Flammable Storage Cabinets Shield Volatile Liquids From Fire

2007-03-08 10:33:40

( Business )



When you do laboratory work, you often handle flammable liquids such as isopropyl alcohol and other common alcohols, acetone and toluene. Or if you are an avid do-it-yourselfer, you may have paints and other liquids containing solvents. These are highly flammable products and local fire laws require them to be kept in flammable storage cabinets.

Flammable storage cabinets are specially constructed cabinets used for safekeeping flammable and combustible liquids. Flammable liquids are liquids with flash points equal to or less than 38 degrees Celsius; combustible liquids have higher flash points between 38 and 60 degrees Celsius.

For a limited period of about an hour, flammable liquid storage cabinets help to protect such liquids from fires, to contain them from becoming a cause of fire in case they spill, or to prevent the build-up of high temperatures when fire is present.

There are key things you must remember about using flammable storage cabinets:

Liquid compatibility

You should store only materials that are compatible in one flammable liquid storage cabinet. This means that none of them should cause another material to ignite and cause a fire if they are mixed. You should not put flammable liquids together with acids, oxidizers and corrosives since these might react chemically.

Maximum Storage Quantity

You should not store more than 500 liters of flammable and combustible liquids in flammable storage cabinets, of which not more than 250 liters are liquids with flash points below 23 degrees Celsius.

Location

You should locate the cabinets away from passageways, exits or entrances. Although they protect the chemicals from immediately exploding in case of fire, the chemicals will eventually ignite. Keeping them far from passageways gives you and firefighters a little extra edge in protection when you use the passages. However, have the fire extinguisher cabinets nearby for emergencies.

Labeling

You should post conspicuous warnings on the cabinets to indicate that flammables are stored inside.


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