Seven rules that prevent most incidents
- Chlorine products never near acids. Hypochlorite, calcium hypochlorite and trichlor release toxic chlorine gas on contact with acid. In a pool shop this is the classic accident: chlorine and acid on the same shelf, or the same bucket used for both.
- Chlorine products never near ammonia. Hypochlorite and ammonia form toxic chloramines; trichlor and ammonium compounds can form explosive nitrogen trichloride.
- Calcium hypochlorite and trichlor never together. The two common pool chlorines react violently and can explode if they meet, even in small amounts. Keep them in separate areas and never use the same scoop or bucket.
- Acids and alkalis apart. Hydrochloric or sulphuric acid meeting caustic soda or ammonia reacts violently and generates heat. Store them on separate bunds.
- Oxidisers away from anything that burns. Peroxide, calcium hypochlorite, trichlor and nitric acid feed a fire. Keep them clear of fuel, oil, timber pallets with spills, rags and organic products.
- Water first, acid second. When diluting, always add the acid to the water, never the reverse. Follow the product's SDS, and ask us if you need a product supplied at a different strength.
- The right container. Acids, caustic and hypochlorite attack aluminium, galvanised and mild steel. Keep them in their original polyethylene drums and IBCs, closed and out of direct sun.
Product by product
Taken from Sections 7 and 10 of each product's current Safety Data Sheet. Click a product for its full sheet.
| Product | Transport class | Keep away from | Container |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hydrochloric Acid 1 - 10% Solution | Class 8 (Corrosive) | Alkalis; oxidising agents; sodium hypochlorite; permanganates; cyanides; many metals; amines; sulphuric acid. Store away from foodstuffs | Do NOT use aluminium or galvanised containers. |
| Sulphuric Acid 98% | Class 8 (Corrosive) | Water (violent if added to acid); bases / alkalis; most metals (liberate hydrogen); organic materials; oxidisers; chlorates; carbides; fulminates. | no aluminium / mild steel for dilute acid) |
| Nitric Acid 65 - 70% Solution | Class 8 (Corrosive) + subsidiary Class 5.1 (Oxidising Agent) | Most metals (esp. powdered / alkali / alkaline-earth metals); strong bases; organic chemicals (alcohols, ketones, amines, hydrocarbons, etc.); combustibles; reducing agents; hydrogen peroxide; non-metals; sulphides; carbides; cyanides; hypergolic materials (hydrazine, furfuryl alcohol, etc.). | |
| Phosphoric Acid 85% | Class 8 (Corrosive) | Strong oxidising agents; reducing agents; strong alkalis (violent / exothermic); active powdered metals; fluorine; sulphur trioxide; phosphorus pentoxide; metals. | |
| Sodium Hydroxide 50% Solution | Class 8 (Corrosive) | Acids (violent reaction); ammonium salts; chlorinated hydrocarbons; aluminium, zinc, lead, tin and their alloys (liberate hydrogen). | Do not store in aluminium or galvanised containers. |
| Ammonia 25pc Tech Solution | Class 8 (Corrosive) | Incompatible with acids (violent reaction), peroxides, metal salts and reducing agents. Corrosive to copper, nickel, tin, zinc, aluminium and their alloys. Store away from incompatible materials. | |
| Sodium Hypochlorite Solution | Class 8 (Corrosive); Marine Pollutant | Incompatible with acids (liberates toxic chlorine gas — AUH031), ammonia and ammonium compounds (forms toxic chloramines), reducing agents, organic materials (including amines), metallic powders, heat sources, ethylene diamine tetraacetic acid (EDTA), and metal salts. Avoid contact with formic acid (explosive above 55°C). Store in a cool, dry, well-ventilated area away from direct sunlight. Segregate from incompatible materials per ADG Code segregation rules. | Do NOT use aluminium, mild steel, galvanised steel, zinc, copper, brass or unlined metal containers — corrosive to these metals (H290) and may liberate hydrogen gas. |
| Calcium Hypochlorite | Class 5.1 (Oxidising Agent) | Incompatible with chloroisocyanurates, ammonium nitrate, acids, organic and combustible materials, reducing agents, ammonia and nitrogen compounds, aluminium, iron, lead, magnesium and zinc. Store away from heat / ignition sources and acids. Segregate per ADG Code segregation rules. | |
| Trichloroisocyanuric Acid | Class 5.1 (Oxidising) | Acids (liberate chlorine); ammonium compounds (explosive nitrogen trichloride); calcium hypochlorite / other hypochlorites (explosive); combustible / reducing / organic materials; water / moisture. | |
| Hydrogen Peroxide 50% Solution | Class 5.1 (Oxidising Agent) + subsidiary Class 8 (Corrosive) | Combustibles / organics; metals (brass, copper, copper alloys, powdered metals, iron and iron salts); alkalis; acids (nitric, sulphuric); reducing agents; decomposition catalysts; flammable substances; organic solvents. Store separately | |
| Potassium Peroxymonosulphate | Class 8 (Corrosive) | Accelerators; strong acids and bases; heavy-metal salts; reducing agents; impurities (rust, dust, ash); combustibles; ignition sources; moisture. | |
| Ferric Chloride Solution | Class 8 (Corrosive) | Incompatible with alkalis (violent reaction) and oxidising agents. Mildly corrosive to metals and concrete. Store away from foodstuffs and incompatible materials | Do NOT use galvanised containers. |
| Aluminium Sulphate Solution | Class 8 (Corrosive) | Incompatible with strong alkalis (caustic soda, lime, sodium carbonate) — exothermic neutralisation. Incompatible with reducing agents. Reacts with aluminium, mild steel, galvanised steel and zinc, producing hydrogen gas which may form an explosive mixture with air. Store in a cool, dry, well-ventilated area. Protect from physical damage and direct sunlight. Segregate from incompatible materials per ADG Code segregation rules (refer to ADG Code Table 9.1). | Do NOT use aluminium, mild steel, galvanised steel, zinc or copper containers — corrosive to these metals. |
| Polyaluminium Chloride Solution | Not a dangerous good | Alkalis; oxidising agents; chlorates and chlorites; calcium hypochlorite; permanganates; cyanides; many metals. | Do NOT use aluminium or galvanised containers. |
| Sodium Metabisulphite | Not a dangerous good | Acids (liberate sulphur dioxide); oxidising agents; water (slow decomposition); aluminium / galvanised metals. | Do not store in aluminium or galvanised containers. |
Bunding, quantities and licensing
Store liquid dangerous goods on a bund or spill tray that can hold a leak from the largest container, and keep incompatible products on separate bunds so a spill from one cannot reach the other. Sites holding dangerous goods above set quantities in Western Australia need to notify or be licensed by the state dangerous goods regulator, and larger quantities bring placarding and manifest requirements. If you are unsure where your site sits, ask us: we can tell you the class and packing group of everything we supply.
General guidance only. Each product's SDS, your site's risk assessment and the WA Dangerous Goods Safety Regulations take precedence.