Everyday Hazmat User's Training Guide
Section III Hazardous Materials Management (continued)
Keeping Incompatible Hazardous Materials Seperated
Incompatible Materials Are Safer When They Are Separated!
Incompatible products and waste must be kept separated. This prevents the materials from reacting in ways that might cause them to burn, explode, produce poisonous gases, or cause other problems.
What Qualifies as Separate?
Except as noted elsewhere in this guideline, keeping incompatible products and wastes separated means physically separating them by at least 20 feet, or by a 1-hour firewall.
Some Storage Pointers
When you are storing flammable or combustible products, be sure you store them on compatible shelving (such as metal shelving). Storing flammable or combustible products on wood shelving is acceptable if the shelving is at least 1 inch thick. All shelving (except in approved cabinets) must have a lip or guard.
Using Storage Cabinets
Commercially available storage cabinets (such as cabinets for flammable liquids) that meet all OSHA design requirements fulfill the requirements of a 1-hour firewall. Other metal cabinets (such as square cabinets with a pyramidal top often found in USDA Forest Service units) do not have these features and should not be used to meet a 1-hour firewall requirement. Have your forest engineer determine if other types of mobile or portable storage units (such as U.S. Army units) meet the firewall or storage requirements.
Knowing the Hazardous Products That Are Incompatible
The graphic below is a general guide to the types of hazardous products you can store together and the types that you need to separate by 20 feet or a 1-hour firewall. Refer to the product label or MSDS to determine the product type.
The products indicated by the placards are compatible with each other if shown within the same red lines and incompatible with products shown in other areas surrounded by red lines. The red lines indicate a minimum of 20 feet separation or a 1-hour firewall. However, it may still be preferable to separate these products even farther; for instance, try not to store flammable solids with flammable liquids or compressed gases with flammables.
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