Flammable storage cabinets are designed for the storage of flammable materials, including flammable liquids, solids and gases, as well as oxidizing and explosive chemicals.
Flammable liquids give off a flammable vapour which, when mixed with air, can ignite or explode. The ease by which liquids give off flammable vapours is linked to their flashpoint (the minimum temperature at which a liquid gives off sufficient flammable vapour to ignite when it comes into contact with an ignition source).
Flammable liquids include those which are defined as:
- Extremely flammable, with a flashpoint lower than 0°C and a boiling point lower than or equal to 35°C.
- Highly flammable, with a flashpoint below 21°C, but which are not classed as extremely flammable.
- Flammable liquids, with a flashpoint equal to or greater than 21°C and less than or equal to 55°C.
Flammable liquids are found in a huge range of workplaces, including factories, farms and garages, where they are used to power machinery. They are also a vital ingredient in many cleaning products, solvents, adhesives and paints.
These chemicals are essential to work processes in a wide range of industries, but they also present risks to people, property and the environment.
So it is important to minimise these risks as far as possible.
Flammable storage cabinets:
- Safely store dangerous liquids, solids and gases
- Protect the contents of the cabinet against damage
- Provide segregation between flammable liquids and other chemicals
- Contain flammable liquid spills
- In the case of a fire, allow time for people to escape or use firefighting equipment
How to use a flammable storage cabinet
A flammable storage cabinet should be made of metal and provide 30 minutes of fire resistance. It should be clearly labelled with signage warning of its flammable/ combustible contents and it should have lipped shelving or corrosion resistant trays to safely catch any spills.
In the workplace, it is important to carefully consider the location of a flammable storage cabinet:
- Far from other dangerous substances
- Away from heat and sources of ignition
- Not near doors or emergency exits
- Away from work areas (people, other chemicals, sources of ignition)
- Plenty of space around it
- In a well-ventilated area
The location of any flammable storage cabinets should be made clear on any risk assessments and hazard/ fire safety plans, so that staff and the emergency services are aware in the case of an emergency in the workplace.
It is recommended that the maximum quantity stored in cabinets is no more than 50 litres for extremely flammable, highly flammable and flammable liquids with a flashpoint below the maximum ambient temperature of the working area, and no more than 250 litres for other flammable liquids with a flashpoint of up to 55°C.
The law
In Britain, the main law surrounding the use and control of substances that can cause fires and explosions in the workplace is the Dangerous Substances and Explosive Atmospheres Regulations (DSEAR) 2002.
These regulations cover risks from flammable liquids and gases under pressure and corrosive substances, and state that risks must be eliminated or reduced as far as reasonably practicable. This is to protect staff and members of the public in the workplace.
DSEAR applies when there is work being carried out and a dangerous substance is present in the workplace, which could be a risk to the safety of people, as a result of fire, explosion or corrosion of metal.
The sorts of activities covered by DSEAR are:
- Storage of petrol as a fuel for cars, boats or horticultural machinery
- Use of flammable gases, such as acetylene, for welding
- Handling and storage of waste dusts in manufacturing industries
- Handling and storage of flammable wastes such as fuel oils
- Welding or other 'hot work' on tanks and drums that have contained flammable material
- Work that could release naturally occurring flammable substances, such as methane in coalmines or at landfill sites
- Use of flammable solvents in laboratories
- Storage and display of flammable goods, such as paints, in shops
- Filling, storing and handling aerosols with flammable propellants such as LPG
- Transporting flammable substances in containers around a workplace
- Deliveries from road tankers, such as petrol and bulk powders
- Chemical manufacturing, processing and warehousing
- Petrochemical industry, both onshore and offshore
- Handling, storage and use of gases under pressure
- Handling, storage and use of substances corrosive to metal
Many of these processes and substances can also create health risks because they may be toxic or an irritant and could cause asphyxiation in the worst cases. These risks are covered under the Control of Substances Hazardous to Health (COSHH) Regulations.
It is important to consider both safety and health risks when considering storing flammable substances in the workplace.
Risk assessment
Making sure your workplace complies with DSEAR means carrying out risk assessments. Before any work is carried out, employers must assess the risk of dangerous substances, looking carefully at the dangerous substances in the workplace, the work activities involving those substances and the way in which they could harm people.
The purpose of a risk assessment is to eliminate or reduce the risks from dangerous substances. Where it isn’t possible to reduce the risks completely, employers must take steps to control risks and reduce the possible severity of any harmful event.
Flammable storage containers are a very effective way of reducing or controlling risk because they help to:
- Avoid the release of dangerous substances
- Collect, contain and remove any accidental releases within the cabinet
- Avoid ignition sources
- Avoid adverse conditions (such as high temperatures)
- Keep incompatible substances apart
Tanks for Everything has a range of flammable storage cabinets which will help businesses minimise risk within the workplace. Our cabinets are designed to prevent leaks and contain spills, because spilt flammables can travel to an ignition point and flash back to the container.
Our flammable storage cabinets are also built to withstand 30 minutes of fire and retain either 110% of the spill of the largest container within it or 25% of the total amount stored – whichever is greater.
