CoSHH cabinets?

[Chris152]

Does anyone know the difference between a CoSHH cabinet and a regular, well-built metal cabinet? I've looked at pics but can't see anything special about them.

I've decided we now have enough tins/ containers with highly flammable stuff that we should have one, but prices are very high.

If they are anything special, is it possible to make one, or to adapt a regular steel cabinet?

It'll be kept in the outdoor work area we just built a roof for.

Thanks, C

 

[Cabinetman]

Don’t know what the law says or if you are particularly bothered? Most people I’ve seen just use an old fridge with an extra clasp to hold the door shut.

 

[TheUnicorn]

found this site which seems to give a good overview
https://www.safetybuyer.com/blog/co...vxhllgrRYiPp8_RCu1dZu9BG7ZR_RcGh8ohLXB2Wo8O_N

 

[Chris152]

Thanks Unicorn. I saw that one in my searches, the relevant bit reads:

• 'flammable and dangerous cabinets- this type of storage has a high melting point, which is designed this way to reduce the risk of fire
  [...]

These specialised cabinets offer a fully welded, heavy-duty steel construction, providing fire resistance of 30 minutes and a melting point greater than 750 degrees Celsius'

As ours will be stored outside in a minimally equipped work area, it's highly unlikely to be subject to 750C for 30 mins - my real concern is that the contents won't be subject to any sparks from mig or stick welding, which would probably be done about 3m away. Inside would be a couple of petrol cans and pressurised cleaning products/ paint cans. That said, the petrol could easily be stored well away elsewhere in the garden.

 

[Chubber]

I recall the one at the railway workshop had a tray shaped bottom so that a leaking tin didn't run out through the bottom of the door, if that helps? (Oh yes, it was bright yellow)

 

[Chris152]

(Oh yes, it was bright yellow)

I think we can handle that bit

 

[ChaiLatte]

...a melting point greater than 750 degrees Celsius'

Look up the melting point of steel. All that is telling you is that a zinc, lead or aluminium cabinet might not be suitable. Brass would be OK, as would silver.

A business requiring one of these does not have the time, inclination or resources to research the requirements as you are doing and then buy a well made, ordinary cabinet and paint it yellow. Who cares if what is being sold is way overpriced - it is a legitimate business expense, offsettable against tax.

For the petrol cans, it is any escaped vapour that will present a danger. You do not want something that traps this. As you say, they might be better outside, in a well-ventilated area where hot works are prohibited.

To prevent spark ingress, just assess the doors: do they have flanges on all sides? If you can poke a piece of mig wire into the cupboard from the outside, a spark can go through that same gap. If the wire has to do a sharp 90 degree turn to enter, that is much better.

You could also read the COSHH regulations yourself (https://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2002/2677/contents), as they are horse's mouth. I would guess that the word 'yellow' does not appear in the regulations at all.

The regulations will just talk about risk assessment - a task which you can do yourself rather than purchase an item on which you assume someone else has done the same.

Send a seller of these cabinets an email saying you are considering purchase, that you have read the COSHH regulations and would like to see their risk assessment as it relates to the item to verify for yourself that it is in line with those regs.

 

[HamsterJam]

As @Chubber says, ideally it will have a bund to prevent any leakage of the hazardous substances reaching the environment.
Probably obvious but the bund should hold slightly more than the contents of the largest container you plan to store in there. IIRC 110%

 

[Chubber]

As @Chubber says, ideally it will have a bund to prevent any leakage of the hazardous substances reaching the environment.
Probably obvious but the bund should hold slightly more than the contents of the largest container you plan to store in there. IIRC 110%

Bund! That was the word I was looking for, than you.

 

[Jester129]

And it would need to be locked, ESPECIALLY at night!

 

[ChaiLatte]

And it would need to be locked, ESPECIALLY at night!

That is an issue for the risk assessment. With careful thought that might not be self-evident.

There is a good argument that locking is needed to prevent unauthorised access by employees during the day.

But at night, it might be good to leave unlocked, so if there is a fire or other incident, someone does not have to waste time looking for keys or break into it to remove the contents to a place of safety.

This place lists a "flammable cabinet":

https://www.theworkplacedepot.co.uk/flammable-liquid-cabinet

Apart from that misuse of a word, the page is good as it provides two more useful references specific to flammables: HSG51 here (https://www.hse.gov.uk/pubns/priced/hsg51.pdf) and DSEAR here (https://www.hse.gov.uk/fireandexplosion/dsear.htm)

 

[throbscottle]

I think you are conflating COSHH with "fire proof". To the best of my rather limited knowledge, the one needs to be secure but it doesn't matter what it's made of if it's sturdy enough and adequate for the kinds of hazardous material it contains,
and the other needs to be fireproof, but not necessarily lockable. Although the two would tend to converge, it's not the same thing.
HTH!

 

[Chris152]

Thanks all - we've decided the petrol goes elsewhere, so it's just standard aerosol cleaning and paint cans. We'll go for a regular cabinet that seals properly so sparks can't get in. Should be fine.