Chemicals can pose various risks to humans and the environment. That is why special attention should be paid to their storage and maintenance. Each of the chemicals has different characteristics and risks, which can be obtained by reading the chemical safety data sheets (MSDS). 

The main principle in the storage of chemicals is to pay attention to the fact that chemicals that are not compatible with each other should not be stored physically close to each other. In the following, we will mention the steps of storing chemicals.

Step by step storage of chemicals

1. Identify groups of chemicals that are incompatible with each other.
2. Determine which category each chemical belongs to and place them next to each other.
3. Now, according to the available space and the mentioned recommendations, try to keep any batch of chemicals that are not compatible with each other away from each other.

In the table below, the main groups of chemical substances and their compatibility status with other groups are given. The right column is the material group and the left column is the number of groups with which this group is incompatible:

RGN	Reactivity Group	Incompatible With RGN:
1	Acids, Minerals, Non-Oxidizing	4-15,17-26,28,30-34,101-107
2	Acids, Minerals, Oxidizing	3-34, 101-103, 105-107
3	Acids, Organic	2,4,5,7,8,10-12,15,18,21,22,24,265,33,34,102-105,107
4	Alcohols and Glycols	1-3,8,18,21,25,30,34,104,105,107
5	Aldehydes	1-3,7,8,10,12,21,25,27,28,30,33,34,104,105,107
6	Amides	1,2,21,24,104,105,107
7	Amines, Aliphatic and Aromatic	1-3,5,12,17,18,21,24,30,34,104,105,107
8	Azo Compounds, Diazo Compounds and Hydrazines	1-5,9,11-13,17-23,25,30-34, 102-107
9	Carbamates	1,2,8,10,21,22,25,30,104, 107
10	Caustics	1-3,5,9,13,17-19,21,22,24-27,32,34,102,103, 107
11	Cyanides	1-3,5,9,13,17-19,21,22,24-27,32,34,102,103, 107
12	Dithiocarbamates	1-3,8,17-19,21,25,30,34,103,104, 107
13	Esters	1,2,8,10,21,25,102,104,105,107
14	Ethers	1, 2, 104, 107
15	Fluorides, Inorganic	1-3, 107
16	Hydrocarbons, Aromatic	2,104, 107
17	Halogenated Organics	1,2,7,8,10,11,20-23,25,30,104,105,107
18	Isocyanates	1-4,7,8,10-12,20-22,25,30,31,33, 104-107
19	Ketones	1,2,8,10,11,20,21,25,30,104,105,107
20	Mercaptons and Other Organic Sulfides	1,2,8,17-19,21,22,25,30,34,104,105,107
21	Metals, Alkali and Alkaline Earth Elemental	1-13,17-20,25-27,30-32,34,101-104,106, 107
22	Metals, Other Elemental and Alloys as Powders, Vapors or Sponges	1-3,8-10,17,18,20,28,30,34,102-104,106,107
23	Metals, Other Elemental and Alloys as Sheets, Rods, Drops, Moldings	1,2,8,17,102-104, 107
24	Metal and Metal Compounds, Toxic	1-3,6,7,10,26,30,34,102,103,106,107
25	Nitrides	1-5,8-13,17-21,26-27,30,31,34,101-104,106,107
26	Nitrites	1-3,10,21,24,25,30,104,105,107
27	Nitro Compounds, Organic	2,5,10,21,25,104,105,107
28	Hydrocarbons, Aliphatic, Unsaturated	1,2,5,22,30,104,107
29	Hydrocarbons, Aliphatic, Saturated	2,104, 107
30	Peroxides and Hydroperoxides, Organic	1,2,4,5,7-9,11,12,17-22,24-26,28,31-34,101-105, 107
31	Phenols and Cresols	1,2,8,18,21,25,30,34,102-105, 107
32	Organophosphates, Phosphothioates, Phosphodithioates	1,2,8,10,21,30,34,104,105,107
33	Sulfides, Inorganic	1-3,5,8,18,30,34,102-104,106,107
34	Epoxides	1-5,7,8,10-12,20-22,24,25,30-33,102,104,105,107
101	Combustible and Flammable Materials, Misc.	1,2,21,25,30,102,104,105,107
102	Explosives	1-3,8,10,13,21-25,30,31,33,34,101,105-105, 107
103	Polymerizable Compounds	1-3,8,10-12,21-25,30,31,33,102,104,105,107
104	Oxidizing Agents, Strong	1,3-9,11-14,16-23,25-34,101-103,105,107
105	Reducing Agents, Strong	1-8,12,13,17-20,26,27,30,31,32,34,101-104,106,107
106	Water and Mixtures Containing Water	1,2,8,18,21,22,24,25,33,105,107
107	Water Reactive Substances	ALL!

Characteristics of chemical storage warehouse

• The best option for storing chemicals is cabinets with doors or shelves with edges (to prevent the container from sliding and falling on the floor).
• Chemical shelves should be firmly plastered to the floor and wall.
• The chemical storage area must have a lock and a chemical hazard sign must be installed at its entrance.
• The place where chemicals are stored must have a proper ventilation system.

Chemical safety data sheets should be near the cupboard and accessible.

• It is necessary for the storage place of chemicals to have a fire extinguisher (appropriate type for the nature of the stored substance). Powder fire extinguishers are a more suitable option for chemicals.
• Also, two buckets of dry sand should be available in the laboratory for fire extinguishing.
• It is necessary to have a cold water shower for washing near the chemical storage area.
• The chemical storage area must have a sloped passage at the entrance and exit of the warehouse. This slope prevents liquid chemicals from settling out of the warehouse.
• The storekeeper’s office should be separate from the chemical storage area.
• If there is a window, a shade should be used to prevent direct sunlight from entering the warehouse.
• The warehouse temperature should be suitable for the materials stored in the warehouse. It may be necessary to use a refrigerator or freezer for some ingredients.

General points were mentioned above, which are mostly related to the characteristics of chemical storage warehouse. In the following, some general methods of classifying and storing materials will be mentioned.

Classification of chemicals in the warehouse

The best classification for storing chemicals is, first of all, the proper temperature to store the materials. Based on this, it is necessary to separate materials based on their storage temperature in order to store them in warehouses with different temperatures and conditions.

The following classification is only a suggested classification. This category is designed for easier access to the desired material.

1. Liquids and solvents

It is necessary to classify liquids and solvents in a separate shelf compared to other solid or gas materials due to the considerations that exist for them. In the classification of these materials, they can be divided into different categories:

• Acids, bases and corrosive substances: it is recommended to store these substances in a separate shelf due to their corrosiveness. It is also better that their shelves have a door so that the dishes do not fall or spill on anyone.
• Flammable materials: These materials must be stored in a separate shelf and protected from heat, light and impact.
• Other liquids: Other liquids that are not included in the above groups can also be classified separately based on their characteristics.

2. Gases

These materials are kept in special cylinders and it is necessary to separate them from other materials. It should also be protected against impact from gases.

3. Solids

• To
• Mineral
  • metallic
    • Classification based on the type of metal: In this classification, solids are classified based on the type of metal composition inside them.
    • Classification based on connected groups (for example, sulfates and nitrates): This classification is based on groups such as nitrates and… Like sulfates: all sulfates are grouped together.
  • other

In each of the above categories, it can be made smaller or new categories can be introduced depending on the materials and the amount of use of each.