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.

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.

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.

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.