Tips for Caring for Flammable Liquids

Even for small facilities that do not have a full warehouse to store chemicals or flammable liquids, chances are that flammable liquids are present in their building. May they be aerosols or cleaning products, refinishing chemicals for floors, and even hand sanitisers. There is a strong chance that alcohol-based or ammonia-based products are in your custodial closet.

These materials may not cause fire or spontaneously combust on their own, but they can still cause or add to the cause of fires when they come into contact with an ignition source.

At Wholesale Safety Storage Australia (WSSA), we supply Indoor Flammable Liquids Cabinets, that are specifically designed for the storage of Class 3 Flammable Liquids. These storage cabinets are manufactured right here in Australia, and able to withstand Australian conditions, and more importantly, meet the requirements of AS1940-2017.

Working with flammable liquids and materials cannot be left to chance. The safety and security of your workers and your property is at stake, not to mention you will be violating strict government safety regulations.

Flammable storage lockers from WSSA can help you maintain a safer workplace without the hassle and worries of noncompliance with Australian Standards.

To help you maintain a safer workplace, consider the following tips when working with flammable liquids.

1.  Use Class 3 compliant Flammable Liquids Cabinets.

Perhaps the simplest, safest, and safety compliant ways to store flammable liquids is by using a compliant flammable cabinet. We talk of a compliant flammable storage cabinet, we mean one that is manufactured to Australian Standard AS1940-2017.

Flammable liquids cabinets from WSSA feature a double wall construction with an integrated 40 mm thermal barrier. We use double walled steel for the cabinet’s floor, walls, doors, and roof. A fire-resistant insulation fills the spaces between steel panels, providing another line of defence against radiant heat emanating from either internal or external fires.

2.  Take stock or inventory of your flammable liquids.

The very first step in managing risks associated with flammable liquids is to identify which types of liquids you have in stock in your workplace, or even at home. Also take note of their number or volume.

It would be best practice not to just rely on your hazardous chemical storage register, but to also do a manual and physical check of your storage areas to inspect what they actually hold. 

3.  Keep flammable liquids and chemicals contained.

It is advisable to keep flammable products and chemicals in their original containers. Appropriate containers for flammable liquids include those made of metal, durable plastic, and glass.

However, we do have to stress that ordinary over-the-counter plastic containers are not a safe option. These containers could decompose when it comes into contact with other corrosive cleaning materials and could cause fire, especially if it involves alcohol-based liquids.

Facilities that store large amounts of flammable liquids and chemicals often store them in industrial drums or portable tanks and store them in flammable liquids cabinets for added protection and safety compliance.

4.  Keep away from ignition, heat sources and flames.

Most ambient room temperatures are safe for storing flammable liquids. Most flammable liquids need to reach about 149 °C to 260 °C before these liquids could spontaneously burst into flames.

Checking the product’s safety data sheet (SDS) will tell you the maximum temperature that is safe for storing that particular liquid. In addition to having an adequate and compliant storage space and equipment, facilities also must keep in mind to place this storage spaces far from any ignition sources.

The obvious places to avoid storing chemicals include areas where people smoke or vape. Also, avoid areas where hot work is being performed, such as soldering or welding areas.

5.  Watch your flammable liquid storage threshold.

Each facility, depending on its size, has different thresholds for the amount of flammable chemicals and liquids it can safely store (Thresholds by state also varies).

Smaller buildings with limited storage will obviously have a lower threshold than a large facility with a warehouse. In addition to size, each facility’s threshold can also be based on various factors such as the fire rating and thickness of its walls, the building code, and the presence of a sprinkler system.

6.  Ample ventilation.

Natural cross-flow ventilation should be maintained adequately in facilities that involve storage or processing of flammable liquids. If adequate natural ventilation is not available in a facility, an intrinsically safe method of mechanical ventilation may be required.

If there is a need to decant flammable liquids, you may carry out the task in a well-ventilated area.

7.  Maintain your storage cabinet.

Although WSSA’s range of Flammable Liquids Cabinets are tough and guaranteed for safety, there is no accounting for added safety and security by conducting integrity checks of your cabinets.

• • • Especially with older cabinets, inspect and check for signs of corrosion, spillage, dents, or damage.
    • Follow up with workers and/or contractors for reports or incidents involving the cabinet if they have obvious signs of damage. Check if they have been knocked over by forklifts and wasn’t reported.
    • Inspect the cabinet’s contents such as drums or containers for any sign of expansion, deterioration, or damage.
    • Check to see if the doors, shelves, and other components are in working order. Is its spill sump liquid tight? Are the shelving still sturdy and intact?

If you need Flammable Liquids Cabinets, we at Wholesale Safety Storage Australia not only care about compliance, but we also care about pricing. If you have been relying on imports for your safety equipment, consider getting one that is Australian made.

Don’t compromise the safety of your workers or your company’s compliance with Australian standards.