Safety Storage Cabinet and Why You Should Install Them

The first thing that comes to our mind when we here hazardous materials are explosives, petrol or gas bottles. But it also includes some fairly innocuous items that we hardly consider to be potentially dangerous! Installing dangerous goods cabinets in your manufacturing unit ensures safety of both products and personnel. Improper storage of such chemicals has caused havoc industrial fires leading to loss of lives and property.

It is not just the flammables, toxic, corrosive or chemically reactive liquids we are talking about- there are other as well- for a detailed knowledge of the same, please refer to the Australian Code for the Transport of hazardous Goods by Road and Rail (ADG Code).

An ideal solution to reduce the health risks of the employees, locating flammable goods storage facilities outdoors is a good idea, considering the correct storage facilities are used. They also must be out of access of unauthorized personnel. The facility must be constantly monitored not just from the security aspect but also in inspect leaks, corrosion, escapes, fire threats and so on.

A safety storage cabinet must always be purchased from an authorized dealer and certified by the respective safety standard policies. Not every customer will have the same requirements and that is why these units can be made according to specific customer requirements that include shelving, decanting systems, compartments, sump capabilities pump stations and eye wash facilities.

For a free consultation on the best products to install, contact S.E.P.M.A.R dealers. When buying these cabinets always check if they have a valid certification. Taking such apparently unnecessary checks in fact makes the place a much better and safer work place for one and all.

Not only safety, installing dangerous goods cabinets also has other benefits; it helps identify, organize, and segregate dangerous liquids, improve efficiency by allowing solvent to be stored near the points of use, offer compliance with federal regulations, improve security with keyed locking system to mention a few.

S.E.P.M.A.R supplies internationally recognized FIREX brand of fire equipment at very competitive prices and can provide same day or next day delivery. They also deliver accredited and non-accredited training courses depending on your requirements.

Understanding Fire Storage Cabinets

Flammable liquids must always be stored properly- in fire storage cabinets so as to prevent any unwanted accidents in the workplace. If you work with dangerous chemicals on a day to day basis in a factory or manufacturing unit, safety should be your first priority. News of industrial fires is not uncommon and the most common cause of such accidents is improper storage of the dangerous chemicals. Read on to know more about proper storage.

Dangerous liquids and chemicals can be anything between paints and inks, corrosives, flammable liquids, pesticides and so on. Not all of them are as lethal but when they come in contact with air or some other liquid, they might explode. These must be stored separately in dedicated containers. Then again, for acids and corrosives, special containers are required- made of steel.

Metal cabinets are considered to be the best in preventing damage to properties and injuries. These are made of 18 gauge iron sheets and have double walls with at least an inch of air space in between.  The 3 point lock door along with riveted and welded joints makes them more secure and sturdy. Venting is also advisable for all these cabinets but they should only be located at the bottom and direct outside. A wooden fire safety cabinet is constructed using 1 inch high grade plywood. These do not delaminate or break easily in case of fire. Flathead screws are used to fasten and rebate the joints of wooden cabinets from both sides.

Both metal and wooden cabinets need to pass a fire test. This test is conducted for 10 minutes and the internal temperature of the cabinets must not exceed 325° F. All the seals must remain tight and doors secure.

All such cabinets come in various capacities, according to your need. But for Class I and Class II chemicals, no more than 60 gallons are permitted. For Class III chemicals on the other hand, up to 60 gallons are allowed. Fire storage cabinets must always be purchased from authorized dealers and suppliers, which conform to the standard safety requirements, like S.E.P.M.A.R- a name you can trust.

Install Dangerous Goods Cabinets in You Facility for Extra Safety

Flammables, paints and inks, acids and corrosives and pesticides are the four main categories for hazardous material storage cabinets. And installing dangerous goods cabinets in your facility will ensure safety for not just the lives of the people but also the properties. One of the main causes behind industrial fire is improper storage of such goods. Having a separate and dedicated place for these chemicals and substances also ensures no manhandling of the stuff. It also increases efficiency- one knows exactly where to look for a particular chemical instead of rummaging through the entire stock!

But it must be said here even at the risk of sounding naive that teach and every safety storage cabinet that you buy must be certified by the authorized standards like the OSHA and NFPA. We can give you a number of reasons why you should take installing these cabinets seriously.

1. They reduce the risk of fire and protects both property and personnel
2. It helps to identify, organize and segregate dangerous liquids
3. Improved efficiency by allowing the solvent to be stored  near the points of use
4. Improve security with  keyed locking mechanism

These cabinets come in various sizes and capacities, ranging from 4- 90 gallons along with sizes to hold 1-2 fifty five gallon drums. They are made from 18 gauge all welded steel along with 1 ½ inches of insulating air space to prevent leaks from spilling. They also come along with 400mm thermal barrier, superior electrostatic high gloss powder coat finish, dual vents with built in flash arrestors, 3 point locking mechanisms, leak proof fully welded 150mm deep containment sump,  shelves with built in troughs to contain spills, and adjustable leveling feet to prevent doors binding are some standard features of dangerous goods cabinets.

Log in to www.sepmar.com.au today and select from an entire range that include everything from a safety storage cabinet to emergency safety showers with signage, fire resistant filing cabinets, transport segregation units to suit many applications. S.E.P.M.A.R has solutions to all your safety requirements.

A Fire Safety Cabinet Helps In Making Work Place a Safer Place to Be

If you work in a facility where a large amount of hazardous chemicals is stored, you need to take precautions. A fire safety cabinet will help you make the place more secure and safe not just for you but for the others as well.  Working with chemicals and dangerous substances may seem to be apparently cool but it will be cooler if you take safety precautions as a responsible professional. Fire is the greatest threat to your facility. And news about how an industrial fire has broken out and caused huge loss of life and property is rampant.

All chemicals are not equally potent but how you deal with them. They must be kept in a designated place, away from the main work place. Some chemicals and liquids when in contact with oxygen or other chemicals become more lethal. So it is best to stay extra cautious around these.

It’s not hard to store these chemicals safely- all it takes are a few dangerous goods cabinets Australia made- the finest of the lot that will create a barrier and stop the chemicals from escaping and putting your employees in harm’s way.

But the trick is to get the right kind of cabinet according to your needs. And if you buy from reputable vendors like SEPMAR, they will guide you with the same. There are different types of them made for different types of liquids- some has to be kept apart- away from everything else-if it comes in touch with another; it will be pose a threat. Some need cabinets made of stainless steel while corrosives cannot be kept in metal containers.

 And so that it is easier to distinguish one from another, these come color coded. They come in capacity storage of 30, 45, 60 and 90 Galleons but the manufacturers often customize your order according to your need for a fire safety cabinet.  Needs vary so you will have to know what exactly you need for your facility.  Each and every such cabinet must be approved by the respective authorized agencies. This may seem like a small step but it is a significant one in making your workplace a much safer place to be.

Dangerous Goods Cabinets Can Save your Life

Dangerous goods cabinets protect workers, reduce fire risks and improve productivity. These cabinets have anti-flash vents fitted for exterior fume extraction. It has self closing doors; fully signed-3 shelves adjustable, spare shelves available-fully lockable. They have the following features which include maximum capacity of 300 liters, external size: 1760*870*870mm, internal size:1650*785*785, and it holds 12-15*20 litre drums for not letting the fire to ignite at the work area.These cabinets have recessed handle with key lock to eliminate potential damage from heavy knocks. It is constructed using 1.2mm thick, double steel walls with 40mm air gap between walls to produce thermal insulation.

Dangerous goods cabinets have a lot of features which have been approved by OSHA and NPPA standards. The features include the flawless powder coated finish, 1.6mm galvanized steel shelves, 150mm liquid tight slump, tested and proved inbuilt  flame arrester, continuous stainless piano hinges, adjustable feet for uneven surfaces, complete with compliant safety signs, dual ventilation ports, sequentially closing doors. It has a inner and outer skin surface made from 1.2mm corrosion resistant steel. They are suitable for internal storage of flammable liquids, corrosives, poisons, organic peroxides, oxidizing agents and various other dangerous goods. These cabinets have a baked enamel finish for extra durability in the long run.

Hazardous storage cabinets complies with AS 1940:2007.It has a sloped roof with 75mm overhang and drainage guttering to protect front doors, Forklift channels for easy transportation, Inclusive of bolt down bracket once stationed, Two doors self closing, Three point locking system and supplied keyed to lock.The cabinets are safe storage for acid and alkaline corrosives.It has fully adjustable leveling feet.They have 40mm air pocket between internal and external walls to protect against fire. It has polyethylene spill collection trays on each shelf which protects against spills and leaks. They have a stainless steel construction for strength and reliability.

Hazardous storage cabinets protects the contents from damage, provides segregation between incompatible materials and it contains small spills.They are secured around the main cylinder body to prevent them from falling and the smallest volume compatible with the operation of the facility. Other relevant Australian standards particularly for hazardous storage cabinets include:AS 60079 for explosive atmospheres, AS 2243 for safety in laboratories, AS/NZS 3833 for storage and handling of mixed classes of dangerous goods in intermediate bulk container, AS 1692:Steel tanks for flammable and combustible liquids, AS 4897:Operation of underground and petroleum storage systems and AS 4976:Removal and disposal of underground petroleum storage tanks. Thus, the size of these cabinets is limited to 2.5litres for dangerous goods and 5kg for hazardous substances.