If you’re searching for an answer to, ‘How do you store combustible liquids?’, this post will give you all the essential details that you need to know. Combustible liquids are commonly used across a broad range of industries including mining, transport, construction and agriculture. Find out how you can safely store your combustible liquids at your work site with these simple and straightforward tips.
To properly store any type of chemical, the first step is determining the properties, hazards and class of the substance that you’re dealing with.
Understanding Combustible Liquid
Combustible, in the simplest of terms, means the ability for a substance to ‘combust’ – that is, to burst into flames when an ignition source is present. There are many common fuels and chemicals that are classed as combustible liquids, including some diesel fuels, engine oil and kerosene.
Combustible liquids are defined in the Australian Standard 1940 – The storage and handling of flammable and combustible liquids, as: “Any liquid, other than a flammable liquid, that has a flash point, and has a fire point that is less than its boiling point.”
Are Combustible Liquids Dangerous Goods?
No, combustible liquids are not classfied as dangerous goods. To be classed as dangerous goods, a substance must be listed in the Australian Dangerous Goods (ADG) Code or determined to be dangerous by legislation.
However, both flammable and combustible substances pose a significant fire risk, so consideration must be taken with handling and storage.
Key hazards associated with combustible liquids may affect staff, the workplace itself, as well as the surrounding neighbourhood and natural environment.
The hazards to control when storing combustible substances include:
- Fire
- Explosion
- Harm to human health
- Chemical reactivity to incompatible substances
To work safely with these substances, it’s important to have a range of measures in place to minimise harm. Some of these measures may include storing products in compliant chemical storage, using handling equipment to move chemical packages, using the correct personal protective equipment, implementing administrative controls, and ensuring regular chemical safety training is provided for all staff, supervisors and contractors.
Flash Point of Combustible Substances
A flash point is the lowest temperature at which the flammable or combustible liquid emits enough flammable vapours to cause a fire or explosion when an ignition source is introduced. Flash point is determined by two testing methods: open cup tests or closed cup tests.
Flammable liquids have a flash point of 60°, while combustible liquids have a higher flashpoint of greater than 60°.
The lower the flash point of your chemicals, the more volatile the substance – and the greater the fire and explosion risk. However, that’s not to say that combustibles with higher flash points aren’t dangerous. While circumstances in which they will ignite are at a higher temperature than flammable liquids (which can ignite at regular working temperatures), they must still be handled and stored in manner that prevents the risk of ignition.
IMPORTANT: Do you have diesel fuel on site? Learn more about determining whether your chemicals are flammable or combustible substances by reading our blog, Is Diesel Flammable or Combustible?
Classes of Combustible Liquids
Combustible substances are further divided into two classes, which are (again) dictated by the flash point of the substance.
Combustible liquids are further separated into the following classes:
- Class C1 – combustible liquids that have a closed cup flash point of greater than 60° and no greater than 93°C
- Class C2 – combustible liquids that have a flashpoint greater than 93°C or has been excluded from being classed as a flammable liquid by any of the criteria for sustaining combustion
Are all Combustible Liquids Hazardous?
In Australia, we do not classify combustible liquids with a flash point higher than 93°C (ie. Class C2 combustible liquids) as hazardous chemicals.
Therefore, while they are still to be managed to prevent ignition and other hazards, they aren't subject to Part 7.1 of the Work Health and Safety (WHS) Regulations. Part 7.1 of the WHS Regulations is the section which is specifically focused on requirements that relate to ‘hazardous chemicals’.
However, we suggest storing all flammable and combustible liquids, regardless of their flash point, in dedicated storage that mitigates the risks that these chemicals pose. This will assist with vapour control, spill containment and the isolation from incompatible substances – to name just a few of the benefits.
Identifying Your Combustible Liquids
Combustible liquids, just like any type of chemical, each have specific requirements for their handling and storage. Therefore, for every different type of combustible substance that you have onsite, you’ll have to first refer to their safety data sheets.
The simplest way to find out if your chemical is a combustible liquid is to see the following sections in your safety data sheet:
- Section 1 Identification of your substance including the chemical type.
- Section 2 The hazard identification details which includes the classification of your substance or mixture .
- Section 14 Transport information also provides the dangerous goods class for your substance under normal storage conditions
To determine the flash point of your chemical, refer to:
- Section 9 Physical and chemical properties of your substances are included in this detailed section, including the flash point of your substance.
REMEMBER: Refer to Section 7: Handling and Storage of your safety data sheet to find all the necessary precautions to take when working with this substance. We also highly recommend reading the Australian Standard 1940 to determine the exact requirements for handling and storage.
Controlling Risks with Combustible Liquid Package Stores
By managing hazardous areas and storage facilities in your operations, you can effectively reduce the likelihood of combustible liquids creating a fire hazard, as well as posing harm to your staff through chemical exposure and the inhalation of vapours.
Key points to consider when storing packages of combustible substances in the workplace:
- Identify and isolate all ignition sources including sources of heat, naked flames, equipment producing sparks and electrical equipment or devices.
- Ensure you have a No Ignition Sources hazard sign and all sources of ignition are removed from the area and prohibited.
- Keep areas where combustibles are handled and stored well-ventilated, to reduce the risk of human harm and ignition.
- Ensure you have the safety data sheets for your chemicals on-hand, with staff trained in how to properly handle and store these chemicals to avoid ignition.
- Make sure the flash point of the substance is never reached in the work environment, and that all ignition sources are isolated from the work areas.
- Only store combustible liquids in dedicated chemical storage.
- Avoid storing any type of flammable or combustible liquid in direct sunlight or in a situation where there is intense heat.
- Don't leave combustible liquids lying around the jobsite or sitting in a loading dock awaiting storage.
- Store packages in a way that prevents them falling and causing spillage.
- Keep your handling and storage areas free of materials that may catch on fire, such as paperwork, rags and debris.
- In addition to controlling ignition sources, ensure that flammable vapour in the workplace is monitored and minimised through diligent handling and storage procedures.
- Install chemical spill kits in all high-risk areas, so that spills can be immediately cleaned up
- Make sure you're within the requirements for indoor storage quantities and that Class 3 cabinets are suitably positioned away from aggregate quantities.
- Allow for access by fire crews and emergency services by keeping your evacuation routes clear and well signposted.
- If packages are open, you should provide emergency eye wash facilities and water for hand washing. If your quantities exceed 2000L, or your risk assessment or regulation deems it so, then you should install a safety shower.
Examples of Compliant Combustible Liquid Storage
The Australian Standard 1940 details all the features of a compliant flammable and combustible liquids store.
By purchasing dangerous goods storage equipment that’s made to Australian Standards (1940), you are selecting products that will minimise the likelihood and impact of a workplace hazard caused by Class 3 substances.
For indoor chemical storage of combustible liquids, we recommend a Class 3 Safety Cabinet with the approprate COMBUSTIBLE signage.
When storing combustible liquids in the outdoor environment, we suggest a Class 3 IBC / pallet store (again with a COMBUSTIBLE sign). Alternatively, lubricants which are defined as combustible substances can be stored and dispensed from a Storemasta Dispensing Station, which is particularly useful on remote sites.
Storing Your Combustible Liquid Safely at Work
Thanks for reading our post on the storage of Class 3 combustible liquids in the workplace. If you’d like to learn more about reducing risk in your operations, you can download our free eBook. While flammable liquids are classed as dangerous goods and can ignite more easily than combustible liquids, the principles of how you manage these risks remains very similar. Spills, vapour containment, PPE, staff training and the isolation of ignition sources are all important factors for storage of either flammable or combustible liquids.
We’ll introduce you to our proven 4-step risk control methodology and provide you with tools to improve chemical safety at your site, such as our handy risk management matrix. Get your copy today to learn more about combustible liquid safety.
