Toxic substances safety storage cabinets
Toxic substances cabinets, from Pratt Safety Systems comply with AS/NZS 4452:1997. This standard allows the storage of up to 250kg or L in any one cabinet, of which not more than 50kg or L may be of Packaging Group II and not more than 25kg or L may be of Packaging Group I. Design features include:
• Walls, floor, door and roof must be double-walled sheet steel, at least 0.75mm thick.
• There must be a gap of at least 40mm between the walls to limit heat getting inside the cabinet.
• The cabinet bottom must form a liquid-tight sump at least 150mm deep and capable of containing at least 25% of the total storage capacity.
• Shelves must permit free air movement.
• Doors must be self-closing and close-fitting. They must be lockable.
• Critical components must not melt at temperatures less than 850 degrees C.
• Stores of toxic substances must be provided with adequate natural or mechanical ventilation.
Under AS/NZS 4452, toxic substances cabinets must be located at least 3m from any ignition source, and near facilities for washing hands. They must not block exits and stairways. Not more than one cabinet may be used in each 100m2 of building area. The separation distance between any two toxic substances cabinets must be at least 3m. (Note AS/NZS3833-1998, which covers mixed storage, specifies a minimum separation of 3m between cabinets storing any class of dangerous goods.)
Where mechanical ventilation is required, venting must not compromise the integrity of the cabinet design, and surrounding work areas must not be contaminated by emissions. The extraction system must be sufficient to ensure that the ambient concentration of toxic substances within the breathing zone of persons using the toxic substances cabinet is maintained as low as practicable.
The storage of any goods that are incompatible or that react dangerously, in a designated toxic substances cabinet is prohibited under section 4.4.2.1 of AS/NZS 4452.
13-Nov-2006