Storage conditions for chemicals in the laboratory

The storage conditions of chemicals in the laboratory have always been of great importance. Many incidents such as explosions and fires occur in laboratories due to insufficient attention to special points regarding the rules for storing chemicals. It is important and necessary to prepare and collect special tips related to the safety of transporting and storing chemicals in the laboratory. Keeping and working with chemicals in the laboratory should be based on the rules, international standard conditions and full compliance with the safety recommendations. Laboratories are one of the suitable places to store chemicals, which is necessary to minimize possible risks so that people of the conditions and Observe certain characteristics. These conditions include the following points      

Conditions and instructions for storing chemicals in the warehouse

• To store chemicals in the warehouse , it is necessary for the laboratory to have a fire extinguisher suitable for the characteristics of the material. (Generally, powder fire extinguishers are used for these places.)
• It is necessary for the laboratory to have a proper air conditioning system to ventilate the chemical warehouse .
• Placing two buckets of sand for the occurrence of fire and extinguishing the fire
• Placement of emergency shower and eye wash for eye wash and cold water shower
• Adjusting the temperature and humidity of the laboratory environment to store chemicals
• If the materials are stored in a refrigerator and in a cold environment, it is necessary for the laboratory to have a refrigerator.
• Of course, it should be noted that the refrigerator suitable for storing food must be separate from the refrigerator for storing chemicals in the laboratory.
  

Chemical warehouse instructions

• In order to store and maintain chemicals, it is necessary to keep the materials away from direct sunlight and heat.
• Avoid storing chemicals under the laboratory hood.
• It is necessary to store acidic materials and alkaline materials separately. (It is also necessary to keep organic acids and oxidizing acids separately.)
• Toxic substances and reactive substances should be stored in appropriate places.

 (It is necessary to store toxic substances in an environment with proper ventilation and reactive substances in an environment away from impact and heat.).

Chemical warehouse safety – chemical storage rack

In all the laboratories that use chemicals, there are shelves for placing the materials. Things related to the storage of materials in these shelves are significant, which are mentioned below.

• Shelves should have edges that prevent chemicals from sliding and falling.
• These shelves must be firmly bolted to the wall and floor.
• Shelves in which light-sensitive materials are placed must have opaque doors to prevent light from entering the shelf and material.
• Next to each shelf, there should be a safety sheet for the chemicals in that shelf so that the user can easily access them.
• Shelving of all materials should be clear and a list should be kept that clearly shows what materials are on each shelf.
• Corrosive materials must be stored in shelves with doors.
• All materials on the shelves must have the GHS symbol of chemicals.

Note: The refrigerator for storing chemicals and the refrigerator for food must be separate from each other. (One refrigerator cannot be used for both purposes)

Chemical safety guidelines

To prevent chemicals from falling, they should be stored in closed cabinets or strong edged shelves that have edges of about one and a half centimeters. The shelves must be firmly attached to the wall and floor of the laboratory. All chemical storage areas must be locked. Keep chemicals away from students and users. Proper ventilation system is necessary and necessary in the place of storage of chemicals. Store flammable and corrosive materials in special anti-flammable, corrosion-proof cabinets equipped with proper ventilation system and away from oxidizing materials.

Arrangement of chemical warehouse

Sort chemicals according to the type of composition. Arrange each item of the group of compounds alphabetically. Store acids in special cabinets and allocate a separate section in the cabinet to nitric acid. Store highly toxic chemicals in special cabinets and shelves so that the labels of their toxic symptoms are clearly visible. Store smelly and volatile chemicals in cabinets equipped with ventilation systems. Water-sensitive chemicals should be stored in an impermeable, dry and cool cabinet away from other chemicals.

Chemical warehouse safety regulation

Alkalis should be stored in a dry place and acids should be kept separately from alkalis, cyanides and sulfides. Reactive materials should be kept away from heat, impact and friction. It should also be kept separately from oxidizing and non-oxidizing gases. Toxic substances should be stored in suitable places with good ventilation. Store non-volatile and non-reactive solids in cabinets or open-edged shelves. The corrosive must be kept at a temperature above the freezing point, because it is possible that a substance such as acetic acid freezes at a relatively high temperature and bursts its container and spreads outside after the temperature reaches above the freezing point.

There must be special instructions for dealing with chemical spills, the necessary supplies and equipment include eye, skin and respiratory system protective covers, chemical resistant gloves, absorbent or neutralizing material, plastic bag, broom and dustpan. The waste of chemical solvents should be separated according to the instructions and collected in suitable and leak-proof containers with chemical labels. Also, these wastes should be kept away from heat, sparks, flames and direct sunlight and in a place with proper ventilation. In laboratories that deal with flammable chemicals, if they have refrigerators and freezers, they must be approved by an expert so that there is no risk of sparks and fires.

Guidelines for the storage of materials and solvents – hazardous chemicals in the laboratory

Do not store large and heavy containers of chemicals and liquids on the upper shelves. Avoid placing chemicals on top of the cabinet. Do not store chemicals on the laboratory floor even temporarily. Never keep the chemical on the platform or under the hood of the laboratory except when using it. Avoid placing liquids or hazardous materials on shelves above eye level. Do not put chemicals next to food and drinks.

Do not store chemicals in personal refrigerators of employees, even for a short period of time. Do not expose chemicals to direct heat, sunlight, or extreme temperatures. Avoid storing excess chemicals in the laboratory. Identify all chemicals with necessary information labels. All chemicals must be complete with safety information. The transportation of chemicals should be carried out according to the necessary instructions. Storage of chemical containers should be in places where people inside the laboratory cannot touch them. Keep chemicals away from heat sources and direct sunlight. Stainless and chemical-resistant shelving with protective edges and sufficient load-bearing capacity with appropriate connections should be used. Store oxidizing acids and organic acids separately.

Suitable containers for storing chemicals – why some chemicals in the laboratory are kept in dark colored bottles

A small amount of vapors of substances such as hydrogen cyanide, cyanogen and parathion can cause death. They should be stored in high pressure metal cylinders. These materials should be kept away from physical damage and any flammable material. Store liquid substances such as light-sensitive concentrated acids in opaque glass bottles or jars or uncovered metal containers in a well-ventilated area. Substances that absorb a lot of moisture, such as sodium hydroxide, should be stored in plastic bottles that are impermeable to water. Store radioactive materials in lead containers and completely impermeable environments, and personal protection must be fully observed against material radiation. Use special containers to store corrosive substances or toxic liquids. For example, put hydrofluoric acid in lead containers, rubber or lead bottles and keep it away from other acidic containers.