Flammable Safety Cabinets: OSHA and NFPA 30 Rules and How to Choose

To choose a flammable safety cabinet, start with what you store and how much. Use a flammable cabinet (usually yellow) for gasoline, solvents, paints and other flammable or combustible liquids, and a corrosive cabinet (usually blue) for acids and bases. Then pick a capacity that fits your containers and stays within OSHA's per-cabinet limits, choose self-closing or manual doors based on your fire code, and pick the style that fits your space: standard, paint and ink, drum, outdoor or stainless steel.

We carry FM Approved cabinets from Securall and Durham in 4 to 120 gallons. See all flammable storage cabinets. This guide explains the rules in plain terms, but your local fire marshal (the authority having jurisdiction) has the final say on what your facility needs.

Do I need a flammable safety cabinet?

Usually, yes, once you keep more than a small amount of flammable liquid in a work area. In industrial plants where flammable liquids are incidental to the work, OSHA 29 CFR 1910.106(e)(2)(ii) limits how much can sit outside a cabinet or storage room in one fire area: 25 gallons of Category 1 flammable liquids and 120 gallons of Category 2, 3 or 4 flammable liquids, in containers. Anything above that belongs in an approved cabinet or storage room. Cabinets also keep liquids organized, contain spills and slow a fire from reaching what's inside.

How much can one cabinet hold?

There are two limits: the physical size of the cabinet and the legal limit for what you store in it.

  • OSHA 29 CFR 1910.106(d)(3): no more than 60 gallons of Category 1, 2 or 3 flammable liquids, or 120 gallons of Category 4 flammable liquids, in one cabinet.
  • NFPA 30: no more than 120 gallons of Class I, II and IIIA liquids in one cabinet.

That matters when you pick a size. Gasoline and most common solvents fall in Categories 1 to 3, so under OSHA a 90 or 120 gallon cabinet can hold only 60 gallons of them. The larger cabinets make sense for Category 4 liquids (the least flammable category), or for extra room to keep containers organized. Check the safety data sheet (SDS) for each liquid's category.

How many cabinets can I have?

OSHA 1910.106 doesn't set a maximum number of cabinets. NFPA 30 and local fire codes limit the total quantity of flammable liquids allowed in each control area, and those limits depend on your building, occupancy and sprinkler system. Before adding several cabinets to one room, ask your fire marshal what your control area allows.

What makes a cabinet compliant?

NFPA 30 and OSHA describe a metal cabinet built from at least 18 gauge sheet steel, double-walled with a 1½" air space, with riveted or welded joints, a three-point door latch, and a door sill raised at least 2" to hold spills. Cabinets must be marked "FLAMMABLE" and "KEEP FIRE AWAY" in large, contrasting letters on the upper door or frame. Cabinets that pass the NFPA 30 fire test are also accepted.

FM Approval means an independent lab tested the cabinet against these requirements. Every cabinet we carry is FM Approved except the Securall 4 gallon, which Securall lists as OSHA and NFPA 30 compliant.

Self-closing or manual doors?

Manual doors latch when you close them. Self-closing doors close and latch on their own, so they can't be left open. Securall's self-closing models also have a fusible link that melts at 165°F and closes the doors automatically in a fire.

Many local fire codes, including those based on the International Fire Code, require self-closing doors. If you're not sure, choose self-closing or ask your fire marshal. Many sizes come in both self-closing and manual versions, and Securall also offers a sliding door on some sizes. Check the door options on each product page.

Does the cabinet need to be vented?

NFPA 30 does not require cabinets to be vented for fire protection. If you don't vent the cabinet, keep the factory bungs in the vent openings. If you do vent it, for odor or local code reasons, the vent must be ducted directly to a safe location outdoors or to an approved vapor treatment device. Venting into the room defeats the cabinet's purpose.

Which type of cabinet do I need?

Type Use it for Options we carry
Standard flammable Cans, bottles and safety cans of flammable and combustible liquids Securall and Durham, 4 to 120 gallons
Paint and ink Quart and gallon cans in print shops, body shops and maintenance areas. More shelves than a standard cabinet. Securall 20 to 120 gallons, Durham 30 and 60 gallons
Drum Storing 30 or 55-gallon drums upright, with rollers for loading Securall vertical drum 60 to 120 gallons, Durham 55 gallon drum
Hazardous waste Collecting flammable waste in drums or safety cans Securall waste drum and safety can cabinets
Outdoor weatherproof Flammable storage outside, protected from rain and sun Securall outdoor 30 to 90 gallons, galvannealed steel with a sloped roof
Stainless steel Labs, hospitals and cleanrooms Securall stainless 12 to 60 gallons, made to order
Corrosive Acids and bases. Not for flammable liquids. Durham corrosive 16 and 90 gallons, with plastic spill trays

Securall or Durham?

Both make FM Approved cabinets listed by the manufacturer as meeting OSHA and NFPA 30. The main differences are construction, warranty and lead time.

Securall Durham
Construction 18 gauge double wall steel with a 1½" air space 16 gauge all-welded steel
Made in USA (LaPorte, IN) Mexico (ships from El Paso, TX)
Warranty 15 year limited structural; 1 year on parts 1 year limited
Door options Manual, self-closing, and sliding on some sizes Manual and self-closing, with leg options on some sizes
Typical lead time About 5 weeks; stainless steel about 14 weeks Most orders ship within 7 to 10 business days of freight payment
Range we carry Standard, paint and ink, drum, hazardous waste, outdoor, stainless Standard, paint and ink, 55 gallon drum, corrosive

Choose Securall for the longest warranty, U.S. manufacturing, or specialty cabinets like outdoor and stainless. Choose Durham when you need a cabinet quickly or want a lower-priced option on a standard size.

Where should I put the cabinet?

  • Keep it away from exits, stairways and anything that would block escape in a fire.
  • Keep it away from heat, sparks, open flames and ignition sources.
  • Ground the cabinet if you dispense or transfer flammable liquids nearby. Securall cabinets have a built-in grounding bolt.
  • Leave room to open the doors fully and reach every shelf.
  • Check the cabinet is level. Securall cabinets have adjustable leveling legs.

What about delivery?

Cabinets ship by freight truck from the manufacturer: Securall from LaPorte, IN and Durham from El Paso, TX. Delivery is curbside, so plan for a forklift, pallet jack or enough people to unload, or ask us to add liftgate delivery. We confirm freight within 1 business day of your order and bill it at cost. See our Shipping Policy.

Common questions

What color should a flammable cabinet be?

Flammable cabinets are traditionally safety yellow, and corrosive cabinets blue. Securall offers other colors on request, but color isn't what makes a cabinet compliant. The construction, label and approval are.

Can I store acids in a flammable cabinet?

No. Acids and bases belong in a corrosive cabinet, which is designed for corrosive liquids and comes with plastic trays to contain leaks and spills. Don't store corrosives with flammables.

Can I store a 55-gallon drum in a cabinet?

Yes. Drum cabinets from Securall and Durham hold 55-gallon drums upright, with rollers to help load them. Remember the OSHA limit of 60 gallons of Category 1 to 3 liquids per cabinet.

Can a flammable cabinet go outside?

Only a cabinet built for it. Securall's outdoor weatherproof cabinets use galvannealed steel, a sloped roof and weather sealing. Standard cabinets are for indoor use.

Do flammable cabinets come with shelves?

Yes. Most come with 1 to 5 adjustable shelves depending on size and type, and extra shelves are available.

Can I order a size or brand not listed on your site?

Yes. We can quote other sizes, colors and configurations from Securall and Durham. Email us.

Need help choosing?

Tell us what liquids you store, how much, where the cabinet will go and whether your fire code requires self-closing doors. We'll recommend a cabinet and quote it with freight to your address.

Written by Neel Doshi, founder of My Warehouse World.

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