Safety Storage Cabinets for Flammables
Industrial flammable safety cabinets are used in a number of industries to store flammable materials that can pose health and safety risks when they’re not stored correctly. These flammable cabinets are designed to protect flammable and combustible contents from a fire outside of the cabinet for a certain period of time. Depending on the flammable materials that you are using, there are different safety flammable cabinets to choose from.
Some of the combustible or flammable liquids safety cabinets are designed to hold include:
- Sulfuric, hydrochloric, and nitric acids
- Acetone
- Ethanol
- Diesel fuel
- Paint thinner
- Benzene
- Gasoline
These materials are classified by their flash point, which is the lowest possible temperature at which they can ignite. The lower the flash point, the greater the risk of combustion or fire. Always refer to the SDS (Safety Data Sheets) for the materials you are using in order to know how to properly store and in what quantities you can store those materials.
Flammable storage cabinets are colour-coded depending on the chemicals they are storing, including red for paint and Ink, blue for corrosive and hazardous liquids and solids, green for pesticides and insecticides, and stainless steel for hospital and laboratory use
We carry a variety of safety cabinets for flammables, from 2 GAL to 110 GAL, 1 CYL to 24 CYL, 2 DRUM and 4 DRUM capacity. If it’s accessories you need, we stock wall-mount kits, extra metal shelves, poly bottom trays, rollers, VaporTrap filters, and much more.
With products from Aescos, Eagle Manufacturing, Justrite Manufacturing, Nosredna Fire Products, Securall, and Williams Brothers Corporation, we’re sure you’ll find what you need.
Our team is on standby to help you choose the right flammable storage cabinet for your facility. Call us today to learn more about your options.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS ABOUT FLAMMABLE CABINETS
Our network of carrier partners enables us to offer a wide range of delivery options, including: ● Dock-to-Door, ● Dock-to-Dock, ● Tailgate Required, ● Appointment Required, ● Inside Delivery Required, ● Special Instructions. Shipping damage, missing items, and problems with your order must be reported to Herbert Williams Fire Equipment Ltd. within 1 business day of receipt of any shipment. Damages must be accompanied by a signed bill of lading that acknowledges the damage.
Herbert Williams carries a broad selection of flammable safety cabinets to suit many applications. We offer cabinets from Asecos , Eagle Manufacturing , Justrite Manufacturing , Nosredna Fire Products , Securall® , and the Williams Brothers Corporation.
Your location and industry both have a direct bearing on which laws and regulations for flammable liquid storage apply to you. You may have to comply with NFPA (fire code) mandates, OSHA rules (labour law), or regional regulations, like the International Fire Code (IFC), or the National Fire Code of Canada. New flammable storage cabinets have to meet NFPA 30 requirements or conform to ULC standards. These cabinets feature: ● Double-wall construction of 18-gauge steel, ● Double-walled design includes a 1 ½” airspace, ● All welded joints, ● 3-point latch doors, ● The door sills include a spill-proof construction that is raised at least two inches off the ground to contain any spilled liquid, ● Doors may be manual or self-closing. Cabinets used to store flammable liquids must be conspicuously labelled with signage indicating there are flammable liquids inside and open flames or other sources of ignition must be kept away from the storage area.
Flammable storage cabinets come in a variety of colours that indicate what type of materials are being stored. Red cabinets generally house combustible liquids with a flash point at or above 100°F (38°C), and yellow cabinets handle flammable liquids with flash points below 100°F (38°C). ● Red Cabinets: Combustible liquids like acetone, benzene, diesel fuel, hydraulic fluids, vegetable oils, paint, ink, and formaldehyde. Any liquid with a flash point at or above 100°F (38°F). ● Yellow Cabinets: Flammable liquids like heptane, acetone, benzene, isopropyl alcohol, naphtha, and turpentine. Any liquid with a flash point below 100°F (38°C). ● Blue Cabinets: Corrosive liquids like hydrochloric acid, sulfuric acid, ammonium hydroxide, and sodium hypochlorite. ● White or Grey Cabinets: Miscellaneous hazardous waste materials. ● Green Cabinets: Agrochemicals like pesticides and insecticides. Always consult the Safety Data Sheets (SDS) of the materials you are using to ensure you are storing them properly.
It depends on your situation. Flammable liquid storage cabinets come with capped bung holes that allow for ventilation, but many applications may not require it. Check with your federal, provincial, and local codes, insurance carrier policies, company policy, and other authorities having jurisdiction (AHJ) over your business or location. If you do need to vent your cabinet, make sure you follow the manufacturer's guidelines. Always ensure the vent openings are ducted to a safe location and ignitable or volatile organic compounds (VOCs) are controlled in a way that won’t weaken the fire protection offered by the cabinets in their unvented state. If your AHJ requires you to ventilate your flammable storage cabinets, make sure you have clear and unambiguous instructions on how to safely vent cabinets, as well as information on equipment needed to mechanically vent the cabinets if necessary. Always consult the Safety Data Sheets (SDS) of the materials you are using to ensure you are storing them properly.
The Maximum Allowable Quantity (MAQ) is the maximum amount of flammable materials you can store. NFPA 30 and your local AHJ provide guidelines on how many flammable cabinets you can have in a given area and how large a quantity you can have. You may not store more than 60 gal. of Category 1, 2, or 3 liquids in a single cabinet or more than 120 gal. of Category 4 liquids in one cabinet. The number of flammable cabinets you can have depends on the location and construction of your storage area. ● Liquid storage rooms cannot exceed: ○ 500 sq. ft. for 2-hour construction, ○ 150 sq. ft. for 1-hour construction; ● The minimum separation distance between flammable storage cabinets varies depending on the size of the designated area: ○ ≤ 100 sq. ft.: 5 feet between individual cabinets; 10 feet from cabinet to property line; 5 feet from cabinet to nearest side of public ways or important buildings on same property. ○ > 100 sq. ft. and ≤ 500 sq. ft.: 5 feet between individual cabinets; 20 feet from cabinet to property line; 10 feet from cabinet to nearest side of public ways or important buildings on same property. ○ > 500 sq. ft. and ≤ 1500 sq. ft.: 5 feet between individual cabinets; 30 feet from cabinet to property line; 20 feet from locker to nearest side of public ways or important buildings on same property.
Keep flammable cabinets at least 36 inches away from electrical panels, lights, or heating appliances. You cannot have a flammable cabinet in an electrical room. Storing flammable materials close to electrical panels or heat or spark sources greatly increases your fire hazard risk.
No, you cannot store anything on top of a flammable safety cabinet. This includes things like rags, papers, cardboard, and even your Safety Data Sheets (SDS) for the contents of your flammable safety cabinet.
