All purchases require a work order and activity number (provided by your supervisor / PI / administrator). Items are not available for non-university affiliated members and students to purchase via credit, debit, cash, or WatCard.
Email and in-person purchases
- To order from Chem Stores, you may come in person to ESC 109 during opening hours (Monday to Friday, 8:30 am - 4:30 pm (closed for lunch, 12:00 - 1:00 pm), or fill in the email order form (DOCX) and email it to cstores@uwaterloo.ca, as well as your supervisor.
- See stock tab for products available through our store. It is helpful to have our product code on hand (or included on the email form) to ensure you receive the desired item.
- For email orders, you will receive confirmation when your order is complete, and you can pickup anytime during store hours.
- Please bring a cart to pick up large orders in order to ensure safe and convenient transportation. For small orders, a cart may not be necessary.
- Please bring secondary containment (bottle, tote, etc.) to transport any chemicals you purchase. Chem Stores has rubber totes and large bins available for purchase; however, neither are available to borrow.
- Dry ice and liquid nitrogen are available Monday to Friday during normal store hours. Please bring a suitable container to transport either cryogenic with you. Cryogenic containers are not available for sale or to borrow.
- Please continue to work with your lab to keep trips to once per day, and an email order for any large orders is still appreciated.
Transporting chemicals in personal vehicles
Chem Stores will not sell chemicals to individuals who wish to transport hazardous materials in their personal vehicles. This is because:
- The Transportation of Dangerous Goods (TDG) legislation does not permit it.
- Personal vehicle insurance will not cover an individual who transports TDG regulated materials in their vehicle.
- Individuals are not equipped or trained to transport chemicals or handle a hazardous materials spill.
Individuals wishing to order chemicals can use the following options:
- Order directly from the manufacturer.
- Order from Chem Stores.
In both of these cases Central Stores will ensure the safe movement of the chemicals on campus.
If the lab is regularly ordering flammable solvents from Chem Stores, then they will need to acquire and clearly label proper solvent bottles that will be used solely by and for the lab. The following information will be required to be printed on the bottle:
- Name of researcher (i.e., Dr. John Smith) and location of lab (i.e., E6-5193).
- WHMIS/GHS Workplace label indicating:
- Product name.
- Safe handling precautions (should include pictograms or other supplier label information).
- A reference to the current SDS.
Safety Office
Bulk (dispensed) solvents
Chem Stores has a number of bulk solvents that may be purchased. They are dispensed in 2L volumes, in glass bottles. A deposit is charged for all bottles, and when they are returned to Chem Stores, the deposit is credited to the holder's account. Due to the high cost of replacing bottles, we ask that customers not use solvent bottles for waste. Appropriate containers can be acquired from the Environmental Safety Facility for waste. To avoid contamination of the solvents, please do not rinse the solvent bottle with any reagent. Please notify Chem Stores staff when returning bottles if you suspect anything other than the labelled solvent was in the bottle.
For bulk solvents, labs have the option to provide their own 4L amber bottles for solvent refills. In this case, solvents are dispensed in 4L increments (must order 4L per amber bottle). Bottles must be given to us with proper WHIMIS workplace labels (sample labels (PDF) and labels identifying your lab (e.g., supervisor name and location). Bottles without either label will not receive refills!
All bottles and carts dropped off will be refilled the next day and available by the afternoon. If more than four (4) solvent bottles are needed, we ask that customers drop off a cart for refilling. For carts, please submit the solvent refill form (DOCX) prior to drop off.
Please bring a container (bottle, tote, bin, etc.,) to transport chemicals. Totes and large bins can be purchased if needed; Chem Stores does not have any available to borrow. If more than one bottle is required, please bring a cart or an additional person to help.
When ordering via the email form, please specify if you are returning 4L bottles for refill or are using our bottle deposit system. This should be clearly reflected in the quantity section of the form (e.g., CACE27, drum acetone, 2 x 4L).