be defined for fire control, temperature, ventilation, segregation and labelling.

Storage Rules

• Store chemicals by hazard class using a chemical storage matrix; avoid alphabetical storage.
• Keep toxic and very toxic chemicals and explosives in separate sections or cabinets.
• Keep hazardous chemicals, other chemicals, and glass and plastic consumables in separate sections.
• Display hazard labels and warning signs where required.
• Appoint a member of staff responsible for each product group, and control access to the hazardous chemicals section.
• Store highly flammable chemicals as far as possible from other combustible materials, protected from heat sources and sunlight.
• Keep a safety data sheet for every hazardous chemical.
• Mark the maximum permitted storage quantity on the shelves and take precautions against items falling off them.
• Store chemicals in fragile glass packaging below eye level.

What the Store Building Needs

• Lightning protection
• Safe drainage for spills and leaks
• Earthed shelving and doors
• A non-slip, easy-to-clean floor
• Signage complying with the Safety and Health Signs Regulation
• Fire safety measures
• Ventilation suited to the chemicals stored
• Spill and leak containment materials and suitable personal protective equipment
• A body and eye shower and a first-aid kit

A hazard analysis should also be carried out for the store and the measures it identifies put in place.

Compressed Gas Cylinders

Industrial gas cylinders standing in open areas of laboratories, workplaces or factories carry a risk of explosion. For occupational safety, these cylinders need to be stored in dedicated cabinets.

Laboratory Hazard Classes

• Explosive: a solid or liquid substance or waste that can, by chemical reaction on its own, rapidly produce gas at a temperature and pressure that can damage its surroundings.
• Flammable liquids: liquids, mixtures of liquids, or solutions and suspensions containing solids that give off flammable vapour below 60.5 °C in a closed-cup test or below 65.6 °C in an open-cup test.
• Flammable solids: solids that ignite easily under transport conditions or can cause fire through friction.
• Substances liable to spontaneous combustion: substances that can heat up and ignite on their own under normal conditions or on contact with air.
• Substances that emit flammable gas on contact with water: substances that ignite spontaneously or give off dangerous quantities of flammable gas on contact with water.
• Oxidising substances: substances that, while not necessarily combustible themselves, supply oxygen and cause other materials to burn.
• Organic peroxides: thermally unstable substances containing the –O–O– structure that can undergo self-accelerating exothermic decomposition.
• Toxic (acute): substances that can cause death, serious injury or harm to health if swallowed, inhaled or in contact with the skin.
• Toxic (delayed or chronic): substances that can cause delayed or chronic effects, including carcinogenic effects.
• Substances that release toxic gas on contact with air or water.

KRCLAB’s range includes chemical storage cabinets for hazardous chemicals and storage cabinets for compressed gas cylinders.