Did you know the incorrect storage and handling of flammable materials is one of the leading causes of industrial fires? To minimise the risk to personnel and facilities, flammable goods should be stored in the appropriate cabinets.
These cabinets are known as flammable liquid cabinets or dangerous goods cabinets, and they should comply with the relevant Australian Safety Standards. To understand everything you need to know about Flammable storage cabinets, read on.
But if you’re in the market for a flammable liquid storage cabinet, Spill Station is the best choice in Australia! Everything they offer is already compliant, so all you have to do is follow compliance rules for the placement, signage and lighting of the cabinet.
The Purpose of a Flammable Cabinet
To reduce the risk of fire or explosion and achieve positive safety results, it is important to identify all flammable items used in your facility and, if removal or replacement is not reasonable, store them in purpose-built cabinets.
Always refer to the Material Safety Data Sheet (SDS) of each hazardous material for detailed chemical properties and storage recommendations.
Specially built storage cabinets for flammable goods serve to:
- Reduce the risk of fire and protect personnel and facilities.
- Separate flammable materials from other incompatible hazardous materials such as acids and corrosives in order to reduce further risk.
- Improve productivity and efficiency by enabling safe storage of flammable liquids close to the point of use.
- Ensure the area complies with Australian standards for storage and handling of flammable goods.
Remain Compliant With The Australian Standards
Any facility that stores, distributes or uses flammable materials should ensure that they remain compliant with the AS1940:2017, the Australian standard for the safe storage and handling of flammable goods.
Here are the standards are broken down.
- The aggregate capacity of the flammable goods cabinets should not go beyond 850L per 250m2 of floor space on ground floors or 250L per 250m2 of floor space on any other levels.
- Storage cabinets must have double-walled steel construction with at least 40mm between walls, a spill containment sump at least 150mm deep and self-closing doors that latch in two places.
- Cabinets must display the relevant signage.
- Cabinets should be positioned to minimise injury and fire hazards.
- Flash points should be considered to divide hazards.
- The signage must clearly have a placard to warn against ignition sources, show the maximum capacity of the cabinet and show the manufacturer and Australian distributor if applicable.
Features of Spill Station’s Flammable Goods Storage Cabinets
If you choose a great flammable goods storage supplier, you help make sure you adhere to regulations and have peace of mind for your workplace.
Spill Station has a great range of Just rite storage solutions with the following features:
- Made from double-skinned 1mm zinc-coated steel.
- Have a flawless powder-coated finish.
- Built-in ground earthing clamp.
- Ezi-fit handles on the base shelf.
- Inner and outer surfaces made from electro-galvanised steel.
- Soft-close 3-point latching mechanism.
- 1.6 galvanised steel safety cabinet shelves.
- Soft-close 3-point latching doors.
- 150mm liquid tight sump.
- Tested inbuilt frame arrester.
- Sequentially closing doors.
- Adjustable feet.
- Safety signs that are fully compliant.
- Lockable handle with grit grip.
- And much more.
Place The Cabinet Accurately
Many cabinets for flammable goods are designed for indoor use. Exposure to extreme heat or sunlight can build up vapours in the enclosure and create an explosion hazard. Rain or moisture entering the cabinet can collect between the interior walls and corrode the steel, risking the structural integrity of the cabinet.
The general rule is: storage cabinets for indoor and outdoor flammable goods must be located at least three metres from sources of ignition, including electrical outlets, open flames or hot surfaces that could ignite flammable vapours of chemicals in the cabinet.
The location of storage cabinets for flammable goods must not prevent the easy exit of personnel during an emergency evacuation, so keep that in mind too.
If you need more information on Flammable cabinets, contact Spill Station now.
