Chemical storage rooms
Hello,
I have 3-4 chemical storage rooms, where chemicals are stored together in chemical cabinets (toxic, acids, alkaline …etc) except for flammables are stored in a flammable cabinet with dedicated negative pressure hose installed on top of cabinet as per OSHA and NFPA..
My questions:
1. Do we need to separate chemicals from other chemicals in particular (other than the flammables) in different cabinets or rooms?
2. Do we need to consider negative pressure in the entire storage rooms? Once again what is the purpose of having negative pressure if required?
3. Should I be concerned of static electricity ⚡️? Would the negative pressure ventilation prevent static electricity ignition when dealing with flammable liquids or pyrophoric gases when preparing inside or outside the fume hoods? I want to understand how static electricity is considered dangerous and what I can propose to eliminate it inside labs and storage rooms?
4. Do all electrical wiring inside labs or storage rooms must be different (isolated or designed) in a way to prevent it from being an ignition source?
Thank you all
Comments (2)
NFPA 45 covers most of these questions
1. Yes, incompatible chemicals should be stored separately. They do not necessarily have to be in isolated cabinets, but they should be stored such that they will not mix in case of a spill. You would have to judge the risk based on the chemicals and quantities that you have, but it could be as simple as having them in tubs as "secondary containment".
2. Not unless you're somehow worried about fumes or vapors escaping into the surrounding area.
3. Neither OSHA nor NFPA require venting flammable storage cabinets. Static can be a concern when transferring liquids between containers, or if you're between the LEL and UEL. Venting the cabinet could prevent this, but really, containers within the cabinet should be closed to prevent a flammable atmosphere from forming. Within a properly functioning fume hood, you'd be hard pressed to have a flammable atmosphere caused by the evaporation of flammable liquids.
4. Almost definitely not. What kinds of flammables and in what quantities are you working with? NFPA 45 5.5 states that lab areas are not classified unless a hazardous atmosphere is present
Haz Mat is not one of my strengths. I know the basics. But I do remember a little from my high school chemistry, for more years back then most of you have been alive, some of you twice as long. I do not remember which is which, but I remember acids are on one end of the ph scale and alkaline (caustics) are on the other. I remember all those years ago when old Mr. Rollins my chemistry teacher demonstrated what happens when an acid touches an alkaline. The violent reaction has always stuck with me, and seeing Mr. Rollins in all the PPE. That was just as the OSHA Act (1970) was passed and I never head of NFPA.
The only other things I remember from chemistry besides the Ph Scale and Mr. Rollins, was Hydrogen is the first element in the Periodic Table and is very flammable and loves to bond with other elements and Helium is #2 and is not flammable and inert. Later I learned that the Sun gets its energy by fusion changing Hydrogen into Helium (and is the fuel for most life as we know it). Finally I learned Chemistry was not my "thing" and that is probably why I have always shied away from Haz Mat to this day. But I know the nothing good happens when storing acids and alkalines together. Thanks Mr. Rollins!
