If your business uses Class 3 Flammable Liquids, you need to find a storage solution that reduces the serious risks that these chemicals can pose. While there are many safety procedures to implement in your workplace to reduce risk such as Spill Kits Australia, one of the easiest risk control methods is to use a flammable cabinet.
When Do You Need a Flammable Cabinet?
In a workplace, the Australian Standard has set forward many rules to see if you require the use of flammable cabinets
How much liquid do you have?
The first question to ask yourself is if you are carrying flammable liquids that are classed as minor storage, or do they exceed the minor storage threshold?
The Australian Standard states that you have to determine the quantities and packing group of the flammable chemicals before you can understand your storage requirements.
For example, if the quantities of flammable liquids are classed as minor storage, they fall under specific requirements, with larger volumes being subject to different regulations.
In general: commercial buildings storing more than 10L of flammable liquids in 50m2 of floor space, it’s no longer classed as minor storage. When a commercial building stores more than 25L per 50m2 of floor space, it’s not classed as minor storage.
What Are Your Ignition Sources?
If your workplace has ignition sources potentially near fuel, such as open flames, hot objects or grinding sparks, it’s a good idea to store all your flammable liquids in a flammable storage cabinet. This will provide protection for your stored flammables and reduces the risk of flammable vapours sparking a fire when they come too close to an ignition source.
Although flammable storage cabinets are made of duel-skinned steel, it’s still important to separate your cabinet from any workplace ignition sources that may be present. In addition to this, flammable vapours can leak from the cabinet when the doors are open, and if these vapours escape into your workplace and meet an ignition source, they can cause a fire or explosion.
Whether it’s electrical equipment or even a stove in the lunchroom, there are many everyday items that can be classed as ignition sources, to keep your flammable liquids from igniting, keep the flammable cabinet at least 3 metres away from any potential sources of ignition.
Think of Incompatible Substances
Is there any concern within your workplace that your flammable liquids may come into contact with incompatible substances?
A great way to know if your workplace needs a safety cabinet is if your flammable liquids are stored with or near any other incompatible classes of dangerous goods. When flammable liquids and incompatible goods come together, they can bring a violent chemical reaction that can cause immense damage and risk to workers and the environment.
To reduce the risk of violent chemical reactions, incompatible classes of dangerous goods must be safely segregated. This can be done by adhering to distancing substances. But if you don’t have the floor space available to properly segregate the dangerous liquids, then a safety cabinet is a good idea, these cabinets are flammable cabinets that have insulated walls and sealed spill containment pumps which allow flammable liquids to be safely segregated from other dangerous goods.
A Final Word
If you have circumstances that require the installation of a Class 3 Flammable Liquids storage cabinet, it’s wise to choose something from Spill Station, a manufacturer that supplies the Best flammable storage cabinet Australia, Spill Station. They are compliant cabinets that meet the appropriate governing body requirements and are designed to reduce hazards in a cost-effective manner.
