Your home or workplace can become a dangerous environment if you do not store your chemicals or hazardous substances away properly. If there is an emergency situation like a fire, the chances of it turning deadly are increased dramatically if there are any flammable chemicals left laying around.
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In most workplaces where chemicals are used often, it is usually necessary to have a corrosive storage cabinet. The reason for this is so that chemicals can be stored away safely and in the case of emergency chemicals cannot be reached by the fire. There is, of course, certain guidelines that you must follow when storing these chemicals together.
The first thing you should know about dangerous goods storage cabinets is that they should be made strong so that they can withstand a fire. Most are usually made out of a special plywood or stainless steel. Now both materials have individual qualities which you should know about before purchasing a corrosive storage cabinet. Because you are storing chemicals, you should know that most come with slanted shelves and a tray at the bottom to collect any spillage and most have some sort of ventilation which has built-in flame resistance. These dangerous goods storage cabinets have been built to meet guidelines and regulations that have been set in place for your safety, but most manufacturers are always looking for new ideas on how to make these cabinets even safer.
When storing chemicals in a corrosive storage cabinet you should be aware of the laws that have been put in place as to which chemicals you can store together and how you should be storing any chemicals. These laws may vary from territory to territory, so you may want to do a bit of research. Some guidelines to safe storage are to always take inventory of your chemicals, this could help in case of an emergency by letting emergency personnel know what chemical fumes may be released so they know what kind of fire they are dealing with.
Make sure the chemicals are all clearly labeled, and if you are transferring them to a different bottle or the label is starting to look a little old or faded, make sure to replace them with your own labels. When making your own labels be sure to include any important information that was on the original label. Another important thing to remember is to separate and store you chemicals in different groups that are compatible with each other. Even accidental contact between chemicals that are incompatible can lead to explosions, fire, or highly toxic fumes.
Before purchasing chemical goods, storage cabinets make sure to educate yourself on the laws which the manufacturer must abide by; the laws and guidelines on how to store your chemicals and which chemicals will react with each other and what groups to put them in when storing them away. You should decide where to put your corrosive storage cabinet and make sure it is not blocking any exits or safety equipment. You can find corrosive storage cabinets locally or you can shop online for a great selection.
