Laboratory Safety Storage Cabinets

Laboratory Safety Storage Cabinet - requirements

The requirements relating to safety storage cabinets in laboratories, research facilities, industry, trades, pharmacies, hospitals or official organisations which handle hazardous materials are subject to certain regulations. With regard to design, construction and inspection, these requirements are mainly regulated in the standards DIN EN 14470-1 and EN 14470-2. Safety storage cabinets are primarily used for storing flammable liquids, gas cylinders, chemicals, solvents, acids and alkaline solutions, whereby the cabinet should in the first instance prevent the materials stored therein from contributing to the spread of a fire as well as provide protection against explosions (ex protection). The fire resistance protection is indicated in classes (minutes): F15, F30, F60, F90. As a rule safety storage cabinets consist of an inner body, fire-proof insulation, ingoing and outgoing valves with melt protection, fire-protection seals on the doors with mechanisms/systems for forced closure as well as an earth connection. Depending on the type of safety storage cabinet, shelves or pull-outs for the storage of chemicals are provided and they are also fitted with drip trays. Safety storage cabinets for acids and alkaline solutions are particularly resistant to corrosion.

Safety Storage Cabinets - with/without technical ventilation

The ventilation of safety storage cabinets in the laboratory or other locations at which hazardous materials are stored is dependent on the substances to be stored in the cabinets, the surrounding environment and the air exchange in the cabinet as well as the work room. In normal operation safety storage cabinets with technical ventilation prevent the build-up of a dangerous, explosive atmosphere in the interior of the cabinet, whereby the outgoing air must be extracted to a risk-free location. Normally this takes place via a connection to an exhaust air installation that is open to the outside air. In the event of a fire, a safety storage cabinet without ventilation should protect the stored material from inadmissible heat, combustion or explosive mixtures. There must also be no sources of ignition inside the cabinet. If this cannot be completely ruled out measures in accordance with the risk assessment and zone 2 must be taken. A safety cabinet without technical ventilation must be earthed through potential equalisation.

Lab Safety Storage Cabinets - inspection

Certain regulations apply for the maintenance and inspection of safety storage cabinets in the laboratory and other safety facilities. In accordance with the Workplace ordinance, regulations for hazardous substances (TRGS 510) and DIN EN 14470 safety storage cabinets are subject to identification, inspection, testing and test deadlines. For this, laboratory extractors and safety storage cabinets (for flammable liquids and pressurised gas cylinders) must be regularly inspected by a person authorised to do this. The inspection includes checking the condition of the fire-protection valves, insulation, protective seals and the body of the cabinet for possible corrosion. The correct functioning of the door closure and locking mechanism must also be inspected and it must be checked that explosion protection is being maintained. In the case of a safety storage cabinets with technical ventilation the air exchange/exhaust air flow must be measured.

Safety Storage Cabinets for laboratory - accessories

Our robust and durable safety storage cabinets by reputable manufactures are characterised by their high level of safety, simple installation and use in the laboratory as well as the functional feature of being able to change individual components or add accessories. Depending on the model and type of safety storage cabinet you can order various replacement parts and accessories for safety storage cabinets such as vessel and cylinder holders, drip trays, circulating air filters, venting modules, attachments with exhaust air monitoring and many other components for the safety storage cabinets we offer.