Selecting the best flammable safety cabinet Posted on July 21, 2017February 12, 2019 by Border States Flammable safety cabinets are the key to properly storing flammable materials, as well as isolating certain chemicals from other chemicals. Having the right cabinets for your specific workplace elements is crucial. Here are some helpful tips in selecting the best flammable safety cabinets for your work area. Identify your liquids and materials Examine your items to determine their flash point and boiling point, so you can find out which liquids and materials to segregate. Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) allows for only certain amounts of liquids to be stored in a single cabinet. Check the cabinet’s approval rating Flammable safety cabinets are tested to meet a variety of standards, so it’s important to consider organizing based on the following acronyms: FM (Factory Mutual tested and approved) DOT (meets Department of Transportation requirements for the transport of fuel) N (meets National Fire Protection Association Code 30) O (complies with OSHA regulations) U (complies with Uniform Fire Code) UL/ULC (Underwriters Laboratories Listed) When reviewing these standards, it’s also important to know if your cabinet can hold a minor explosion. [youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oR3vaxEROb4&w=400&h=225] Contain flammable materials based on hazard class Group your materials based on these hazmat classifications: 3 (flammable liquids) 4 (flammable solids) 5 (oxidizers and organic peroxides) 6 (poisonous materials and infectious substances) 7 (radioactive materials) 8 (corrosive materials) Cabinets should be designed to contain liquid spills It’s common for liquid materials to spill, especially if they’re moved around regularly. Polyethylene shelf and bottom trays help contain small spills and provide extra corrosion protection for flammable safety cabinets. Additionally, it’s quicker and more effective to clean up spills with bottom trays that can easily slide in and out. Can the cabinet release flammable liquid vapor or fume? National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) Code 30, also known as the Flammable and Combustible Liquids Code, says venting a flammable storage cabinet isn’t necessary for fire protection purposes. Ultimately, it’s important to pick a storage cabinet that is specially designed to protect internal materials from a fire outside of the cabinet. Check to see if the cabinet you’re considering includes an acid-resistant epoxy finish. It’s worth it to make sure your cabinet is properly sealed to prevent air from entering and spontaneous ignition. Choose self-closing flammable safety cabinets This option helps when you forget to close the cover of your flammable safety cabinet. Be sure to check if your state has certain regulations toward having the self-closing feature. Quality leads to safety Be sure to purchase high-quality flammable safety cabinets. At the end of the day, it’s not worth putting your life, or the lives of your workers, at risk. Have questions on flammable safety cabinets? Contact a trusted Border States account manager today.
