Another great review on the design, construction, and capacity of flammable storage cabinets, a topic that seems never to go away.
Safety Tip: Single-walled supply cabinets do not work.
(i) Maximum capacity.
Not more than 60 gallons of Class I or Class II liquids nor more than 120 gallons of Class III liquids may be stored in a storage cabinet.
(ii) Fire resistance.
Storage cabinets shall be designed and constructed to limit the internal temperature to not more than 325 degrees F. when subjected to a 10-minute fire test using standard time-temperature curve as set forth in Standard Methods of Fire Test of BuildingConstruction and Materials, NFPA 251-1969. All joints and seams shall remain tight and the door shall remain closed during the fire test. Cabinets shall be labeled in conspicuous lettering, “Flammable –Keep Fire Away.”
(a) Metal cabinets constructed in the following manner shall be deemed to be incompliance. The bottom, top, door, and sides of the cabinet shall be at least No. 18gage sheet iron and double walled with 1 ½ inch air space. Joints shall be riveted, welded, or mad tight by some equally effective means. The door shall be provided with a three-point lock, and the door sill shall be raised at least 2 inches above the bottom of the cabinet.
Figure 1. Metal Storage Cabinet
The three-point latch arrangement on the doors is intended to help maintain the integrity of the cabinet under fire exposure. Without a three-point latch arrangement, the metal will warp when exposed to fire and expose the cabinet’s contents to fire.
Source: Montana Department of Labor and Industry