5 Signs Your Facility Needs a Flammable Storage Cabinet
Paints, solvents, fuels, adhesives, cleaning chemicals, and other flammable liquids are common in many workplaces. However, keeping these products on an ordinary shelf or workbench can increase fire risks and may not meet applicable storage requirements. OSHA addresses the storage and handling of flammable liquids under 29 CFR 1910.106, including requirements for containers, storage cabinets, storage rooms, and quantities. So, how do you know when it's time to consider a flammable storage cabinet? Here are five signs to watch for.
1. Flammable Liquids Are Accumulating Around Your Facility
A few containers can quickly turn into an unorganized collection of paints, solvents, cleaners, fuels, and other chemicals. If flammable liquids are being stored on open shelving, countertops, workbenches, or in different areas throughout your facility, it may be time to evaluate a centralized storage solution.
A flammable storage cabinet provides a dedicated location for organizing appropriate flammable liquids while helping facilities manage their storage more consistently. The exact storage requirements depend on factors such as the liquid's classification, container type, quantity, and how it is used.
2. You're Running Out of Safe Storage Space
As maintenance departments, workshops, laboratories, and manufacturing operations grow, so can their chemical inventory. Products that once fit comfortably in an appropriate storage area can begin spilling over onto shelves or into other work areas.
If your current storage location has reached its capacity, don't simply squeeze in additional containers. Reevaluate the quantity and types of liquids being stored and determine whether another approved cabinet or a different storage arrangement is necessary. OSHA establishes limits and construction requirements for flammable-liquid storage cabinets, so adding cabinets isn't simply a matter of finding more floor space.
3. Flammable Liquids Are Being Stored Near Ignition Sources
Flammable liquids can present a serious risk when improperly stored around potential ignition sources.
If your current storage area is near sparks, flames, hot surfaces, certain electrical equipment, welding operations, or other sources of ignition, it's time to review your storage practices. OSHA's flammable-liquid requirements address storage and handling with the goal of controlling these hazards. A properly selected cabinet can be one component of a broader flammable-liquid safety program that also includes appropriate containers, housekeeping, ignition-source control, and employee training.
4. Employees Have Trouble Finding or Identifying Flammable Materials
If employees have to search several shelves, rooms, or work areas for chemicals, better organization may be needed. A designated flammable storage cabinet creates a consistent location for appropriate materials, which can make inventory management easier and help prevent containers from being casually left around the workplace.
Remember that organization doesn't mean all chemicals should automatically be stored together. Compatibility, Safety Data Sheet information, and manufacturer instructions should be reviewed when deciding where and how chemicals are stored.
5. You're Reviewing Your Facility's Fire-Safety Compliance
A safety inspection, facility expansion, new process, or increase in chemical inventory is a good reason to reevaluate flammable-liquid storage. Start by determining what liquids you have, their classifications, how much is stored, what containers are being used, and where those containers are kept. OSHA 29 CFR 1910.106 establishes requirements for flammable-liquid storage, including specific provisions for storage cabinets. Local fire codes and other requirements may also apply, so facilities should verify the rules for their particular operation and location.
Choosing the Right Flammable Storage Cabinet
If your assessment indicates that a storage cabinet is appropriate, don't choose one based on size alone. Consider:
- The types and quantities of liquids being stored
- Cabinet capacity
- Construction and applicable approvals or requirements
- Available facility space
- Chemical compatibility
- Accessibility
- Applicable workplace and local fire-safety requirements
The goal isn't simply to put flammable liquids behind closed doors. It's to create an appropriate storage system that helps reduce hazards and makes safe chemical handling easier for employees.
Don't Wait for Storage to Become a Problem
If flammable liquids are accumulating, stored in inappropriate locations, or becoming difficult to manage, it's a good time to review your facility's storage practices. The right flammable storage cabinet, combined with approved containers, proper labeling, good housekeeping, employee training, and ignition-source control, can become an important part of a comprehensive workplace fire-safety program.