Safe storage of hazardous materials

When handling hazardous materials at work, safe storage is a crucial means of avoiding accidents. Which method best protects staff, companies and the environment in the event of a fire?

The storage of hazardous materials and flammable liquids in workrooms or laboratories or its point of use location offers more efficiency as opposed to a central store. While there is a large variety of storage cabinets for flammables and chemicals available in the market, it is often a challenge for users to select an appropriate product for their particular application or situation. Which brings us to the critical question - which type of storage cabinet is best recommended?

Storing flammable or hazardous materials in a normal single-walled sheet metal cabinet is extremely dangerous with no fire resistance and no chance for workers to evacuate the building. A double-walled sheet metal cabinet with third-party certification offers limited fire resistance allowing very little time to evacuate the building or fight the fire. Though many third-party certification cabinets offer safety features such as self-closing doors in the event of a fire and air insulation, these cabinets still do not provide similar fire protection as a dedicated central storeroom. The best and safest solution for storage of hazardous substances in workplaces is the use of safety storage cabinets manufactured to European Standard EN 14470. These safety storage cabinets offer a maximum fire resistance of 90 minutes and are certified to EN 14470-1, EN 14727, GS and FM-Standard. Fire rated safety storage cabinets for storing flammable liquids are perfect for locations where extended evacuation times are critical such as open space laboratories, high risk and remote areas.

M/s Asecos GmbH, Germany is a leading manufacturer of safe and approved storage of flammable and hazardous substances. Asecos cabinets meet high standards of quality; are tested extensively for guaranteed safety and offers extended manufacturer warranty of up to 10 years. Asecos provides a wide range of safety and storage products from type tested cabinets for flammable materials to non-flammable and chemical cabinets to gas storage and environmental cabinets and extractions systems. For more information go to www.labfitouts.com, www.asecos.global.