Aerosol cans must be stored in a compliant aerosol cage that is separated from heat, direct sunlight, ignition sources and incompatible substances. Storemasta manufactures aerosol cages that control the risks associated with these Class 2 gases.

If you’re storing any Class 3 Flammable Liquids, you’ll need a safety cabinet that's been specifically designed and built to safely store your flammable liquids. Storemasta cabinets have been manufactured to meet the requirements of the Australian Standard AS 1940. See this article for more information.

It’s quite common for workplaces to hold at least a small amount of flammable liquids on site. Even if these flammable liquids are stored in small quantities, they can easily ignite and cause significant damage. However, AS 1940 states that a cabinet is not required if the quantity of flammable liquids is classified as “minor storage.” This article will help you learn more about indoor flammable liquids storage.

All Storemasta indoor dangerous goods storage cabinets and PPE cabinets are fitted with a key-lockable L-handle.

Storemasta relocatable outdoor dangerous goods stores are fitted with ISO-locking bars that can be padlocked. These dangerous goods stores are not supplied with padlocks.

Storemasta gas cylinder stores are fitted with padbolts that can be padlocked. However, we don't provide the padlocks.

AS 1940 outlines a range of compliant storage solutions for flammable liquids. Due to their safe and practical design most organisations use:

• Safety cabinets for indoor flammable liquid storage.
• Relocatable, detached stores for outdoor flammable liquid storage.

The storage requirements for flammable liquids depend on whether they will be stored indoors or outdoors.

Segregation of flammable liquids from other classes of chemicals -including corrosive substances is vital for safe storage. Read the blog for comprehensive information on storing flammable liquids, and get our free guide to chemical segregation here.

Depending on the contents of the gas cylinder, storage must be regulated carefully. All gas cylinders should be handled, transported and stored as if full, as there is almost always gas remaining at the bottom of every cylinder.

Hazardous gases must be stored in temperature-controlled and well ventilated spaces. Cylinders must remain upright, restrained and secured from unauthorised entry.

Storemasta manufacture a full range of gas cylinder storage. We also provide a selection of quality transportable gas bottle trolleys.

The Globally Harmonised System (GHS) is a globally-recognised system created by the UN for the classification and labelling of hazardous chemicals.

The GHS has been mandatory in Australia since the 1st of January 2017, for all newly produced or imported products. This means you must use GHS compliant labelling on primary and secondary packaging, and safety data sheets (SDS).

Read more about the GHS and actions you’re required to take here.

The 9 classes of dangerous goods are:

• Class 1: Explosives
• Class 2: Gases
• Class 3: Flammable Liquids
• Class 4: Flammable Solids, Spontaneously Combustible Materials and Dangerous When Wet Materials
• Class 5: Oxidisers and Organic Peroxides
• Class 6: Toxic Materials and Infectious Substances
• Class 7: Radioactive Materials
• Class 8: Corrosive Substances
• Class 9: Miscellaneous Dangerous Goods

Read more about the dangerous goods classes in our popular blog.

Corrosive substances are volatile substances that destroy body tissue as soon as they make contact with exposed skin, eyes, respiratory tract, making the safe storage of such substances crucial.

Common corrosives include hydrochloric acid, sulfuric acid, sodium hydroxide, potassium hydroxide, nitric acid, chromic acid, acetic acid and hydrofluoric acid; all of which can cause significant damage if mishandled or stored incorrectly. See our full range of Australian-made corrosive substance storage.

A flash point is the lowest temperature of a flammable liquid at which its vapours will ignite (if given an ignition source).

Flammable fuels will usually emit vapour as the temperature increases and they become more gaseous. The flash point is the point at which there will be sufficient vapour for the substance to ignite.

It’s important to become familiar with flash points to avoid costly and dangerous incidents. You should also ensure compliant storage of any flammable substances, as well as the identification and isolation of ignition sources.

Our team can assist with all of your storage and handling enquiries. We do offer site visits if required.

These site visits include:

• An initial consultation.
• An on-site audit to identify any risks associated with your current dangerous goods storage and handling activity.
• A report developed by a Storemasta Dangerous Goods Adviser, outlining all risks and infringements.
• An implementation plan of clear action points needed to establish compliance.

Please note that our Dangerous Goods Storage Consultants are equipped to offer advice on storage, bunding, handling and other chemical safety solutions. However, we recommend using a qualified Dangerous Goods Consultant for risk assessments at your site.

Each of our cabinets has different features depending on the dangerous goods class which it will store. Key features are outlined below. Australian Standards provide different specifications for indoor and outdoor storage facilities, depending on the class of dangerous good.

Required features of an indoor storage cabinet include:

• double walled sheet steel construction.
• self-closing, close fitting doors.
• capacity no greater than 250L (excluding flammable goods and corrosives).
• no natural ventilation, but the provision for mechanical ventilation.
• spill containment sump in the base of the cabinet, at least 150mm deep.
  

Outdoor dangerous goods storage facilities (detached stores) are more sturdy and designed to withstand the outdoor environments. Required features of a detached store include:

• corrosive resistant coating.
• heavier duty construction.
• larger capacities (eg. 32,000L).
• natural ventilation (to keep dangerous vapours at a safe level).
• correct spillage containment capacity for the dangerous good being stored.

Find out more here.

Dangerous reactions may occur when two or more incompatible chemicals are stored together.

Therefore, the successful segregation of dangerous goods is essential for workplace health and safety. This means that your chemical should be stored in the appropriate safety cabinet, made for the storage of that particular dangerous goods class. Check your safety data sheet to ensure that chemicals of the same class are suitable for storage in the same safety cabinet.

Practice the segregation rules to ensure that incompatible substances aren't stored in cabinets that are installed too close to each other.

Download our free segregation guide for further details on dangerous goods segregation.

The Australian Standards only allow using indoor storage cabinets in outdoor environments if “adequate protection against weather, corrosion and traffic damage is provided.”

Even though our indoor dangerous goods storage cabinets have been manufactured to a high standard, we do not recommend using them in outdoor environments.

Our outdoor dangerous goods stores are more heavy duty and provide superior protection against weather, corrosion and traffic damage. View these here.