Many compounds must be stored within specific temperature constraints, with a minimum and maximum temperature range. The chemical will be negatively affected if the temperature exceeds the set minimum or maximum parameters, and it may no longer be usable or worse, change characteristics, break down, or become volatile and toxic.

The MSDS for each of your chemicals will tell you what temperatures they can be stored at ( Material safety data sheet). You should consult your chemical supplier for more advice.

• Chemicals that cannot be exposed to low temperatures

Some chemicals will freeze at low temperatures, causing containers to split or fracture, resulting in leaks and pollution. It is critical to understand the flashpoint of hazardous compounds before handling them. The lowest temperature at which a chemical can be held before vapors are released into the air and catch fire is referred to as the flashpoint.

The chemicals in the air just above the liquid will ignite if the chemical hits its flash point (the lowest temperature it can be stored at). The term "flashpoint" is commonly used to differentiate between flammable, combustible, and non-combustible compounds. Flammable liquids have a flashpoint of less than 37.8oC, which means they can catch fire at room temperature.

Some examples of flammable liquids are as follows:

alcohols- methanol, ethanol

esters- ethyl acetate

ethers- diethyl ether

ketones- acetone, cyclohexane 

• Chemicals that should not be exposed to high temperatures 

High temperatures might be a problem as well. When the temperature drops too low, flammable chemicals ignite, yet combustible liquids catch fire when the temperature rises too high. Combustible chemicals have a flashpoint greater than 37.8 oC and should not be stored with flammable liquids. Combustible chemicals are just as harmful as flammable liquids, even though they can be stored at room temperature.

Chemicals that are combustible should never be kept in a high-temperature environment. . Storing combustibles in hot regions increases pressure on the containers, which causes them to break and split apart. A chemical fire is likely to occur if these substances are released into a high-temperature environment.

Some examples of combustible chemicals are:

Acetic acid (CA)

Cumene

Phenol

Propionic acid

Chemical Storage Solution with Temperature Control

Understanding the optimum temperature at which chemicals can be stored and making the right storage precautions are critical to ensuring your safety from the chemical fire.

If your chemicals are sensitive to temperatures, you will need to store them in a temperature-controlled chemical storage warehouse. This can be a temperature-controlled chemical store with frost protection, provided by heaters or air warmers.

If you are storing combustible chemicals which cannot be stored in high temperatures, then you will need a chemical store with full temperature-controlled storage providing both heating and cooling.

Chemical warehouses with temperature control allow you to establish the desired temperature in advance. A record should be kept at all times to keep track of the temperature in the chemical warehouse.

Contact us at the TK warehouse to get more advice and information about cooling chemical warehouses.