If your facility has flammables, they need to be properly stored to make sure your workers stay safe.
Check out the following FAQs about Flammable Safety Cabinets to help you choose the right cabinet and safely store your flammables.
Question: How do I know if my liquids need to be stored in a Flammable Safety Cabinet?
Answer: Check section 9 of the chemical’s Safety Data Sheet (SDS) for the Flash Point and Boiling Point for each of the liquids at your facility. The chart below will help you determine if the chemical needs to be placed in a Flammable Safety Cabinet or not.
OSHA 29 CFR 1910.106(a)(19)(i-iv)
Category 1 = Flash Point <73.4°F (<23°C); Boiling Point ≤95°F (≤ 35°C) (Equal to Class IA)
Category 2 = Flash Point <73.4°F (<23°C); Boiling Point >95°F (> 35°C) (Equal to Class IB)
Category 3 = Flash Point ≥73.4°F & ≤ 140°F (≥ 23°C & ≤60°C) (Equal to Class IC and Class II)
Category 4 = Flash Point >140°F & ≤199.4°F (>60°C & ≤93°C) (Equal to Class IIIA)
No Category for Class IIIB
When a liquid with a Flash Point greater than 199.4 °F (93 °C) is heated for use to within 30 °F (16.7 °C) of its Flash Point, handle it as a Category 4 flammable liquid. [OSHA: 1910.106(a)(19)(v)]
If your facility follows the NFPA Standards, note that they still use the term “Class” instead of “Category” to classify flammables.
Question: What factors need to be considered when choosing a Flammable Safety Cabinet?
Answer: Ask yourself the following questions:
- What quantities of flammable liquids do you plan/need to store?
- What size are the containers?
- Do you want to use the bottom of the cabinet for storage or do you want to keep all containers off the floor? (Note that local codes may prohibit the storage of flammable liquids on the bottom shelf.)
- How many cabinets will the local authority having jurisdiction (typically a fire marshal) allow in the location where you wish to place the units? The amount of flammable safety cabinets will need to be determined by MAQ (maximum allowable quantity). See 29 CFR 1910.106 Table H-13 for how to calculate this. However, depending on the area where the flammable cabinets are to be located, the inspector’s assessment and the local codes will determine the actual number of cabinets that can be placed in any particular area.
- Where will the Flammable Safety Cabinet be located? There are cabinets for countertops, others that are wall mountable, some that will fit under counters those that have feet to raise them above wet areas and slim line units for tight locations.
Question: Why do some states require self-closing doors while others do not?
Answer: Some states have adopted one or more of the following codes as their standard for flammables safety in workplaces. If you’re located in a state that has adopted either of the following standards, then your flammable cabinets must have self-closing doors. Even if your state does not require cabinets with self-closing doors, they do help stop the spread of fire by ensuring that doors are not unintentionally left open after the cabinet has been accessed.
Check out this blog post to learn more about self-closing door regulations and safety cabinet color options.
Question: What is the maximum amount of flammable liquids I can store in a single Flammable Safety Cabinet?
Answer: The maximum amount of flammable liquids that you can store in one flammable cabinet is based on the chemical’s Flash Point and Boiling Point. No more than 60 gallons of a Category 1, 2 or 3 flammable liquid or 120 gallons of a Category 4 flammable liquid may be stored in a single Flammable Safety Cabinet. See OSHA 29 CFR 1910.106(a)(19)(i-iv) chart above for determining a chemical’s flammable category.
Question: Where can I find more information about the regulation of flammable liquids?
29 CFR 1926.152(b)(3) for Construction Industries
No more than 60 gallons of Category 1, 2 and/or 3 flammable liquids or 120 gallons of Category 4 flammable liquids shall be stored in any one storage cabinet. No more than three such cabinets may be located in a single storage area. Quantities in excess of this shall be stored in an inside storage room.
29 CFR 1910.106(d)(3)(i) for General Industries
Maximum capacity: No more than 60 gallons of Category 1, 2, or 3 flammable liquids, nor more than 120 gallons of Category 4 flammable liquids may be stored in a storage cabinet.
29 CFR 1910.106(d)(6)(iii)
“Spill containment.” The storage area shall be graded in a manner to divert possible spills away from buildings or other exposures or shall be surrounded by a curb at least 6 inches high. When curbs are used, provisions shall be made for draining of accumulations of ground or rain water or spills of flammable liquids. Drains shall terminate at a safe location and shall be accessible to operation under fire conditions.
Question: Can you store flammable liquid outside of a Flammable Safety Cabinet?
Answer: Yes, you can store flammable liquids outside of a Flammable Safety Cabinet, however the amount is based on the Flash Point and Boiling Point of the liquid (see regulations below).
29 CFR 1910.106(e)(2)(ii)(b)
The quantity of liquid that may be located outside of an inside storage room or storage cabinet in a building or in any one fire area of a building shall not exceed:
25 gallons of Category 1 flammable liquids in containers
120 gallons of Category 2, 3, or 4 flammable liquids in containers
660 gallons of Category 2, 3, or 4 flammable liquids in a single portable tank
Question: How many Flammable Safety Cabinets can I have in one area?
Answer: For the Construction Industry (29 CFR 1926.152(b)(3)), no more than three (3) safety cabinets may be present in a single storage area.
For General Industry, (29 CFR 1910.106) the amount of flammable safety cabinets will need to be determined by the MAQ (Maximum Allowable Quantity), which is based on the a number of criteria. See 29 CFR 1910.106 Table H-13 for how to calculate MAQ).
The local authority having jurisdiction (AHJ), usually the fire marshal, has the final say to determine the number of flammable cabinets based on specific criteria including ingress and egress, fire suppression/water sprinkler systems, etc. They can mandate whether zero, one, two etc. cabinets may be placed in any given area. They will also determine how far apart they need to be placed.
Question: Do you need to ground the Flammable Safety Cabinet?
Answer: There are no federal regulations stating that you must ground a Flammable Safety Cabinet. However, it’s a best management practice and makes sense for safety reasons. If you are transferring or dispensing liquids from inside of the cabinet, then you must bond and ground to ensure you have an electrical connection per OSHA 29 CFR 1910.106(e)(6)(ii).
Check out New Pig’s wide selection of Flammable Safety Cabinets to safely store flammables at your facility!
9 Comments
Level Transmittersays:
06/25/2018 at 6:55 amA wonderful list of FAQs about flammable safety cabinets. Safety should the first priority of any industry.
Tim Nealsays:
05/15/2019 at 7:50 amWhat is your reference used to support this statement?
Question: How many Flammable Safety Cabinets can I have in one area?
Answer: No more than three safety cabinets may be present in a single storage area. The local authority having jurisdiction (usually a fire marshal) will determine the number based on specific criteria such as ingress and egress, fire suppression / water sprinkler systems, etc. They can mandate whether zero, one, or three cabinets may be placed in any given area. They will also determine how far apart they need to be placed.
Isabella Andersensays:
07/10/2019 at 2:41 pmHi there, thanks for the question. This requirement is taken from 29 CFR 1926.152(b). Although this is a construction regulation, it is regarded as best practice in general industry as well.
Justinsays:
07/31/2019 at 11:31 amCan I store flammable chemicals on the inside on the bottom of the cabinet, or do I need to install a raised shelf as to not remove from the spill catching capacity of the bottom area?
Isabella Andersensays:
09/23/2019 at 11:04 amThanks for your question! The sump in the bottom of a flammable safety cabinet is designed to catch leaks from any of the containers stored in the cabinet. Most authorities having jurisdiction (AHJs) discourage storing items in the sump area, and many consider it a best practice not to store items in the sump; but nothing in federal OSHA, NFPA, UL, FM or IFC codes prohibit it.
Michael Collentinesays:
01/03/2020 at 11:13 amLisa, above you mention 29 CFR 1910.106(d)(6)(iii)
“Spill containment.” The storage area shall be graded in a manner to divert possible spills away from buildings or other exposures or shall be surrounded by a curb at least 6 inches high. When curbs are used, provisions shall be made for draining of accumulations of ground or rain water or spills of flammable liquids. Drains shall terminate at a safe location and shall be accessible to operation under fire conditions.
It is not clear whether this applies to Flammable Storage Cabinets or not. I don’t believe that the regulation cited applies to Flammable Storage Cabinets. Do you know of any regulations that apply secondary containment to Flammable Storage Cabinets?
Isabella Andersensays:
01/30/2020 at 10:39 amHi there, I apologize for the confusion. You are correct: the spill containment requirement in 29 CFR 1910.106(d)(6)(iii) do not refer to flammable storage cabinets. The design criteria for flammable storage cabinets is in 29 CFR 1910.106(d)(3). OSHA does not specify secondary containment criteria for flammable storage cabinets. However, NFPA requires cabinets to have a 2” deep leakproof sump. Hope this helps!
Thanks,
Isabella
Herb Birkenhauersays:
03/04/2020 at 6:09 amI am trying to determine what the storage requirements would be for storage of approximately six 55 gallon drums of propylene glycol with a flash point of 103C (217F) inside of a sprinklered warehouse.
Our insurance provider is requiring proper storage of these materials, so I’m trying to determine what the requirements would be.
Isabella Andersensays:
03/20/2020 at 1:31 pmHi there, Thanks for your question. The consensus from safety data sheets (SDS) for several leading brands of propylene glycol is that, according to OSHA, it is not a hazardous material. The consensus on storage is that containers should be stored in well ventilated areas, away from oxidizers, acids, bases and isocyanates. Containers should also be kept out of direct sunlight and not be exposed to temperature extremes.
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