Compatibility Table for Chemical Storage at room temperature (defined by physical, not health hazard and not including
gases)
This is generic, supplementary guidance only and does not replace lab specific chemical hygiene training, COSHH SSRA and the compatibility advice in sections 7&10 of the SDS
Where a substance has multiple physical hazards – consideration should be given to the higher hazards e.g. acetic acid is both corrosive and flammable the higher physical risk is fire
Chemical grouping Details Examples How to store Notes
GROUP 1 A flammable liquid has a acetone Store in a clearly labelled, fire resistant metal The MSDS a n d S S R A provide the
flashpoint of no more than 93°C acetonitrile flammables cabinet or, flashpoint for flammable and
Flammables and Category 1 benzene depending on temperature requirements, in an combustible liquids.
Combustibles flashpoint of < 23°C and initial 1-butanol explosion proof fridge
boiling point ≤ 35°C – Extremely heptane,
Organic solvents flammable liquid and vapour methanol NO cardboard shipping boxes or other combustible in Primary Storage Concern: To protect
including Xylene the cabinet. from ignition
organic acids Category 2 Ethanol
flashpoint of < 23°C and initial Pyridine Never store in significant quantities in cold rooms or any Segregate acids from chemicals
boiling point > 35°C in refrigerator / freezer unless they are confirmed and which could generate toxic or
Highly flammable liquid and labelled explosion proof). flammable gases upon contact e.g.,
vapour
cyanide salts, and reactive metals e.g.
ISOLATE FROM: magnesium
Inorganic acids, oxidizing acids, bases, oxidizers,
water reactive substances, inorganic poisons
Category 3 Acetic acid
flashpoint of ≥ 23°C and ≤ 60°C Acetic-Anhydride
Flammable liquid and vapour DMF
Combustible Category 4 Glycerol Combustible liquids i.e. those with a flash point of > 60°C
flashpoint of > 60°C and ≤ 93°C Glycerine and ≤ 93°C do not need to be stored in a flammables
DMSO cabinet can be safely stored at room temperature on lab
shelving away from incompatible substances
Potential Peroxide- Not including diethyl ether (need Acetaldehyde Store in a clearly labelled, fire-resistant, metal
forming solvents special permission) Cyclohexene flammables cabinet or
glycol ethers (depending on temperature requirements) in an If there are visible crystals, visible
Highly flammable, unstable on Isospropanol explosion-proof fridge precipitate or an oily viscous layer
long term storage, can form 2-propanol present in the material, these are visual
shock sensitive peroxides indicators of dangerous high peroxide
FBMH Guidance on Storage of Peroxide Forming levels, DO NOT TOUCH – contact your PI
Solvents must be followed.
GROUP 2 Poisons, toxics and known and Chloroform May be stored in a solvents cabinet if bases are not Note: these substances are usually non-
suspected carcinogens, mutagens Mercaptoethanol present. Ideally store separately in a ventilated flammable but may be combustible
Volatile poisons, with strong odour and/or high Phenol cabinet. – if using a flammables cabinet, separate by Volatile poisons may be in the same
halogenated / rate of evaporation Formamide shelf compartment of the flammable cabinet
chlorinated as flammable if bases are not present
solvents ISOLATE FROM:
Includes highly toxic (LD50 oral rat Inorganic acids, oxidizing acids, organic acids, Exposure is a significant health hazard
< 50 mg/kg) and toxic chemicals oxidizers, water reactive substances, strong bases
(LD50 oral rat < 500 mg/kg), Primary Storage Concern: To prevent
known carcinogens, suspected *****Isolate from other storage groups **** inhalation exposures
carcinogens and mutagens
GROUP 3 All oxidizing acids are highly Nitric acid Store in – a clearly labelled corrosives cabinet under the Acid mist escapes from closed bottles and
reactive with most substances and Sulphuric acid fume hood builds up inside un- vented cabinets
Oxidizing
each other. They have the Phosphoric acids causing corrosion of labels, metal
inorganic acids potential to act with the surface of Perchloric acid >70% Oxidizing substances react with nearly everything and cabinets, etc.
the storage cabinet e.g. wood must be double contained i.e., the primary container
must be kept inside canister, tray or tub Only ever open secondary and primary
containers under the fume hood
Concentrated >70% perchloric acid must be stored
on its own and used in a designated fume hood only. Primary Storage Concern: Preventing
See Perchloric Acid Guidance Notes contact and reaction with each other and
ISOLATE FROM: other substances and corrosive action on
Bases, flammables, organic acids, organic solvents, surfaces
water reactive substances, organic poisons
*****Isolate from other storage groups ****
GROUP 4 Non- NOTE: Acetic anhydride and Formic acid Store in – a clearly labelled corrosives cabinet under the Primary Storage Concern: To prevent
Trichloroacetic anhydride are Hydrochloric acid fume hood – often react with each other contact and reaction with bases and
oxidizing Organic
corrosive and are very reactive Trifluroacetic acid oxidizing acids and corrosive action on
and Mineral Acids with other acids and should not ISOLATE FROM: surfaces
be stored in this group. Oxidizing agents, flammables, oxidizing acids, volatile
substances, bases, organic or inorganic poisons Acid mist escapes from closed bottles and
builds up inside un- vented cabinets
causing corrosion of labels, metal cabinets
GROUP 5 Have the potential to degrade the Sodium hydroxide Store in – a clearly labelled corrosives cabinet Primary Storage Concern: To prevent
Liquid Bases cabinet they are stored in unless Ammonium contact and reaction with oxidizing acids
it’s a corrosion resistant design hydroxide ISOLATE FROM: and corrosive action on surfaces
Calcium hydroxide inorganic, organic or oxidizing acids, oxidizing
Glutaraldehyde substances volatile poisons or halogenated solvents
GROUP6 React with everything Hydrogen peroxide Compatible Storage Groups: None Primary Storage Concern: To isolate from
Oxidizers / Organic potentially causing explosions or >30% If stored near other chemicals, including other oxidizers other materials and prevent reactive
Peroxides corrosion of surfaces APS keep in a separate tub or tray. decomposition
(Excluding
Oxidizing acids) Store organic peroxides in area such as a refrigerator
where the temperature will remain below the self
accelerating decomposition temperature
**** ISOLATE FROM: all other storage groups
****
GROUP 7 Includes highly toxic (LD50 oral rat Acrylamide solutions; Storage is often temperature dependant Exposure is a significant health hazard
Non-volatile liquid < 50 mg/kg) and toxic chemicals uncured epoxy resins; For those at room temperature store in a lockable toxins
and dry Poisons (LD50 oral rat < 500 mg/kg), Ethidium bromide cabinet Note – acrylamide is incompatible with
known carcinogens, suspected Cyanide salts etc. Always protect form accidental breakage – use most other substances
carcinogens and mutagens waterproof secondary containment.
It is particularly important to keep liquid poisons below
cyanide- or sulfide-containing poisons (solids). A spill of
aqueous liquid onto cyanide- or sulphide-containing
poisons would cause a reaction that would release
poisonous gas.
GROUP 9 All powders, hazardous and non- Generally cabinets are recommended simply to avoid spillages but if not Primary Storage Concern: To prevent
Dry Solids hazardous (except poisons / available, open shelves are acceptable (NOT above eye height). If solid oxidizers contact and potential reaction with liquids
toxins) are being store on the lab shelf, store well away from other substances Store and to prevent / limit access
powders above liquids
NOTE: may have different properties
when wet
Summary of Storage Group by Location and Possible Combinations – Ideally all groups should be stored separately – if tight on space groups can be combined as follows – always
check the incompatibilities of a substance – either on your COSHH SSRA and or Sections 7& 10 of the associated SDS
When possible, isolate all storage groups in separate cabinets. If space does not allow, use the associated cabinet scheme to combine storage groups. Use secondary containment as shown
to prevent spilled materials from contacting containers of incompatibles that are in the same cabinet.
Storing acids and bases in the same cabinet is not ideal but can be done if really short on space (but never in the presence of oxidizing acids). Separation must be achieved by distance i.e.
separate. Acids and Bases are of concern for two reasons: they are generally corrosive, and their reactions with each other are usually highly exothermic. Hence acids and bases should
ideally be stored apart from each other. (A white powder developing on the outsied of the bottle and the inner surface of the cabinet is an early indicator of incompatible substances)
Organic Non-oxidizing Liquid Bases
Solvents and Organic and
Organic Mineral Acids
Acids
Volatile Oxidizers
poisons Oxidizing acids (excluding oxidizing
(require in double acids or organic
Liquid Bases
secondary containment peroxides)
containment) Temperature
& chlorinated dependant - separate
solvents from all other materials
in a secondary container
Flammables Corrosives Corrosives
Cabinet Cabinet Cabinet
Non-volatile poisons –
dry Dry Solids
Non-volatile
poisons – liquid
Toxins
Cabinet Shelving
