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Flammable Material Storage Guidelines

Combustible liquids and materials are commonly found in workplaces and laboratories. The storage of such materials can mean the difference between an accident being contained and one turning into a quickly spreading conflagration. Therefore, the National Fire Protection Association releases guidelines every few years specific to safety procedures when storing flammable materials. These guidelines are available for individuals and companies to determine what amount of flammable materials they may safely store and what kind of flammable materials may be stored at their facility.

  1. NFPA Storage Categories

    • The NFPA breaks flammable materials down into categories to help people determine what materials can safely be stored in which types of facilities. Class IA flammable materials such as ethyl ether have a flash point of 73 degrees Fahrenheit and boil below 100 degrees. Materials such as benzene are Class IB materials, and have a flash point of 73 degrees but boil above 100 degrees. Materials considered Class IC have a boiling point below 100 degrees but a flash point of above 73. Class II, IIIA and IIIB materials are all combustible at or above 100F, 140F and 200F, respectively.

    Storage of Materials

    • Different guidelines dictate what flammable materials may be stored in facilities of different types and sizes, and such facilities are also responsible for following additional local and national codes. For example, laboratories are allowed to store up to 10 gallons of flammable materials, with all classifications combined, in glass bottles stored on shelves. If these flammable materials are stored in approved safety cans, laboratories are allowed no more than 25 gallons of flammable materials. Those equipped with safety cabinets, by far the safest way to store flammable materials, may have up to 60 gallons stored in the facility.

    Codes and Standards

    • While these guidelines apply to many types of facilities, the codes and standards under which particular organizations, laboratories or companies may fall are regulated by a variety of NFPA rules. These include recommendations for fire departments, standards for low-, medium- and high-expansion foam, standards for places as varied as dry-cleaning facilities and aircraft hangars, and even regulations for model rocketry. These standards and codes may be searched on the NFPA website in order to ensure compliance with national regulations. While these guidelines exist to prevent fire hazards, they must be followed in addition to local, state, and additional federal guidelines to ensure that flammable materials are kept and stored properly and safely.

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