Are you searching for a new flammable cabinet to store your Class 3 Dangerous Goods? Or have you recently ordered a cabinet for your workplace? Then this blog is for you. Today, we’ll be explaining exactly where you can safely install your flammable liquids storage cabinet. While purchasing a compliant cabinet is one of the first steps in achieving flammable liquids safety in the workplace, where you choose to locate your cabinet is a crucial factor in maintaining compliance. Get the location right and you’ll bolster the effectiveness of the cabinet; get the location wrong and you can negate the high-tech risk control measures of the safety cabinet.
But before we dive into each cabinet installation requirement, we’ll first explain why meeting the Australian Standards is a helpful tool for businesses who want to reduce the risks associated with flammable liquids.
Meeting Australian Standards
AS 1940 – The storage and handling of flammable and combustible liquids is the Australian Standard that details the safety requirements for organisations that carry this type of Dangerous Good. While the Australian Standards are not technically law, certain requirements may be adopted by policymakers who then implement laws that mirror the Standard’s requirements.
The Standards are developed by industry experts who set out all the guidelines that apply for the safe storage and handling of various hazardous substances. AS 1940 addresses the risk control measures that should be taken for businesses that store and handle flammable liquids. This includes a detailed range of requirements that include the construction, installation, storage practices and maintenance of the cabinet.
Following the requirements of the Australian Standards will allow you to create a safer working environment, without any guesswork. It also helps you comply with WHS Regulations.
Let’s now look at each of the cabinet locations, so you can apply them to your own workplace.
Choose a Location That Doesn’t Impede Emergency Evacuations
Section 4.9.6 of the Standard explains that flammable liquids cabinets should be kept on the ground floor of a building — unless there is direct access to the road.
Cabinets should also be located away from entry and exit points and must never be positioned in a way that could impede an evacuation or emergency escape. For this reason, you must keep flammable cabinets out of public walkways and corridors.
It’s a requirement of AS 1940 that flammable liquids cabinets are installed in a location that does not impede emergency evacuation.
Additional Requirements for Cabinets Greater than 250 Litres
Due to the increased risk with storing larger quantities of flammable liquids, there are additional cabinet location requirements for cabinets greater than 250 litres.
Flammable liquids cabinets with a capacity greater than 250 litres must NEVER be located in the following positions:
- Inside a public building (hospital, accommodation complex, commercial building, school etc).
- Standing taller than 2 metres above floor level.
- Placed against a wall that is common with another room (unless the wall is constructed of concrete or masonry).
Select a Spot With Solid, Level Ground
To maximise the effectiveness of your safety cabinet, it’s crucial that it’s installed on solid, level ground. Each cabinet interior has tapered shelving to immediately direct any leaking containers or accidental spills into the lower compound. This lower compound acts as a light-tight spill bund. At the same time, the doors on your cabinet close automatically (and in sequence).
If your flammable cabinet is installed on an angle and is not perfectly level — the cabinet doors may jam. This will render the cabinet non-compliant with Australian Standards. It will also increase the risk of hazardous flammable vapour emissions, chemical spills and fires caused by flammable liquids meeting ignition sources or incompatible substances.
Consider Aggregate Flammable Liquids Quantities
If you place your flammable liquids cabinets in groups, you must be sure to stay within allowable aggregate quantities. Each aggregate quantity of Class 3 Flammable Liquids must be separated by a distance of at least 10 metres.
Aggregate quantities for flammable liquids are:
- Ground floor: 850 litres per 250 m2
- Other levels: 250 litres per 250 m2
REMEMBER: Unlike a portable outdoor flammable liquids store, indoor safety cabinets aren’t specifically designed to be moved around. If your cabinet must be moved and reinstalled, make sure that all the requirements for its location and installation are still maintained when it is relocated by staff.
Secure and Controlled Workspace
While indoor flammable cabinets are generally less likely to be tampered with or damaged, it’s still a sound risk control measure to locate your cabinet in an area that is secure and controlled.
All areas where Class 3 Flammable Liquids are stored (including safety cabinets) must be secured against unauthorised access and tampering. This is not only a security safeguard — it also reduces the risk of an accident occurring if chemicals are handled by unathorised staff or visitors to your site.
In your own workplace, you may require a combination of:
- Fencing, barriers, roller doors and lockable gates.
- Having site visitors register at the front entry, and then accompanied by a supervisor or authorised worker when moving around the job site.
- Monitoring chemical storages areas with CCTV and motion detectors.
Choose A Location That’s Protected From Impact
While your flammable cabinet is constructed from double-walled steel, you should still be mindful of installing the cabinet in a location that is free from potential impact damage. Never install a flammable cabinet on a mezzanine level — or any place where items, such as tools, can be dropped on the cabinet.
It’s good practice to locate your cabinet in a position that is protected at all times from impact damage.
You don’t want your cabinet knocked over, punctured, or otherwise damaged by:
- Outside delivery vehicles.
- Site vehicles or forklifts.
- Dropped tools or falling machinery from overhead construction and maintenance work areas.
- Flying debris or projectiles from nearby machinery installations.
Although your cabinet is made from tough double-walled steel, we still recommend installing it in a location that’s free from impact damage and falling objects.
Select a Safely Illuminated Work Area
All hazardous chemicals and Dangerous Goods must be stored in a well-lit location so that workers (or other personnel) entering the area can quickly read warning signs and clearly identify the chemicals inside the cabinet.
Proper lighting is required to comply with Section 3.6 (Lighting) of Australian Standard AS1940:2017 and it must be sufficient to ensure that the cabinet markings are clearly visible whenever the cabinet doors are closed.
IMPORTANT: Lighting and switches must be suited for use with flammable liquids without creating an ignition hazard.
Isolated from any Ignition Sources
As flammable liquids can easily ignite at room temperature, it’s vital that flammable liquids cabinets are not installed near any type of ignition source – whether it’s mechanical, thermal or electrical.
Everyday items such power points or pilot lights can cause the flammable vapours of Class 3 liquids to ignite and cause a fire, flash back or explosion in the workplace.
When storing flammable liquids, it’s vitally important to choose a location that’s free from any type of ignition source.
When scouting a location for your cabinet, you must ensure that it’s not near any type of ignition source including:
- Open flames (gas heaters, hot water systems with pilot lights, Bunsen burners, matches, lighters, candles, cigarettes).
- Electrical appliances (light switches, power boards, power points, main boards, network servers, IT equipment, hand tools, cables, lights, connectors).
- Hot work (grinding, welding, soldering, drilling, flame cutting).
- Hot surfaces (furnaces, hot plates, machinery, boilers).
Training staff to be able to easily identify and eliminate ignition sources is another essential step towards achieving flammable liquids safety.
Installing the cabinet in a suitable location is only one step toward compliance, you must also ensure that ignition sources are NOT BROUGHT within 3 metres of the cabinet in the form of welding, maintenance and repair work, or using personal electronics.
Near Eye Wash Facilities
Section 4.6 General Requirements of AS 1940:2017 details the provision for eye wash facilities, water for the washing of hands and safety showers for work areas where flammable liquids packages are open.
If you are keeping open packages, you must provide:
- Eye wash facilities – complying with AS 4775
- Water for hand washing
- Safety shower – only required if determined essential by a risk assessment or regulation, or the flammable liquids quantity exceeds 2000 L.
It’s also important to note that these emergency decontamination facilities must be installed within 2 m to 10 m of the cabinet or store where packages are open.
If you have flammable liquids packages that are open, you must provide emergency decontamination equipment such as eye wash facilities and water for hand washing.
Are you Installing a Flammable Cabinet in your Workplace?
From choosing solid ground to avoiding ignition sources, we hope we’ve helped you understand the requirements associated with the installation and location of your flammable cabinet. If you’d like more information about chemical compliance, we have an eBook that can help. Essential Considerations When Storing Flammable Liquids Indoors will take you through the steps of choosing and installing a compliant flammable cabinet. It will also introduce you to our 4-step risk control methodology that you can use in your own business to reduce risks such as fire, explosion and human harm. Get your free copy today by clicking on the image below.
