Top Things to Consider when purchasing chemical storage cabinets

Chemical storage cabinets, for many companies are a vital safety features that play important roles in their business operations. Whether companies use their chemicals in their manufacturing or for cleaning they are the most hazardous materials commonly found in the work place.

Chemical storage cabinet’s main role is to minimize the risk of chemical exposure to all those people who use or work in the areas and to safe guard the environment from contamination.

Things to consider when purchasing chemical storage cabinets:

• Materials used to make the Cabinets

When selecting the right types of storage cabinets one of the most important considerations is the compatibility of the chemicals that will be stored in them and the materials used to construct the cabinets themselves.

Some chemicals have very corrosive properties, strong acids and caustic substances are likely to corrode any metallic components, so metal cabinets should not be considered for these types of chemicals.

Chemicals such as acetic acid, chromic acid, nitric acid, hydrochloric acid, sulfuric acid, nitric acid as well as common bases such as ammonia, ammonium hydroxide, caustic potash (potassium hydroxide), and caustic soda (sodium hydroxide) should never be stored near or in metal.

Cabinets for storage of liquids need to contain drip trays large enough to contain all the liquids in case of a container rupture or leak

• Flammable Non-Corrosive

Often metal chemical storage cabinets are recommended for flammable chemicals that are not corrosive as they can be designed to contain these chemicals or a fire to minimize the danger to employees, property and the environment if they are accidently spilt or ignited

• Segregating Chemicals

Chemicals need to be separated according to their compatibility and in such a way that incompatible chemical cannot come into contact with each other in the event of an accident or spillage as this could cause issues such as combustion and subsequent fire, violent chemical reactions such as noxious or toxic smoke or gases’ Acids must not be stored with bases, reducing agents or oxidizers must not be stored with organic materials.

These types of chemicals should where possible be kept in separate chemical storage cabinets or be divided with inert physical barriers

• Size of chemical storage cabinets

When purchasing chemical storage cabinets you need to consider the amount of chemicals you need to keep on hand at any one time. It’s far better to purchase smaller quantities of chemicals more often because

1. You lessen the risks involved with storing large amounts of unused chemicals
2. Many chemicals have a short use by period
3. In the event of an accident spillages will be minimized
4. It can cost a lot to properly dispose of unwanted or unused chemicals legally and responsibly

Access ability of chemicals in storage areas

Always ensure that all chemicals are properly labeled with their contents and expiry dates clearly visible.

• Chemicals should be stored so that shelves are not over crowed
• Hazardous chemicals should not be stored above eye level so they are easily visible
• There should be specially trained personal in charge with storage and handling chemicals

When purchasing chemical storage cabinets ensure they are a suitable size and design as well as material for the chemicals you will store.

Wssa is a Dangerous Goods Storage Specialists based in Queensland, Australia.