Fight Fire with the Flammable Storage Cabinet

2007-03-08 10:33:40

( Business )



Most chemical laboratories present a hazardous risk of fires due to the presence of flammable liquids. Such a risk can be minimized through the regulation and proper storage of these flammable liquids in a sturdy flammable storage cabinet. These flammable cabinets serve a variety of purposes, such as protection of flammable liquid from flash fires, prevention of excessive heat (due to a fire or an experiment), and enclosure of flammable liquids to prevent them from spilling.

There are important requirements that must be met for any flammable storage cabinet. It should be made from an adequately-constructed 18-gauge sheet iron or a 1-inch exterior class plywood. Its doors must be outfitted by a durable latching device, like plastic knobs, and a minimum 2-inch liquid-tight sill. The flammable cabinet must be painted with fire-resistant paint, preferably in conspicuous a red or yellow sign that says “flammable” or “flammable liquids” (in uppercase letters).

In terms of storage capacity, flammable and combustible liquids should not exceed 500 liters. For educational institutions, it is highly-recommended that the liquids should not exceed the quantity allowed. For industrial institutions, on the other hand, it should be noted that storage of liquids should not be more than 120 gallons per control area, and that no individual container can exceed 5 gallons. Wherever there are flammable cabinets, a “no smoking” sign, with letters in uppercase and at least 4 inches high, should be posted. Moreover, a fire extinguisher should be conveniently placed nearby.

For the ventilation of a flammable storage cabinet, the opening must be sealed with fireproof materials (or at least, by a material conforming to the material of the cabinet). To maximize the storage of these flammable liquids, bottles and containers in the flammable cabinet must be well-sealed. The flammable cabinet should also not exceed the allowed storage requirement, and that combustible materials should not be stored with non-combustible ones. In addition, any flammable cabinet should not be stored near doors and windows.


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