Acid Storage Cabinets and Corrosive Safety Cabinets for Labs
Steel acid cabinets with polyethylene trays and metal-free polypropylene cabinets, 12 to 60 gallons, with separate storage for acids and bases. Sized to your inventory and placed where your lab works. Shop online or get a quote.
Talk with a lab safety storage specialist: (801) 855-8560 · Sales@Labs-USA.com
Shop Acid and Corrosive Cabinets Online
Justrite blue acid/corrosive safety cabinets with polyethylene shelf trays from the Labs USA store. Request a quote for polypropylene, under-fume-hood, slimline, self-closing and dual-compartment models.
Browse all acid storage cabinets in the store.
What an Acid and Corrosive Cabinet Does
Acid and corrosive cabinets store strong acids such as hydrochloric, sulfuric, nitric and hydrofluoric acid, and strong bases such as sodium and potassium hydroxide. Unlike flammable cabinets, which are built to resist fire, acid cabinets are built to resist chemical attack and to contain leaks.
They do this with corrosion-resistant materials (polyethylene-lined or epoxy-coated steel, or metal-free polypropylene), leak-proof trays, non-metallic shelves and, when needed, vent connections. They are one part of our full range of laboratory safety cabinets.
Blue is the usual color for acid and corrosive storage so staff can tell it apart from yellow flammable cabinets at a glance, and every cabinet should carry a corrosives warning label.
Steel vs. Polypropylene Acid Cabinets
Coated steel with polyethylene trays is the most common and lowest-cost option. It suits sealed bottles of mineral acids and bases in general labs, as long as trays catch drips and caps stay tight.
Metal-free polypropylene cabinets have welded plastic bodies, plastic hinges and no exposed metal. Choose them for fuming acids (hydrochloric, nitric), hydrofluoric acid, wet or humid rooms, and under acid-digestion fume hoods where vapors would rust steel hardware.
| Feature | Coated steel cabinet | Polypropylene cabinet | Wood cabinet |
|---|---|---|---|
| Best for | Sealed acids and bases in general labs | Fuming acids, HF, humid rooms, under acid hoods | Some industrial and teaching uses |
| Corrosion resistance | Good with trays and coatings | Excellent; no metal to rust | Good, but absorbs spills |
| Fire resistance | Better; steel body | Lower; plastic body | Moderate |
| Typical sizes | 12 to 60 gal, under-counter, slimline | Under-hood bases to tall cabinets | Benchtop to tall |
| Relative cost | Lowest | Higher | Varies |
Wondering about price? Our safety cabinet cost guide compares steel and polypropylene budgets.
Acid Cabinet Sizes and Configurations
| Configuration | Typical capacity | Where it fits |
|---|---|---|
| Compact or benchtop | 4 to 12 gal | On a counter or under a wall cabinet for small daily-use quantities |
| Piggyback | 17 gal | Stacked on top of a flammable cabinet to save floor space (keep hazards separate) |
| Under-counter | 22 to 30 gal | Beneath a 36-in. counter or in the casework run |
| Under-fume-hood base | Varies by hood width | Below the hood work surface, often polypropylene |
| Slimline | 22 gal | Narrow aisles and corners |
| Standard upright | 30 to 45 gal | Most labs; two doors, adjustable trays |
| Large upright | 60 gal | Central stockrooms and plant labs |
Pick capacity from your inventory, not the room size. Add up the volume of acids and the volume of bases you keep at the point of use, then leave room for growth and for containers to sit inside trays without stacking.
Check door swing, aisle width and the space under your counters before you order. Some common sizes are in stock at select manufacturers, subject to confirmation.
Store Acids and Bases Separately
Acids and bases react violently with each other, so they must never share an open shelf or tray. Use two cabinets, or one cabinet with separate, sealed compartments for acids and bases.
- Oxidizing acids (nitric, perchloric, chromic) should be kept apart from organic acids such as acetic and formic acid, and from flammables.
- Hydrofluoric acid attacks glass and metal; store it in compatible plastic containers inside a polypropylene cabinet.
- Move bottles safely in a rubber bottle carrier between the cabinet and the bench.
Always follow the storage section (Section 7) of each safety data sheet. Our chemical storage rules and compatibility chart shows which groups can and cannot share a cabinet.
Do Acid Cabinets Need Ventilation?
Venting is not required by OSHA for acid cabinets, but it is often recommended. Corrosive vapors from fuming acids escape even sealed caps, rust hinges and shelves, and can reach nearby instruments. A vented cabinet connected to a corrosion-resistant exhaust duct keeps those vapors out of the room.
Venting tips
- Use corrosion-resistant duct (for example PVC or polypropylene) sized to the cabinet’s vent collar.
- Connect to a dedicated exhaust or an approved connection designed for it, not by simply cutting into a fume hood duct.
- If the cabinet is not vented, keep the vent openings capped.
- Polypropylene cabinets under acid fume hoods are often vented through the hood base by design.
Labs USA coordinates vent collars and duct routing with your mechanical contractor during design.
Where to Put Acid Cabinets
Put corrosive cabinets close to where acids are used, such as the wet bench or digestion hood, so bottles travel the shortest possible distance. Keep a clear path to an eyewash station and emergency shower, and never block exits.
Keep acid cabinets apart from flammable cabinets where possible, and anchor tall cabinets to the wall in seismic areas.
Under-counter and under-hood storage keeps acids at floor level, the safest height for heavy bottles, and frees floor space. Lined base cabinets can be built into the casework run so the storage matches the rest of the lab.
See laboratory casework for matching base cabinets.
Acid Cabinet Requirements Checklist
| Requirement | Why it matters |
|---|---|
| Corrosion-resistant interior or trays | Prevents leaks from eating through steel shelves and floors |
| Separate acids from bases | Prevents violent reactions in a spill |
| Oxidizing acids kept from organics and flammables | Reduces fire risk |
| Labeled “Corrosive” with a contents list | Supports emergency response and inspections |
| Trays inspected and cleaned | Leaks are caught before they spread |
| Eyewash and shower within reach | Required where corrosives can splash |
For the full set of OSHA, NFPA and fire-code rules, see our safety cabinet compliance guide and the corrosive storage planning guide for plant labs.
Get a quote on acid and corrosive cabinets
Tell us which acids and bases you store and how much. We will recommend steel or polypropylene, the right sizes and the best locations, and quote delivery and installation.
Acid and Corrosive Cabinet FAQs
Why can’t I store acids in a flammable cabinet?
Do acid cabinets need ventilation?
Can acids and bases be stored in the same cabinet?
Should I choose steel or polypropylene?
What sizes do acid cabinets come in?
Why are acid cabinets blue?
Where should hydrofluoric acid be stored?
Are acid cabinets in stock?
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Steel and polypropylene acid and corrosive cabinets, sized to your chemicals and installed by Labs USA.