Flammable Cabinet Basics

 

Flammable cabinets are everywhere, and that's a good thing. But everyone might be a little fuzzy on what should get stored inside them. We're here to give you the basics.

1.  Only flammable liquids should be stored inside flammable cabinets.

Sometimes, the cabinets can become a catch-all for all hazardous materials on a site, including any acids, corrosives, or other hazardous substances. However, these should not be stored together with the flammable liquids. A separate cabinet with the appropriate construction and color should be provided for these materials.

2. There are limits to the amounts of each material allowed in a cabinet. 

OSHA sets the limits as follows: "Not more than 60 gallons of Category 1, 2, or 3 flammable liquids, nor more than 120 gallons of Category 4 flammable liquids may be stored in a storage cabinet."

3. Not all flammable cabinets are created equal.

OSHA says the cabinet "shall be designed and constructed to limit the internal temperature to not more than 325 °F. when subjected to a 10-minute fire test." Look for a cabinet that is certified by an independent third party such as Underwriters Laboratory (UL) or Factory Mutual Global (FM), as well as one meets for OSHA and NFPA 30 requirements.

 4. You should avoid storing items on top of flammable cabinets.

They might be a convenient place to set items down, but doing so can pose a risk, especially storing easily combustible items such as paper or cardboard.

There you have it! You never knew you needed a blog post about a cabinet before, but things were not quite as simple as they might seem when it comes to flammable cabinets. Be sure to contact TT&S with any further questions on proper flammable cabinet use.