Incompatible materials NOAA Worksheet

U.S. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Chemical Reactivity Worksheet, Version 1.5. As described elsewhere in this publication, the Worksheet can be used to identify chemical reactivity hazards and the general consequences of combining incompatible materials. Can be downloaded from the NOAA website at http //response.restoration.noaa.gov/chemaids/react.html. 

No general rules or easy answers exist for understanding the potential consequences of uncontrolled chemical reactions, due to the diversity of chemicals and reaction pathways. Table 4.5 shows the potential consequences of oxidizers as one specific category of reactive chemicals. Table 4.6, taken from the NOAA Chemical Reactivity Worksheet, lists some general consequences that could occur if incompatible materials are combined. 

Incident investigations. See Investigations Incompatible materials hazards identification, 82-83, 84 NOAA Worksheet, 77 screening methods, 58-63 Information handoff, management practices, 117... 

If chemical-specific information is not available, the consequences may be able to be predicted by methods using compatibility groups, or chemicals with similar chemical structures that are expected to have similar chemical reactivity characteristics. One computerized tool that uses this approach is the Chemical Reactivity Worksheet made available by the U.S. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA 2002). This program has over 6000 chemicals, mixtures, and solutions included in its database. It also predicts chemical reaction consequences of combining two materials at a time (e.g., "Heat generation by chemical reaction, may cause pressurization"). Examples from the Chemical Reactivity Worksheet are shown in Section 4.2. It is critical that all chemicals be positively identified to have a complete evaluation of all potential incompatibilities. 

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