Many factors can affect the rate at which dry ice sublimes from solid state into gaseous carbon dioxide.
These include:
the ambient temperature and humidity
the quality of the storage container
the number of times the container is opened and closed
The better the insulation, the slower the sublimation rate, the longer the quality of the product will be maintained.
The list below offers suggestions for the proper storage of dry ice:
always store dry ice in a properly designed container
keep the container lid closed when not in use
always secure the container lid open before reaching in to unload the product
avoid leaning into the container for longer than necessary
do not store dry ice in any gas-tight container as within large containers, gas atmospheres will build up
do not expose dry ice to high ambient temperatures unnecessarily as this increases the sublimation rate and thereby the risk of a carbon dioxide-rich atmosphere
do not store dry ice in cellars or unventilated rooms
ensure adequate low-level ventilation wherever dry ice is stored
Transport
The list below offers suggestions for the safe transportation of dry ice:
avoid transporting dry ice in the cab of a truck or the passenger compartment of a car. If this is unavoidable the load should be well insulated and adequate ventilation must be maintained
it is preferable to transport dry ice in vehicles where the driver's cab is isolated from the load compartment
always secure the load compartment doors in the open position before entering. For large 'walk-in' load compartments, the doors should be capable of being opened from the inside
always ensure that there is adequate ventilation during transportation and before entering the load compartment to unload the product
always carry a 'Carbon Dioxide (solid) Safety Data Sheet' in the cab or driver's compartment of any vehicle carrying dry ice
always unload the product as soon as possible at the end of the journey and move it to a suitable storage location