Does a flammable cabinet need to be grounded?

Aside from grounding Class 1 liquids, there aren’t any regulations which require you to ground your flammable cabinet, however, it can be safer and more convenient to do so. For instance, choosing to ground your flammable storage cabinet is advised if you will be performing dispensing or collection processes in the cabinet (i.e pouring waste into a drum funnel). In some cases, manufacturers will provide you with a grounding screw on their flammable storage cabinets and these can be connected to a building ground. 

If you have flammable storage cabinets in your workplace, you will need to refer to The Dangerous Substances and Explosive Atmospheres Regulations 2002 (DSEAR) in order to understand the risks associated with the flammable substances to your employees and anyone else whose health and safety could be affected. 

How to ground a flammable cabinet

It is recommended that you allow a professional to ground your flammable cabinet to ensure that it is grounded safely. Although the process may vary, below are some steps which are usually involved in grounding a flammable storage cabinet:

1. Locate the flammable cabinet’s ground screw
2. Use a nut driver or an 8mm wrench to loosen the ground screw
3. Attach the ground wire
4. Tighten the screw back up
5. Take the opposite end of the ground wire and attach it to a ground rod
6. Ground the flammable cabinet to earth

Where to place flammable storage cabinets

Flammable storage cabinets must be placed in a well-ventilated area which is away from processing areas, does not obstruct doors or emergency exits and they must be clearly marked. Moreover, any flammable liquids inside the cabinet must not be mixed with other dangerous substances that could increase the risks of accidents occuring. It is also important for you to include the location of any flammable cabinets on room hazard plans.

Can you store items on top of flammable cabinets?

No, you should avoid placing any items on top of or close to flammable storage cabinets because this can pose a safety risk. For example, storing loose paper or other flammable materials are dangerous because they can ignite very easily which can spread fires. 

Do I need a flammable storage cabinet?

If you work with and store flammable materials in your workplace then you will need a flammable storage cabinet to contain these items. This is to ensure that you can control the risks associated with flammable materials such as fires and explosions. 

Flammable storage cabinets such as COSHH cabinets are designed to safely store flammable and combustible substances including gases, liquids and solids when not in use. Employers are responsible for carrying out risk assessments and will be required to justify the needs for flammable materials in the workplace as part of this under DSEAR regulation 5. 

For more guidance on flammable substances and flammable storage cabinets, you can find information on the Health and Safety Executive website.

Looking for a flammable storage cabinet?

If you need a flammable cabinet to store your flammable liquids, look no further than Manutan! We sell a range of flammable storage cabinets to suit your business’s needs and will keep your employees safe. If you have any questions about our products, get in touch today and a member of our friendly sales team will be happy to help you with your enquiry.