What this is
What is a chemical storage compatibility check?
What is a chemical storage compatibility check?
A chemical storage compatibility check is a walkthrough of a chemical store that verifies incompatible products are physically separated: acids from alkalis, chlorine-based products from acids, oxidisers from organics, and flammables from anything that could ignite them. It checks arrangement, not what's recorded as held.
How is this different from the chemical inventory record?
The inventory record lists what is held and where. This check is a physical inspection of whether what's held in an area is actually segregated correctly. A store can pass every inventory field and still fail this check if two incompatible products sit next to each other.
Who carries out the check?
The area owner, because segregation is a property of a specific space and changes with every delivery into it. It is a walkthrough, not a desk review of the register.
Scope
When is a chemical storage compatibility check required?
This checklist is one step in a chemical safety programme, and it's easy to reach for when a neighbouring record is actually needed: knowing what's held, whether the SDS is current, or whether the task using the chemical has been assessed.
Use this template when
- The quarterly segregation walkthrough for a chemical store is due
- A new product has arrived and needs placing in a store that already holds other chemicals
- A spill, near miss or complaint suggests two products may have been stored too close together
- A store is being reorganised and the new layout needs verifying before it's signed off
- An inspection or audit is due and segregation evidence is needed for that store
Do not use it for
- Chemical Inventory Record, which records what chemicals are held where and in what quantity; this check verifies how they are arranged, not what is on the list.
- Safety Data Sheet Review, which checks each safety data sheet is current, complete and available; incompatibility information comes from the SDS, but this check only verifies the physical result.
- Chemical Risk Assessment, which assesses the risk of using a chemical for a specific task, covering exposure route, quantity in use and PPE, not storage arrangement.
- Chemical Approval Request, which is where a new product should be approved before it arrives; this check assumes the product is approved and asks where it's been put.
- Anything outside a chemical store, which belongs to the workspace or template owning that specific hazard.
Compliance mapping
Which OSHA 1910.106 requirements does this satisfy?
Storage codes set out where and how much can be kept, and segregation is typically inferred from the hazard classes involved rather than listed as a single rule, which is why this check works from the specific combinations that matter at the site.
| Clause | Requirement | Where it lands |
|---|---|---|
| OSHA 1910.106(d)(4) | Storage of flammable liquids within inside storage rooms kept within stated quantity and area limits | Segregation checks |
| NFPA 30 | Separation of incompatible materials and adequate ventilation within a flammable liquid storage area | Containment and environment |
| OSHA 1910.101 | General requirements for compressed gas cylinders, including secure storage and separation of incompatible gases | Segregation checks |
| OSHA 1910.106(b)(2) | Secondary containment (diking) sized to hold the contents of the largest tank or container within it | Containment and environment |
| International Fire Code ch.50 | Segregation of incompatible hazard classes in storage, commonly the basis for compatibility groupings | Segregation checks |
| OSHA 1910.1200(e)(1) | Hazard communication methods must address how a new chemical is incorporated without creating new exposure | New products |
What it does not cover
- What is held and in what quantity, which is recorded in the Chemical Inventory Record, not verified again by this check.
- Whether the safety data sheet is current, confirmed in the Safety Data Sheet Review, the source this check should draw its compatibility information from.
- The risk of using a chemical for a task, which belongs in the Chemical Risk Assessment and covers exposure route, quantity in use and PPE.
- Approval of a new chemical, which happens in the Chemical Approval Request before the product should arrive at the store this check inspects.
- Spill response, recorded separately once an incompatibility has caused a release, in the Spill Report and Spill Response Record.
Global
Chemical Storage Compatibility Check requirements by country
Segregation duties are almost never written as a single storage-compatibility rule. They are assembled from flammable liquid storage codes, fire codes and general hazard communication duties, and the regimes below differ mainly in which carries the legal weight.
OSHA 1910.106 (flammable liquids); NFPA 30
Storage quantity limits and separation of incompatible materials are set through the flammable liquids standard and the NFPA code it draws on, rather than a dedicated segregation regulation.
An inspector will typically check against NFPA 30's segregation and containment provisions even where OSHA's own text is general, because NFPA 30 is the more detailed reference.
Dangerous Substances and Explosive Atmospheres Regulations (DSEAR); HSE storage guidance
Employers must assess and control risks from dangerous substances, including how they are stored and segregated, informed by HSE guidance rather than a single prescriptive table.
As with the US position, the compatibility groupings a site uses typically come from supplier or trade guidance rather than the regulation itself, which sets the duty rather than the method.
GHS-based supplier SDS guidance; International Fire Code segregation tables
Compatibility groupings are most commonly derived from SDS incompatibility statements and fire code tables rather than a single international storage standard.
A multinational operator can standardise the groupings used across sites, but the legal duty and any prescriptive quantity limit still sit with the local storage or fire code.
How to complete it
How to complete a chemical storage compatibility check, step by step
The checklist prompts pass or fail per combination, but the judgement calls are in what happens around a fail and what triggers a check outside the quarterly schedule.
New Product Added Since Last Check exists because a single delivery placed in the nearest gap is the most common way a compliant store becomes non-compliant. Compatibility Reassessed should be answered from an actual look at where the product landed, not an assumption the receiving process handled it.
Separate Bunds Where Required and Bund Capacity Adequate answer different questions: whether containment exists at all, and whether it's big enough for what's in it. A bund that exists but is undersized for two drums where the layout has grown is not a pass on either question.
Nothing Stored Above Eye Level and Heavy Containers At Low Level are handling controls, not compatibility findings, even though they sit in the same section. Conflating the two makes it harder to see whether the actual incompatibility risk, not the tidiness, has been addressed.
Score Percent excludes anything marked N/A from the denominator, correct where a combination genuinely doesn't apply, but it also means a store marking several relevant checks N/A to avoid a fail will show a misleadingly high score. Completeness Percent exists to catch that pattern.
What auditors find
Most common chemical storage compatibility check findings
The check almost always runs on schedule. The findings concern what a delivery did to the layout between checks, and whether a fail got corrected the same day.
| Finding | Clause | What fixes it |
|---|---|---|
| Incompatible products stored adjacently, most often a new delivery placed in the nearest available space. | International Fire Code ch.50 | Move the product to its correct segregation group immediately and record the correction against the check. |
| New product added since the last check with no recorded compatibility reassessment. | OSHA 1910.1200(e)(1) | Make Compatibility Reassessed mandatory whenever a new product is logged, and verify against the placement, not the paperwork. |
| Bund already holding spilled product, or sized for fewer containers than the store now holds. | OSHA 1910.106(b)(2) | Empty and inspect bunds in the same visit, and re-size or split storage where capacity no longer matches what's held. |
| Ventilation for a peracetic acid or flammables store non-functional, only discovered when the door is opened. | NFPA 30 | Verify ventilation is running at the point of the check, not assumed from the last maintenance record. |
| Store found unlocked or otherwise insecure, allowing unauthorised access to segregated chemicals. | OSHA 1910.106 | Correct access control immediately and record it as a fail on Store Secure. |
| Several relevant checks marked N/A, producing a high Score Percent on a store with an unaddressed gap. | OSHA 1910.106 | Require a reason for any N/A on a segregation check and review Completeness Percent alongside the score. |
Case in point
Case in point: the compatibility check that passed the week before the release
A food processing site's cleaning chemical store passed its quarterly compatibility check with every combination scored Pass. Acid-based descaler and a chlorine-based sanitiser were correctly separated on opposite sides of the room, as they had been for over a year.
Six days later, a delivery of replacement descaler arrived while the usual area owner was on leave. The cover person, unfamiliar with the layout, placed the new drums on the nearest empty shelf, next to the chlorine sanitiser, rather than consulting the segregation plan. A leaking cap released enough vapour to react with the chlorine product and force an evacuation. The check that passed six days earlier had verified a layout that no longer existed, because nothing in the delivery process required a reassessment before the next quarterly date.
The template
The template, field by field
The form exactly as it installs. Every field, option, score and conditional rule is editable, and the links to other templates come with it.
6 sections
- Reference
- SAF-087
- Archetype
- Checklist
- Record ID
- CHK-2026-000
- Scoring
- Pass or fail
- Direction
- High is good
- Singleton
- No
- Basis
- OSHA 1910.106, NFPA 30
- Links
- Links Substance
- Tags
- Chemical, Storage
- Sections
- 6
- Fields
- 38
- Follow up fields
- 4
- Repeating sections
- 0
- Links out
- 3
Header
9 fieldsCheck ID*
Auto sequence. Format CHK-2026-00000.
The record's own ID. Other templates point at this value.
Status*
Drives who this goes to next.
- Planned2 pts
- In progress2 pts
- Complete3 pts
- Deferred0 pts
- Open0 pts
- Closed3 pts
- Overdue0 pts
Date and Time*
Completed By*
Site*
Site ID*
Format SITE-000.
Links to FDN-001 Site ID
Area*
The area within the site.
Exact Location
Drop a pin for anything hard to find.
The Combinations That Matter Here
Acid sanitiser with chlorine releases chlorine gas. Caustic with acid reacts violently. Peracetic acid degrades and vents. Keep them apart and keep the store ventilated.
Segregation checks
9 fieldsAcids Separated From Alkalis*
- Pass2 pts
- Partial1 pt
- Fail0 pts
- N/Aexcluded from denominator
Chlorine Products Separated From Acids*
- Pass2 pts
- Partial1 pt
- Fail0 pts
- N/Aexcluded from denominator
Oxidisers Separated From Organics*
- Pass2 pts
- Partial1 pt
- Fail0 pts
- N/Aexcluded from denominator
Peracetic Acid Stored Alone And Vented*
- Pass2 pts
- Partial1 pt
- Fail0 pts
- N/Aexcluded from denominator
Flammables In Rated Store*
- Pass2 pts
- Partial1 pt
- Fail0 pts
- N/Aexcluded from denominator
Gas Cylinders Separated*
- Pass2 pts
- Partial1 pt
- Fail0 pts
- N/Aexcluded from denominator
Food Grade Separated From Non Food*
- Pass2 pts
- Partial1 pt
- Fail0 pts
- N/Aexcluded from denominator
Nothing Stored Above Eye Level*
- Pass2 pts
- Partial1 pt
- Fail0 pts
- N/Aexcluded from denominator
Heavy Containers At Low Level*
- Pass2 pts
- Partial1 pt
- Fail0 pts
- N/Aexcluded from denominator
Containment and environment
6 fieldsSeparate Bunds Where Required*
- Yes2 pts
- No0 pts
- N/Aexcluded from denominator
Bund Capacity Adequate*
- Yes3 pts
- Marginal1 pt
- No0 pts
Bunds Empty*
- Pass2 pts
- Partial1 pt
- Fail0 pts
- N/Aexcluded from denominator
Ventilation Working*
- Pass2 pts
- Partial1 pt
- Fail0 pts
- N/Aexcluded from denominator
Temperature Within Range*
- Pass2 pts
- Partial1 pt
- Fail0 pts
- N/Aexcluded from denominator
Store Secure*
- Pass2 pts
- Partial1 pt
- Fail0 pts
- N/Aexcluded from denominator
New products
2 fieldsNew Product Added Since Last Check*
Compatibility Reassessed
- Pass2 pts
- Partial1 pt
- Fail0 pts
- N/Aexcluded from denominator
Related records
1 fieldInventory Record ID
The inventory this store was checked against.
Links to SAF-084 Inventory ID
Result
11 fieldsItems Assessed*
Excludes anything marked N/A.
Items Failed*
Score Percent*
Calculated on submission. High is good. N/A items leave the denominator.
Result Band*
- Pass3 pts
- Caution1 pt
- Fail0 pts
Completeness Percent*
How much of the template was actually answered. A high score on a half completed form is not a high score.
Action Required*
Raise the action record, then enter its reference here.
- No2 pts
- Yes0 pts
Priority
- High0 pts
- Medium1 pt
- Low3 pts
CAPA ID
Format CAPA-2026-00000.
Links to FDN-014 CAPA ID
Action Owner
Completed By*
Signature*
SAF-087 · record IDs look like CHK-2026-000 · Links Substance
Open in KnowellaRun it with agents
From a document you fill in to a programme that runs itself
The check itself is a short walkthrough. What fails is the gap between deliveries and the next visit, and the store nobody reassessed in between.
Holds the compatibility check against the store's inventory and flags any store not reassessed since its last recorded delivery.
Flags a delivery into a chemical store so a compatibility reassessment is prompted before the product is put away, not after.
Feeds bund and ventilation fail findings into the site's spill and emergency readiness rather than leaving them isolated.
Watches for a new product logged with no matching Compatibility Reassessed record and raises the check before the next date.
This template lives in KnowSafe — safety and compliance. Incidents, hazards, permits, inspections and the critical controls behind them.
Meet KnowSafe→Glossary
Chemical Storage Compatibility Check definitions and key terms
- Segregation
- Physical separation of chemicals whose combination would react dangerously, maintained by layout rather than labelling alone.
- Bund
- Secondary containment around a stored liquid, sized to hold the contents of the largest container within it in a leak.
- Incompatible materials
- Substances that react dangerously if mixed or brought into proximity, such as acids and chlorine-based products releasing toxic gas.
- N/A denominator effect
- Marking a check not applicable removes it from the scored total, which can inflate Score Percent if used to avoid recording a fail.
- Compatibility reassessment
- Re-checking segregation because a new product has entered the store, rather than waiting for the next scheduled walkthrough.
FAQ
Frequently asked questions about chemical storage compatibility check
How often should a chemical store be checked for compatibility?+
At least quarterly, and immediately whenever a new product is added, because a new delivery is the single most common way a correctly segregated store stops being segregated.
Who decides which chemicals are incompatible with each other?+
The safety data sheet for each product, which should state incompatible materials directly. The check verifies the physical result of that guidance; it doesn't establish the compatibility groupings itself.
What should happen when a check finds a fail?+
Immediate correction, the same day, not a note carried to the next check. Incompatible products next to each other are a live hazard for as long as they remain there, regardless of when the next check is due.
Does a high score mean the store is safe?+
Only if Completeness Percent is also high. A high Score Percent on a store where several checks were marked not applicable can describe a store that was barely checked, not a safe one.
Why does the check ask about bund capacity separately from whether a bund exists?+
Because the two fail independently. A bund sized before the store's contents grew isn't providing the containment its presence implies, and treating existence and adequacy as one question hides that gap.
Should this check be done by the same person every time?+
Ideally someone who knows the store's segregation plan, since this check most often fails when a delivery is handled by someone unfamiliar with the layout, who places stock wherever there is space.
Keep going
Related templates and programmes
Industries this is written for
Programmes this belongs to
Used together in Chemical Safety and WHMIS
Spill Report
Records a release of chemical, fuel, oil or wastewater
Spill Response Record
Records what was done to contain, clean up and dispose of a spill
Chemical Substitution Assessment
Assesses whether a hazardous substance can be replaced by something safer, and what the substitute brings with it
Restricted Substance Compliance Record
Records compliance with restricted substance obligations covering ozone depleting gases, persistent chemicals and packaging materials
Explosive Atmosphere Zoning Record
Records the zoning of areas where flammable dust or vapour can form an explosive atmosphere, and the equipment permitted there
Chemical and Substance Register
Lists every chemical and hazardous substance held on site, with quantity, location and hazard class
More in Chemicals
Chemical Inventory Record
Records what chemicals are held where, in what quantity and in what container
Safety Data Sheet Review
Checks each safety data sheet is current, complete and available to the people who use the product
Chemical Risk Assessment
Assesses the risk of using a chemical for a specific task, covering exposure route, quantity, ventilation and PPE
Spill Kit Inspection
Checks spill kits are stocked, sealed, accessible and suited to the chemicals nearby
Chemical Decanting Checklist
Steps through transferring a chemical from one container to another safely, including labelling the new container
Dust Hazard Assessment
Assesses combustible dust risk from materials, housekeeping and equipment
Written and reviewed by
Siddarth Singh
Founder & Chief Executive Officer, Knowella
Certified Safety Professional and industrial and systems engineer with more than a decade inside food supply chain, freight and manufacturing operations. This page was written against the current text of the standards it cites, not against secondary summaries of them.
- Certified Safety Professional (CSP), Board of Certified Safety Professionals
- MBA, University of Chicago Booth School of Business
- MS and BS, The Ohio State University, Industrial and Systems Engineering
- Six Sigma Black Belt
Sources and last review. Reviewed 16 August 2026 against:
- OSHA 1910.106 — Flammable liquids
- NFPA 30 — Flammable and Combustible Liquids Code
- OSHA 1910.101 — Compressed gases (general requirements)
- International Fire Code, chapter 50 — Hazardous materials
This page is general guidance, not legal advice. Confirm requirements with your jurisdiction’s regulator.