AS/NZS 2243.

10:2004
AS/NZS 2243.10

Australian/New Zealand Standard™

Safety in laboratories

Part 10: Storage of chemicals

This is a free 8 page sample. Access the full version online.
 AS/NZS 2243.10:2004
This Joint Australian/New Zealand Standard was prepared by Joint Technical
Committee CH-026, Safety in Laboratories. It was approved on behalf of the
Council of Standards Australia on 27 April 2004 and on behalf of the Council of
Standards New Zealand on 7 May 2004. It was published on 1 June 2004.

The following are represented on Committee CH-026:

Australian Government Analytical Laboratories
Australian Industry Group
Australian Institute of Occupational Hygienists
CSIRO
Department of Labour, New Zealand
Department of Primary Industries (Victoria)
Ministry of Economic Development, New Zealand
National Association of Testing Authorities, Australia
The New Zealand Chemical Industry Council
New Zealand Microbiological Society
Victorian WorkCover Authority
WorkCover New South Wales
Additional interests participating in the preparation of this Standard:
Fume extraction equipment manufacturing interests
Independent consultant health physicist
Monash University
University of Western Australia

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This Standard was issued in draft form for comment as DR 00257 and DR 03358.
 AS/NZS 2243.10:2004

Australian/New Zealand Standard™

Safety in laboratories

Part 10: Storage of chemicals

Originated as AS 2243.10—1993.
Jointly revised and designated AS/NZS 2243.10:2004.
This is a free 8 page sample. Access the full version online.

COPYRIGHT
© Standards Australia/Standards New Zealand
All rights are reserved. No part of this work may be reproduced or copied in any form or by any
means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, without the written permission of the
publisher.
Jointly published by Standards Australia International Ltd, GPO Box 5420, Sydney, NSW 2001
and Standards New Zealand, Private Bag 2439, Wellington 6020
ISBN 0 7337 6045 7
 AS/NZS 2243.10:2004 2

PREFACE
This Standard was prepared by Joint Standards Australia/Standards New Zealand
Committee CH-026, Safety in Laboratories to supersede AS 2243.10—1993.
The objective of this Standard is to provide information on appropriate storage of chemicals
and dangerous goods both within laboratories and within dedicated storage areas that are
support areas for a laboratory.
This edition has been prepared to take into account several new Standards published on
storage and handling of chemicals, to align it with current editions of other referenced
documents and to make it appropriate for use in New Zealand.
The major changes in this edition are—
(a) consolidation of storage area requirements from two types differentiated by capacity
to one;
(b) addition of more specific requirements for storage of chemicals within a laboratory;
and
(c) an increased alignment with and reference to the requirements in other Standards
covering storage of chemicals.
Existing storage facilities will, in many instances, not comply with this Standard. In the
interests of laboratory safety, a high priority should be allocated to the preparation of a
program for upgrading storage facilities to meet the requirements of this Standard. Existing
facilities should be assessed for risk and interim control measures implemented, depending
on the time frame decided for the upgrading program.
Statements expressed in mandatory terms in notes to tables are deemed to be requirements
of this Standard.
The term ‘informative’ has been used in this Standard to define the application of the
appendix to which it applies. An ‘informative’ appendix is only for information and
guidance.
This publication is Part 10 of a series of Standards prepared to promote safe working in
laboratories. The Parts in the series are as follows:
Part 1: General
Part 2: Chemical aspects
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Part 3: Microbiological aspects and containment facilities

Part 4 Ionizing radiations
Part 5: Non-ionizing radiations—Electromagnetic, sound and ultrasound
Part 6: Mechanical aspects
Part 7: Electrical aspects
Part 8: Fume cupboards
Part 9: Recirculating fume cabinets
Part 10: Storage of chemicals (this Part)
 3 AS/NZS 2243.10:2004

CONTENTS

Page

FOREWORD.............................................................................................................................. 5

SECTION 1 SCOPE AND GENERAL

1.1 SCOPE ........................................................................................................................ 6
1.2 APPLICATION ........................................................................................................... 6
1.3 REFERENCED DOCUMENTS .................................................................................. 7
1.4 DEFINITIONS ............................................................................................................ 8
1.5 INTERPRETATION.................................................................................................. 11

SECTION 2 BASIC PRINCIPLES OF STORAGE

2.1 SCOPE OF SECTION ............................................................................................... 12
2.2 DOCUMENTATION................................................................................................. 12
2.3 KNOWLEDGE OF MATERIALS............................................................................. 12
2.4 CHOICE OF RISK CONTROL MEASURES ........................................................... 12
2.5 STORAGE PROCEDURES ...................................................................................... 12
2.6 PRINCIPLES OF STORAGE .................................................................................... 14

SECTION 3 REQUIRED FEATURES FOR A LABORATORY, STOREROOM OR

SPACE, CHEMICAL STORAGE CABINETS, LABORATORY
CUPBOARDS, RACKS AND SHELVES
3.1 SCOPE OF SECTION ............................................................................................... 15
3.2 LABORATORY ........................................................................................................ 15
3.3 CHEMICAL STORAGE CABINETS ....................................................................... 15
3.4 LABORATORY CUPBOARDS................................................................................ 16
3.5 DISPLAY OF HAZARD IDENTIFICATION INFORMATION ............................... 16
3.6 STOREROOM OR SPACE ....................................................................................... 16
3.7 ROOM FOR OPENING PACKAGES ....................................................................... 16
3.8 SHELVES AND RACKS .......................................................................................... 16

SECTION 4 USE AND STORAGE OF CHEMICALS AND GAS CYLINDERS

WITHIN A LABORATORY
4.1 SCOPE OF SECTION ............................................................................................... 17
4.2 GASES AND CRYOGENIC LIQUIDS..................................................................... 17
4.3 SIZE OF PACKAGES............................................................................................... 17
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4.4 QUANTITIES OF CHEMICALS IN STORAGE WITHIN A LABORATORY........ 18

4.5 METHOD OF KEEPING CHEMICALS ................................................................... 20
4.6 RESTRICTION ON OPENING PACKAGES ........................................................... 20
4.7 SEGREGATION IN STORAGE ............................................................................... 21

SECTION 5 STORING CHEMICALS IN A SEPARATE STORE

5.1 SCOPE OF SECTION ............................................................................................... 23
5.2 STORE LOCATION ................................................................................................. 23
5.3 EXCLUSIONS .......................................................................................................... 23
5.4 STORE REQUIREMENTS ....................................................................................... 23
5.5 METHOD OF STORAGE ......................................................................................... 27
5.6 MANAGEMENT OF MOVEMENT OF GOODS ..................................................... 28
5.7 RESTRICTION ON OPENING OF PACKAGES ..................................................... 28
5.8 SEGREGATION IN STORAGE ............................................................................... 28
5.9 FIRE PROTECTION ................................................................................................. 28
5.10 DISPLAY OF HAZARD IDENTIFICATION INFORMATION ............................... 28
5.11 SAFETY EQUIPMENT ............................................................................................ 29
 AS/NZS 2243.10:2004 4

Page

SECTION 6 STORING GASES AND CRYOGENIC LIQUIDS IN A DEDICATED

STORE
6.1 SCOPE OF SECTION ............................................................................................... 30
6.2 GENERAL ................................................................................................................ 30
6.3 REQUIREMENTS AND LOCATION OF STORE ................................................... 30
6.4 MAXIMUM QUANTITIES ...................................................................................... 31
6.5 METHOD OF STORAGE ......................................................................................... 31
6.6 SEGREGATION IN STORAGE ............................................................................... 31
6.7 SEPARATION FROM OTHER OCCUPANCIES..................................................... 32
6.8 DISPLAY OF HAZARD IDENTIFICATION INFORMATION ............................... 32

SECTION 7 PACKAGE OPENING AND TRANSFER

7.1 GENERAL ................................................................................................................ 33
7.2 WORK PROCEDURES FOR PACKAGE OPENING............................................... 33
7.3 TRANSFERRING AND REPACKAGING ............................................................... 33
7.4 LIQUID TRANSFER ................................................................................................ 34
7.5 SPILLAGE CONTAINMENT................................................................................... 34
7.6 FIRE PROTECTION ................................................................................................. 34

APPENDIX A LIST OF STANDARDS FOR VARIOUS CHEMICAL GROUPS AND

CLASSES OF DANGEROUS GOODS .................................................... 35
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 5 AS/NZS 2243.10:2004

FOREWORD
Some legislation refers to various parts of the AS/NZS 2243 series and AS/NZS 2982.1 as
the guidelines for the use and storage of dangerous goods in laboratory environments.
Readers of this Standard should investigate if legal requirements are applicable to their
situation as these will take precedence over the requirements in this Standard.
AS/NZS 2243.1 deals in a general manner with operational safety matters and
AS/NZS 2243.2 covers operational safety when using chemicals, without giving guidelines
on the method of storage or the amounts of chemicals that can be stored in laboratories.
AS/NZS 2982.1 deals briefly with the design of chemical stores and refers to AS 1940 for
the design of stores for flammable and combustible liquids.
The information in the above Standards is not comprehensive and does not specify the
manner in which chemicals, including dangerous goods of various classes, should be stored
in laboratories and associated stores. This Standard provides detailed specifications for the
storage of chemicals, including dangerous goods, in laboratories. It does not deal with the
following dangerous goods: Class 1 (Explosives); Class 6.2 (Infectious substances); and
Class 7 (Radioactive substances). However, other parts of AS/NZS 2243 cover the safe
storage and handling of some of these materials.
In most storage situations, several Standards may need to be considered. For laboratories,
the Standards to be considered may be as follows:
(a) This Standard.
(b) The relevant Australian, New Zealand or Joint Australian/New Zealand Standard for
each individual class of dangerous goods or type of chemical to be stored.
(c) AS/NZS 3833 for the storage of mixed classes of dangerous goods.
This Standard allows a high level of flexibility if a large range of chemicals need to be
stored but is severely limiting in the total quantities that can be stored. This Standard also
sets out requirements for storage within a laboratory, which is not addressed in other
Standards.
For storage separate from a laboratory, there will be situations when any of the three
options listed above may be applied.
Sections 5 and 6 of this Standard may be applied except where quantities or pack sizes
larger than those permitted in this Standard need to be stored. In such cases, the Standard
applicable to the Class of dangerous good or the type of chemical, or AS/NZS 3833 for
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mixed classes of chemicals would be applicable.

The relevant Standard for the particular Class of dangerous goods or type of chemical (see
list in Appendix A) may be preferable if only non-flammable dangerous goods or only one
or two Classes of dangerous goods or types of chemicals are stored, or they are in dominant
quantities.
AS/NZS 3833 is intended mainly for the storage of large quantities of predetermined
dangerous goods but excluding Packing Group I. It does not allow the storage flexibility
often required for research and experimental laboratories. Its required segregation distances
are not normally available in laboratory stores. It might be more suitable for industrial
applications where larger quantities of raw materials or finished products are held ‘in
quarantine’ awaiting quality assurance testing.
Whichever Standard is chosen for the separate chemical storage area, it needs to be applied
in full.
 AS/NZS 2243.10:2004 6

STANDARDS AUSTRALIA/STANDARDS NEW ZEALAND

Australian/New Zealand Standard

Safety in laboratories

Part 10: Storage of chemicals

SECT ION 1 SCOPE AND GENERA L

1.1 SCOPE
This Standard sets out the requirements for the safe keeping of chemicals in packages—
(a) when stored inside a laboratory;
(b) stored in associated storerooms or spaces which are support areas to the laboratory;
and
(c) when opening packages.
NOTE: The relationship between this Standard and other Standards on the storage of chemicals is
provided in the Foreword.

1.2 APPLICATION
This Standard applies to —
(a) substances defined as hazardous in NOHSC 1008.
(b) dangerous goods, as defined in Clause 1.4.6, except for dangerous goods of Class 1
(Explosives), Class 6.2 (Infectious substances) or Class 7 (Radioactive substances);
(c) combustible liquids as defined in Clause 1.4.15.1; and
(d) goods too dangerous to be transported under the ADG Code.
NOTE: There are separate National, State and Territory legislation on explosives and
National, State and Territory requirements for infectious substances, carcinogenic materials,
scheduled poisonous substances and storage in bulk. In Australia, radioactive substances are
covered by State and Federal legislation with Federal requirements for the safe handling and
transport of radioactive substances.
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This Standard also applies to chemicals not classed as hazardous substances or dangerous
goods if compatibility problems could arise during storage.
NOTE: The term ‘chemical’ includes, but is not limited to, a pure element, a compound of a
number of elements, or a mixture of two or more such compounds, and any solution, suspension,
fume or aerosol thereof.
The requirements of this Standard apply only to the keeping, in use or storage, of chemicals
in packages. There are no restrictions on the size of packages of chemicals that are not
classed as hazardous substances or dangerous goods.
The storage requirements do not apply if the chemicals are—
(i) currently being processed or used in experimental operations such as reaction,
blending or mixing; or
(ii) kept in the laboratory prior to use within the next 12 h or following use within the
previous 12 h and their quantity or inherent hazard do not create any significant
danger to persons or the environment.

COPYRIGHT
 AS/NZS 2243.10:2004 Safety in laboratories - Storage of
chemicals
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