Guide to storing flammable liquids and pesticides safely

Ins and outs of flammable and pesticide storage cabinets
Why use safety cabinets?
A leading cause of industrial fires is improper storage and handling of flammable liquids. To help mitigate these dangers, flammable liquids should be stored in flammable safety storage cabinets. These cabinets:

Safely contain hazardous chemicals to reduce fire and other risk, protecting both personnel and facilities
Identify, organize, and segregate dangerous chemicals
Aid compliance with federal OSHA regulations and the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA)
Improve efficiency by allowing chemical storage near points of use
Improve security with keyed locks

It is important to identify and inventory all chemicals in your workplace. Review the MSDS (Material Safety Data Sheet) for each stored chemical to determine characteristics and recommended storage practices. Some local regulations require positive-pressure ventilation. When regulations require venting, use safety cabinets that include vents with flame arresters for ducting vapors outdoors.
Although not required by federal regulations, steel safety cabinets include a built-in grounding lug, generally located at the bottom right side. For safe storage of flammables, it makes good safety sense to ground a cabinet when possible. If dispensing or collection processes are taking place within the cabinet, such as pumping out of a drum or pouring waste into a drum funnel, it is critical the cabinet be connected to an earth ground and proper bonding techniques between containers are followed.
If the chemical being stored is flammable or combustible, OSHA 1910.106 applies. Most state and local codes are based on either the National Fire Protection Association Code (NFPA30, Flammable and Combustible Liquids), the International Code Council (International Fire Codes) or NFPA 1, Uniform Fire Code. Section 9.5 of the 2008 edition of NFPA covers the design, construction, and capacity of storage cabinets.
Besides making sure that safety cabinets meet applicable codes, it's important to look for safety storage cabinets that carry independent third-party certification, such as FM Global (FM approved) or Underwriters Laboratories (UL listed). While NFPA does not mandate requirements for the storage of nonflammable acids and corrosives, these chemicals should be properly stored for maximum safety.

Choosing the right safety cabinet

Consider the following:

Compliance and regulatory requirements

Third-party testing is your assurance of performance: look for the marks of FM Global and Underwriters Laboratories.

Code compliance: Federal, state, and local regulations may apply. Contact your local Fire Marshal for guidance. Check OSHA 29CFR 1910.106/NFPA Code 30 Section 9.5.

Convenience and protection factors

Door style preference: Whereas door style is usually chosen by preference, states and locales that follow either the International Fire Code or NFPA 1 Uniform Fire Code mandate self-closing cabinets. Safety cabinets with self-closing and self-latching doors provide an extra measure of protection. The flammables storage cabinets sold by Supply Line Direct come in three door styles:

(A) Economical manual-close doors permit doors to open a full 180°. When pushed closed, they automatically self-latch.

(B) Bi-fold sliding doors glide smoothly on a spring-loaded track for easy, one-handed access to cabinet contents. These doors self-latch and self-close and are equipped with a fusible link that holds the door open during use but melts at 165°F/74°C to automatically close the door under fire conditions.

(C) Self-close doors self-index, self-latch, and automatically shut upon release. The mechanism, concealed in the top wall, maximizes available shelf space. Fusible links hold the doors open during use. In the event of a fire, fusible links melt at 165°F/74°C to automatically close the doors.

Door handles: The Sure-Grip U-Loc handle used in Justrite safety cabinets is an attractive, self-latching paddle style that offers easy fingertip access to contents. Flush-mounted design keeps aisles clear and reduces dangerous ""catches"" from passing traffic. The exclusive padlock tang offers added security. A padlock serves as a visual deterrent and provides the flexibility of the lock being master-keyed, keyed alike, or keyed different for convenience.

Reflective warning labels: Haz-Alert System hazardous warning labels, when illuminated with a flashlight, burst with high visibility under fire conditions or power outages. Labels are strategically positioned in high and low zones to help firefighters easily locate volatile liquids.

Ease of use: Justrite safety cabinets have self-latching doors on a continuous piano hinge and spill-catcher shelves that adjust easily to fit changing storage needs. Built-in, patented hidden self-close mechanism allows obstruction-free access to top shelf space . . . all for improved usability!

Longevity: Quality construction finished in tough powder paint is backed by an industry-exclusive Ten-Year Limited Warranty.

Fire Protection: Welded construction, self-latching doors, third-party tested, built to OSHA/NFPA standards . . . all ensure maximum protection under fire conditions.

A self-latching system: A self-latching door and handle is critical as it does not require the user to manually rotate a handle to ensure the three-point latch is properly engaged. This is an important detail since an unlatched safety cabinet leaves flammable contents exposed to a potential fire, where every single second of protection counts. A flammables safety cabinet must be latched in order for it to perform according to code, providing maximum safety under fire conditions. A stainless steel bullet latching system offers optimum longevity with increased heat resistance.

Chemical characteristics and capacity issues

Size and type of container being stored: Determine if you are storing safety cans, 30(110L) and 55-gallon (20L) drums, smaller paint cans, 4-litre bottles, aerosols, dispenser cans or other similar containers

Capacity needs: Specialty safety cabinets are available for on-the-spot needs while larger flammables storage cabinets offer expanded or large-quantity storage.

Type of chemical to be stored: Using color and labeling in your storage practices helps identify, organize and segregate liquids. It also helps fire department personnel recognize hazards when responding to fire situations. While regulatory codes do not mandate the specific color of safety cabinets, the industry has customarily observed the following:

Yellow for flammable liquids

Red for paints, inks, and other combustible liquids

Blue for corrosive liquids

Green for pesticides and insecticides

White or Gray for waste materials or outdoor lockers

Silver or Light Neutral to complement laboratory settings.

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