How to use explosion-proof cabinet correctly?

Many people think that explosion-proof cabinets are explosion-proof by nature. Some people even do not read the instruction manual, do not understand how to use them, and only buy them to deal with safety inspections. Little do they know that this is actually very dangerous. Most of the flammable and explosive liquids stored in explosion-proof cabinets are white spirits, oil essences, etc. These dangerous chemicals are generally very volatile. If the concentration of flammable and explosive gases in the explosion-proof cabinet is too high, fires, explosions and other safety accidents are very likely to occur.

What is the explosion-proof cabinet？

It can safely store thinner, machine wiper water, board cleaning water, white gasoline, alcohol, paint, gasoline, and various hazardous chemicals. It is also called a chemical cabinet, fireproof cabinet, safety cabinet, flammable and combustible liquid storage cabinet, oil drum cabinet, special cabinet for hazardous chemicals, etc.

What is the role of explosion-proof cabinets?

● Using explosion-proof cabinets to store hazardous chemicals can effectively prevent chemical spills and prevent fire accidents.

● Effective management of various hazardous materials. Safety cabinets of different colors have different functions and can store different chemicals. They are stored in different categories, which are clear at a glance and easy to manage.

● Safe use of explosion-proof cabinets can not only protect the safety and hygiene of the working environment, but also protect the life and property safety of corporate employees.

What are the classifications of explosion-proof cabinets?

Yellow represents flammable chemicals, red represents combustible chemicals, and blue represents mildly corrosive chemicals.

How to choose？

The selection of explosion-proof cabinets can be considered from five aspects: storage container, storage capacity, safety cabinet use environment, chemical properties and management of special chemicals.

1. Storage cabinet

According to the type of storage container and its volume suitability, confirm whether the chemical safety cabinet is as follows: safety cans, oil drums under 55 gallons, paint cans with smaller volumes, 4-liter bottles, spray bottles, or smaller bottles. All types of storage containers must be kept sealed.

2. storage capacity

Confirm the use environment of the safety cabinet, ensure that the safety cabinet is used at a horizontal interface indoors, away from fire sources, and in a dry and ventilated environment. Choose a floor-standing or desktop safety cabinet, or a safety storage cabinet used with a laboratory fume hood as needed. In addition, a suitable PP pallet can be configured according to the need for leakage prevention in the cabinet.

3. Usage Environment

Confirm the use environment of the safety cabinet, ensure that the safety cabinet is used at a horizontal interface indoors, away from fire sources, and in a dry and ventilated environment. Choose a floor-standing or desktop safety cabinet, or a safety storage cabinet used with a laboratory fume hood as needed. In addition, a suitable PP pallet can be configured according to the need for leakage prevention in the cabinet.

4. Chemical properties

Confirm the properties of the chemicals planned to be stored, and use color management and label management for safe storage to help you identify, manage, and distinguish various hazardous chemicals. Determine the chemical properties and storage requirements based on the chemical safety data sheet (MSDS) of the chemical substances planned to be stored, select safety cabinets of corresponding categories under the color and label management system, classify and grade the chemicals, and avoid fires, toxic gas reactions, explosions, and other hazards caused by incompatible chemical storage.

5. Management of Specialty Chemicals

Toxic and hazardous chemicals or reagents involved in inspection and testing, industrial and mining enterprises, metallurgy and chemical industries need to be stored in special drug safety cabinets to achieve strict and safe management and control to ensure the safe use of toxic and hazardous chemicals.

Safety maintenance of explosion-proof cabinets

1. Exhaust

Explosion-proof safety cabinets are equipped with dual exhaust ports with built-in flame arresters (with plugs), usually located on both sides of the cabinet, one side high and one side low. According to relevant safety regulations, if the exhaust is not required, the exhaust port should be sealed with a plug; if the safety cabinet needs to be vented for any reason, it should be set in accordance with relevant safety standards and shall not affect the performance of the explosion-proof safety cabinet.

2. Grounding

Steel cabinets have a built-in grounding lug, usually located on the bottom right. For safe storage of flammable materials, it is necessary to ground as much as possible for safety reasons. If dispensing and collection processes are carried out in the cabinet, such as pumping from drums or filling drums through funnels, it is essential that the cabinet is grounded and correct bonding techniques are used directly on the container.

Special precautions for use:

■ The ground where the explosion-proof safety cabinet is placed should be flat.

■ If multiple explosion-proof safety cabinets are placed together, the distance between each cabinet should not be less than 15 cm.

■ The place where the explosion-proof safety cabinet is placed should be away from fire sources or other heat-generating and heat-dissipating instruments and equipment, and should also be away from splashing chemical liquids or slag.

■ There is an electrostatic grounding terminal at the lower corner of the left outer wall of the cabinet. After the cabinet is properly placed, the electrostatic grounding wire should be connected to promptly guide away the static electricity accumulated in the cabinet.

■ The items placed on the cabinet shelves should not exceed the load-bearing limit of the shelves. If there are multiple layers of shelves, when placing items, larger or heavier items should be placed on the lower shelves, and smaller or lighter items should be placed on the upper shelves.

■ If the explosion-proof safety cabinet is placed in a closed and narrow space, or the place where the cabinet is placed has strict restrictions on the volatilization of flammable liquids, then the ventilation system should be connected to the ventilation outlet of the cabinet to remove the flammable liquids accumulated in the cabinet due to volatilization.

■ At night or in the dark, if you need to place items or perform other operations in the cabinet, you should turn on the surrounding lights or carry an explosion-proof flashlight to operate.

■ It is strictly forbidden to light candles, alcohol lamps or use lighters near the cabinet, and any other operations that may cause combustion and explosion.

■ It is strictly forbidden to smoke, throw fireworks or discard other burning objects in the place where the cabinet is stored.

■ After the door is opened, it must be closed and locked. It is strictly forbidden to keep the cabinet door open for a long time to avoid the fire source entering the cabinet.

■ Usually pay attention to protect any door locks installed on the cabinet to prevent the door locks from being hit or otherwise damaged.

■ Usually pay attention to protect the cabinet, prevent collision, scratches or splashing of corrosive chemical liquids on the cabinet, so as not to damage the cabinet or damage the coating on the cabinet.

■ It is strictly forbidden to place highly corrosive chemicals in explosion-proof safety cabinets. Highly corrosive chemicals must not be placed in the same cabinet with flammable and combustible chemicals. Special highly corrosive chemical cabinets should be purchased for classified storage.

■ Any lock installed on the cabinet requires a dedicated person to manage it, and non-management personnel are strictly prohibited from opening it at will.

■ It is recommended that the key manager pre-prepare an extra set of keys in case the key is damaged or accidentally lost.