Safety cabinet

A safety cabinet is used for the safe storage of flammable chemical substance or compressed gas cylinders.

[1] Primarily, they should meet three major safety requirements: Areas of application and uses are diverse: pharmaceutical, universities, hospitals, industry, workshops, public organizations working with hazardous substances etc.

Safety cabinets usually consist of the following components: inner body, fire protection insulation, outer body, fresh air inlets and exhaust air connection points with auto shut-off, automated closing mechanisms for the doors in case of fire (not with gas cylinder cabinets), heat-triggered self-expanding seals (intumescent) on the doors and optionally, an earth connection.

[3] Safety cabinets to BS EN14470-1 for flammable substances, usually have storage shelves or pull-out drawers on which the chemicals are stored.

In the event of a fire and the attainment of an ambient temperature of 50 °C (+0/−10 °C), the drawers, if fitted, must first retract and the doors must automatically close.

After a defined time interval, the cabinets close automatically, thus minimizing the exposure of the stored chemicals and reducing the risk of escaping hazardous vapors.

In line with the fire rating, the safety cabinet prevents the stored goods from heating up over the specified length of time.