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Flammable
liquid storage cabinets:
Our flammable liquids
storage cabinets are manufactured to comply with Australian Standard
AS1940-2004. This standard permits storage of up to 850L in any one cabinet.
It specifies a number of features to ensure that the cabinet maintains its
integrity in a fire situation so that the contents of the cabinet do not add
to the fire. These design features include:
·
Walls, floor, door and roof to
be of double-walled sheet steel construction.
·
There must be a gap of at
least 40mm between the walls to limit heat getting inside the cabinet.
·
The cabinet bottom must form a
liquid-tight compound at least 150mm deep to contain spills. The design must
prevent the compound from being used as a storage area.
·
Shelves must be perforated for
free air movement, and be capable of supporting the maximum possible load.
·
Doors must be self-closing,
close-fitting and held shut automatically by catches at two or more points.
·
Critical components must not
melt at temperatures less than 850 degrees C.
·
Any provision for venting must
not compromise the integrity of the cabinet.
·
Each cabinet must be marked
with the name and address of the manufacturer or importer, its maximum
capacity, a 250mm Class 3 dangerous goods label, and a “NO SMOKING, NO
IGNITION SOURCES WITHIN 3m” sign.
Under AS1940, cabinets
must be located such that the aggregate of capacity of cabinets is not more
than 850L per 250m2 on a ground floor area, or 250L per 250m2 on other
floors. Each aggregate quantity must be separated by at least 10m of linear
distance. Their position must not impede escape in an emergency.
Cabinets having a
capacity greater than 250L must not be installed in residential or
accommodation buildings, commercial buildings, hospitals, aged care
buildings or school buildings. They may only be located on floors that have
direct access from street or ground level, and must not be placed nearer
than 3m to any wall that is common with another room, unless that wall is
constructed of concrete or masonry to ceiling height or 3m above the top of
the cabinet (whichever is less), and 3m to either side of the cabinet.
There must be no
ignition sources within a cabinet. Where flammable liquids are stored,
ignition sources must be excluded from the area outside the cabinet to a
distance of 3m measured laterally, and from floor level to a height of 1m
above any opening in the cabinet, including the door. Where only combustible
liquids are kept in the cabinet, ignition sources should be avoided within
the specified spaces.
Where ventilation is
installed, it must be designed so that vapours are prevented from escaping
into any room. Any ventilation exhaust must be to the outside atmosphere, in
a location which allows the safe dispersal of vapours and away from any
ignition sources. Refer clause 4.5.
AS1940 states that
persons shall be prevented from entering a cabinet. Drums must not be
stacked more than two high if they are greater than 60L capacity. Only one
drum of more than 60L capacity should be kept in a horizontal (decanting)
position at any time. Only closed packages, or those fitted with a tap,
should be stored in cabinets.
Activities such as
mixing, blending, degreasing, tinting, package filling or co-storage with
other goods must not be carried out within a cabinet unless a risk
assessment has been conducted and a risk management plan prepared. Refer
clause 4.10.
The storage of goods
other than flammable or combustible liquids in a designated flammable
liquids cabinet is prohibited unless they will not react dangerously or be
incompatible with the liquids. Refer clause 3.6.
Cabinets are designed
primarily for indoor storage of flammable liquids. They may be used for
outdoor storage provided that additional, adequate protection against
weather, corrosion and traffic damage is provided.
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