Fire Storage Cabinets Are Imperative For Your Safety

If your facility houses large amount of chemicals and hazardous liquids, you must consider getting fire storage cabinets; it is the first step to safety. The most common cause behind industrial fires is improper storage and handling of dangerous goods. A small naked flame may still be contained but if it comes in contact with any flammable or corrosives, or combustible liquids, the fire could take an ugly shape that might cause massive loss to lives and property. Yes, chemicals come in their own containers but that is not safe enough. They need to be stored in designated cabinets only that have been authorized by the respective fire protection authorities.

Fire Storage Cabinets When you are buying a safety storage cabinet you need to take into consideration what kind of a chemical you are going to store in that- flammable liquids or corrosives, pesticides, combustibles or waste? There are cabinets specially made for flammables like ink or paints, corrosives, pesticides and so on. These come in different sizes to suit your storage needs. However it is to be kept in mind acids and corrosives require extra precautions.

A fire safety cabinet must always be purchased from certified dealers. It must be certified and must conform to the local and international fire safety standards. That is why buying from dealers like S.E.P.M.A.R. is a good idea. A reputable vendor specializing in industrial safety equipment will also help you choose the right kind of storage containers.

Look for quality construction; that is the first criteria to insist upon. Most safety cabinets are made from high quality stainless steel. But corrosives and some other substances need polyethylene cabinets because they eat right through the steel. You must also look for double-walled doors as well as sides, bottoms and tops. 3 point lock doors and vents with fire baffle and leak-proof seals are of course important too. Some cabinets come with legs- which are great if you have moisture on the floor or if they have to be placed near vents or outlets, these can be easily moved with a forklift.

Fire storage cabinets may apparently seem to be an extra expenditure, but it is imperative for the safety of not just you but your entire facility and products stored in it.

Storage Made Easy With Dangerous Goods Cabinets

Dangerous Goods CabinetsAny conventional office don’t deal with hazardous chemicals on daily basis but manufacturing units ad factories, industries do use a host of chemicals and liquids, which when stored in larger amounts pose a threat to both lives and property. One small spark could aggravate and turn into a massive fire. That is what has made storing such potent liquids and chemicals in dangerous goods cabinets a mandatory rule. The minute we hear someone say hazardous material, what immediately comes to our minds is explosives, gasses, petrol and so. We are oblivious to most other dangerous stuff, which apparently looks harmless but are equally lethal.

It is a good idea to check with the relevant authorities if you are not certain about materials you are planning to keep for long term storage. These not only can cause harm to you and me but also have a much worse effect on the environment. Below are categories hazardous materials so personnel handling these must be trained in storage and handling.

  • Flammable liquid
  • Flammable solid
  • Oxidizer
  • Corrosive
  • Organic Peroxide
  • Poison
  • Explosive
  • Compressed gas
  • Cryogenic
  • Radioactive
  • Biomedical

A safety storage cabinet is not an alternative to conventional fire fighting tools, it is just a means to ensure in case of worst case scenario, and the substances in the containers are protected and would not worsen the already massive fire. The more we aware of our surroundings, the safer we will be and that is why it is important to know what you are dealing with on a regular basis and god forbid if anything worse happens you will at least be prepared for it.

Ensure that your facility is always monitored. Any leaks, escapes, spillage etc must be immediately attended too without delay. No unauthorized personnel should be allowed near the cabinets where the chemicals are stored. Quality of the storage cabinets must not be compromised with at all. They must be purchased from certified and licensed dealers with valid certification and clearance from the respective authorities.

Where to Find Quality Dangerous Goods Cabinets in Australia

It takes less than 3 minutes for fire to spread and take a dangerous form. In industrial workplace, it takes even less than a minute for it to create havoc. News of massive industrial fires and destroying lives and property are not unheard of. Improper storage and handling is the main reason behind such incidents. One easy step to avoid this is to install dangerous goods cabinets Australia. These are specifically made for storing hazardous chemicals and other such substances and avoid accidents.

There are several types of storage cabinets available for you to choose from. So you must have knowledge of all that your facility houses. That will enable you to decide among metal, wooden, polyethylene cabinets.

Corrosives and acids must be stored in stainless steel cabinets, which are considered to be the best for such chemicals. They are made of at least 18 gauge iron sheets and come with double walls with at least an inch of air space in between. The doors feature 3 point lock as well as welded joints. The vents must only be located at the bottom and directs to the outside. Each and every fire safety cabinet must be purchased from a certified dealer.

Wooden safety cabinets on the other hand are constructed using 1 inch high grade plywood which will not break or delaminate in case of fire the joints are fastened and riveted from both directions using flathead screws.

All cabinets are color coded so for one to know what it contains. Red for flammables, yellow for combustibles, green for pesticides and blue and corrosives and acids- this is followed universally. This makes them easy to spot. It also increases efficiency- one knows exactly where to look for a required chemical and not waste time looking for it in every storage cabinet.

One thing however must be kept in mind- these dangerous goods cabinets Australia must only be purchased from authorized and certified dealers like S.E.P.M.A.R. It is a Western Australian owned and operated company, established in 1995.They specialize in the manufacture, supply, installation, repair and scheduled maintenance of safety storage cabinets, emergency deluge safety showers also eye/face wash stations, and more.

The Correct way to Store Flammable Liquids in Fire Storage Cabinets

If you work in a chemical facility, it is important to know the importance of storing them properly. Flammables, acids and corrosives, paints and inks, and pesticides need are hazardous chemicals that need special attention. Not all of them are equally lethal. They won’t also combust on their own, but improper handling and storage might lead them to come in contact with either air or an ignition source or another substance, chemically react and lead to an explosion. Installing fire storage cabinets ensures that none of the above happens.

One of the main reasons behind industrial fires is improper storage of flammable liquids. It not just costs lives and billions of dollars for facility losses alone, it also harms the environment. Ideally when not in use, flammable liquids must be stored in designated cabinets inside storage rooms. These cabinets must be fire resistant, liquid tight, have self closing doors, 4” sills and a ventilation system that changes the air minimum of six times per hour. They must also be fitted with a lock and have fire protection in case of spillage.

If you have to use gas cylinders, they must always be stored in an upright position. This also prevents unauthorized personnel from handling them. If the quantities of your chemicals do not justify a storage room, then you must store them in FPAA or OSHA and NFPA certified cabinets. When you are buying a fire safety cabinet, make sure it meets the necessary requirements.

These cabinets are color coded for you to distinguish them from one another. Yellow is for flammables, red is for combustibles, blue for acids and corrosives and green for pesticides. Each must be boldly labeled on the front what kind of ingredient is stored inside. From 2 to hundreds of gallons, these are available in various sizes. You can buy them from www.sepmar.com.au

S.E.P.M.A.R. has been in the industry for the past nineteen years. Located in Perth, it specializes in the manufacture, supply, installation, repair and scheduled maintenance of safety fire storage cabinets; emergency deluge safety showers also eye/face wash stations, and more.

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.