Flammable materials should only be stored in refrigerators/freezers designed for flammable storage. Laboratories should use explosion proof refrigerators/freezers (safe from flammable atmosphere both inside and out) that provide resistant interiors to reduce the risk or help contain an explosion or fire. Laboratories may also chose to use a "Lab Safe" or flammable storage refrigerator/freezers (safe from flammable atmospheres only inside) to store flammable materials.

Labeling

Refrigerators in the laboratory that are not explosion proof or "Lab Safe" should be marked "Caution-Unsafe Storage of Flammable Solvents"

All contents in the refrigerator/freezer should be labeled with the name of the material, amount, person responsible and date of storage. The contents should be tightly sealed and placed in secondary containment to further prevent vapors from escaping.

More Information

Environment, Health and Safety Information for the Berkeley Campus Fact Sheet

Refrigerator/Freezer Incidents (from Purdue University)

Laboratory Refrigerators and the Storage of Flammables (By Lee Stone)