Flammables cabinets save live. They prevent the accidental ignition of flammable substances and prevent a fire from spreading should they occur.
If you use flammable materials in your workplace and need someplace safe and secure to store them, consider using a flammables cabinet. They offer a convenient, affordable way to instantly increase workplace safety.
If you aren’t sure if you need a flammables cabinet, consider these five common workplace substances that should always be stored securely in a fireproof cabinet.
Flammable and Combustible Liquids
When they reach a specific temperature, flammable and combustible liquids will ignite. That temperature is going to depend on the liquid, but some flammable liquids have flashpoints as low as 100 degrees F. So if your workplace reaches summertime temperatures that exceed this, you probably need a flammable cabinet.
Flammable Gases
When many flammable gases are exposed to an oxidant, including air, they can begin to burn. Storing flammable gases in sealed containers is essential. But it’s also important to protect the surrounding environment by storing these gas containers inside a flammables cabinet.
Flammable gases include propane, acetylene, carbon monoxide, hydrogen sulfide, natural gas, and methane, all of which are commonly used in many industries.
Explosive Chemicals
Certain chemicals will explode when activated by an electric shock, excessive heat, or even friction. Some chemicals, known as touch sensitive chemicals, will even ignite if brushed up against a container. So storing these types of highly sensitive chemicals safely is critical.
Storing explosive chemicals in a flammables cabinet can reduce the risk of explosion or ignition. So can using these chemicals promptly because many will become more volatile as they degrade over time.
Explosive chemicals include things like nitoso, haloamine, oxonides, azides, and acetylides.
Oxidizing Chemicals
Chemicals like hydrogen peroxide, concentrated nitric acid, and even bleach can spontaneously evolve oxygen at room temperature or if they are heated slightly. Pure oxygen released into an environment can spark a fire.
Oxidizing chemicals like these should always be stored in a secure flammables cabinet to avoid potential harm to people or damage to property.
Solids
Certain types of common solids pose a serious fire risk. These include things like old film, photographic negative plates made from cellulose nitrate, and picrate salt, a solid commonly used in dye manufacturing.
If solids like these catch fire, they can be difficult to put out. That’s why they should be stored in flammables cabinets that can control their exposure to things like heat, shock, and friction.
If you use flammables in your workplace, store them safely in flammables cabinets.