Flammable Liquid Storage in Laboratories
1) Classification and Definition of Liquids
Flammable Liquid: Any liquid that has
a closed-cup flash point below 100° F
(37.8°C)
Class IA: Liquids
that have flash points below 73° F (22.8°C) and boiling
points below 100° F (37.8°C)
Class IB: Liquids
that have flash points below 73° F (22.8°C) and boiling
points at or above 100° F (37.8°C)
Class IC: Liquids
that have flash points at or above 73° F (22.8°C) but below
100° F (37.8°C)
Combustible Liquid: Any
liquid that has a closed-cup flash point at or above 100° F
(37.8°C)
Class II: Liquids
that have a flash point at or above 100° F
(37.8°C)
Class IIA: Liquids
that have a flash point at or above 140° F (60°C)
Class IIIB: Liquids
that have a flash point at or above 200°F (93°C)
2) When are flammable liquid storage cabinets required?
NFPA 45 Table 2-2(a) In sprinkled laboratories, a maximum of
10 gallons of Class I flammable liquids per 100 sq.ft. of laboratory
space are allowed outside of an inside flammable liquid storage
room. Combinations of Class I, II, and IIIA may not exceed 20
gallons. An additional 10 gallons maximum of Class I flammable
liquids may be stored in a flammable liquid cabinet. Combinations
of Class I, II, and IIIA may not exceed 40 gallons in a flammable
liquid storage cabinet. For help in the interpretation of this
guidance, contact Robert
Burke for an on-site evaluation of your laboratory.
3) Where can a cabinet be located?
NFPA 45 2-1: Anywhere within the laboratory unit. This means
it can not be located in a hallway or any means
of egress.
OSHA 29 CFR 1910.106(e)(2)(ii)(b): The quantity of flammable
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 Class IA liquids in containers.
- 120 gallons of Class IB, IC, II, or III liquids in containers.
- 660 gallons of Class IB, IC, II, or III liquids in a
single portable tank.
4) Options to flammable liquid storage in corridors:
- Move cabinet to another location.
- Do a careful inventory of what's on hand and compare
to what's really needed.
- Where allowed, swap cabinet for a less hazardous item
now in the laboratory.
- Move cabinet into laboratory.
- Reduce quantity of flammable liquids on-hand so a cabinet
is not required.
- Purchase smaller quantities when ordering flammable liquids.
- Dispense flammable liquids from central location in daily
use quantities.
- Store permitted quantities of flammable liquids on shelves
in lab.
- Share flammable liquid cabinets among several labs.
- Find alternatives to flammable liquids.
