What You Need to Know about Corrosive Storage Cabinets
If you have containers of chemicals with corrosive properties that you need to store but don’t have enough to warrant an entire storage warehouse, corrosive storage cabinets are likely a good solution for you. Corrosive storage cabinets are designed specifically to store containers with corrosive substances.
It’s essential to choose a high-quality, dependable cabinet or risk violating safety codes, not to mention the possible damage and harm to your facility and workers.
Types of Corrosive Storage Cabinets
There are different types of corrosive substances that all necessitate different qualities in safe storage containers. Luckily, there are several types of corrosive storage cabinets, so you can select the type that will maximise on-site safety and storage best practices.
Flammable Liquid Storage
Flammable liquid storage cabinets are designed exclusively for Class 3 flammable goods, including petrol, methylated spirits, acetone, aerosols, mineral spirits, and alcohol-based hand sanitisers. According to AS1940:2017, no other class of goods may be stored in a flammable liquid storage cabinet.
Paint and Ink Storage
If you store a large amount of paint or ink at your facility, paint and ink storage cabinets help you properly keep your chemicals in a safely locked-away place while adhering to safety guidelines. Not only do paint and ink storage cabinets increase on-site safety, but they also increase security barring anyone from stealing chemical substances.
Acids and Corrosives Storage
Acids and corrosives storage containers safely contain acids and other corrosive materials. Because acids can let off fumes, acid storage cabinets have to be ventilated appropriately either by being placed underneath a fume hood or installing a PVC ventilation system. Common acids that might be used in laboratory or industrial settings include:
- Chloric acid
- Perchloric acid
- Nitric acid
- Sulfuric acid
Corrosive materials that warrant the use of acids and corrosives storage cabinets include:
- Bromine
- Hydrogen peroxide
- Sodium hydroxide
- Ammonia
Pesticide Storage
Pesticide storage cabinets are built specifically to comply with AS NZS 4452:1997 and AS 2057:1998 to safely store pesticides while also withstanding harsh Australian climate conditions.
Drum Storage
Drum storage can be used for indoor and outdoor corrosive substance storage and can store flammable liquids, oxidising agents, organic peroxide, toxic substances, and corrosive products.
What Storage Cabinet Material Should You Choose?
Even though it depends partly on what corrosive material you’re storing, it goes without saying that your cabinet should be strong. Most of them will be made out of special plywood or stainless steel. Either way, they should be built to withstand any fires or other disasters.
Tips for Selecting a Corrosive Storage Cabinet
Not all corrosive materials can be stored in all corrosive material cabinets. Before purchasing your cabinet, check the Australian safety codes to determine what is required to safely store your substances while adhering to laws and regulations. Also, use these additional tips to help you determine which storage cabinet to buy.
Use Flammable Safety Cabinets for Flammable Corrosive Chemicals
Flammable safety cabinets will meet the standards for safely storing flammable liquids by providing ventilation double steel walls.
Use Polyethylene Cabinets for Non-Flammable Corrosive Chemicals
For non-flammable corrosive substances, there’s no need for double steel wall storage. A polyethylene cabinet will not be affected by the corrosive properties of the substance being stored and offer easy cleaning if there were to be a spill.
Use Laminated Wooden Cabinets for Chemical Durability
For obvious reasons, wooden cabinets are not suitable for storing flammable chemicals but are excellent at storing corrosives and offering long chemical durability.
Benefits of Corrosive Storage
Properly storing your corrosive substances has plenty of benefits, including:
- Increased workplace safety and knowing that your employees are safe at work.
- Compliance with Australian safety codes and knowing that your business won’t be fined for improper handling of corrosive substances.
- Decreased chances of significant injury to company property, ensuring that costly mitigations won’t be needed down the road.
- Having peace of mind that all corrosive substances are being stored for preservation so they can be utilised appropriately when required.
Do You Need Corrosive Storage Cabinets?
Corrosive storage cabinets are an absolute must if you have corrosive substances on your business premises. They provide safety for the entire facility and help you run your operation in compliance and integrity, knowing that there won’t be any chemical or fire-related disasters, thanks to the proper storage of all dangerous substances.
Before purchasing your cabinets, however, it’s crucial to fully understand the Australian safety codes, which container is the correct container for your on-site substances and do your due diligence on the company that you’re going to purchase your cabinets from.
At Ecospill, we’re passionate about providing safety solutions for companies and have a wide variety of corrosive storage cabinets to select from to meet your storage needs. Whether you need something for flammable substances or chemical durability, we invite you to browse our extensive selection of storage solutions. Our experts are available to answer your questions.