Safety Cabinets and Chemical Storage

This question is asked a lot. There is nothing in writing to preclude you from having boxes, papers, etc., in a safety cabinet, but we discourage it. This is an area of best practice not addressed by the law. The standards to which a cabinet is tested limit the internal temperature from exceeding 325°F (163ºC) for 10 minutes in a fire test. This is a conservative temperature below the auto ignition temperatures of the liquids being stored. It makes sense that packaging, such as boxes, are made of materials with auto ignition temperatures higher than the 325°F (163ºC) too. But, what can be dangerous is if those boxes become soiled with residues of the flammable liquids which in turn give off harmful, ignitable, or hazardous vapors. Additionally, it is important to avoid storing materials and combinations of material that can spontaneously combust and create fire inside the cabinet, like oily rags and incompatible materials.

Our vote is on the side of best practice, safety, and of tidy housekeeping. We have heard of OSHA inspectors frowning on this practice even in the absence of law. Learn more about safe storage practices in safety cabinets. https://www.justrite.com/news/chemical-storage-guidelines-for-safety-cabinets/