Storage Rules for Flammable Liquids
According to the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA 30: "Flammable and Combustible Liquids Code, 2003" Chapter 6) which applies to office, educational, and institutional occupancies and day care centers storage shall be limited to that required for the operation of office equipment, maintenance, demonstration and laboratory work.
These four rules for indoor storage of flammable and combustible liquids in Educational and Institutional Occupancies have been established by the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA):
- Containers of Class I liquids that are stored outside of an inside liquid storage area shall not exceed a capacity of 5 L (1.3 gallons)
Exception: Safety can shall be permitted up to a l0 L (2.6 gallon) capacity.
- The combined volume of Class I and Class II liquids stored in a single fire area outside of a storage cabinet or an inside storage area not stored in safety cans shall not exceed 38 L (10 gallons)
- The combined volume of Class I and Class II liquids stored in a single fire area in safety cans outside of an inside liquid storage area of storage cabinet shall not exceed 95 L (25 gallons)
- The volume of Class IIIA liquids stored outside of an inside liquid storage area or storage cabinet shall not exceed 230 L (60 gallons)
Storage for industrial and education laboratory work shall comply with NFPA 45, "Standard on Fire Protection for Laboratories Using Chemicals."
Flammability Classifications for Commonly Used Chemicals:
| Dimethyl Sulfide | Acetone | Ethylene Glycol Diethyl Ether |
| Ethylene Oxide | Acrylonitrile | Ethylene Glycol Isopropyl Ether |
| Ethyl Mercaptan | Ethyl Acetate | Hydrazine |
| Hydrogen Cyanide | Ethyl Alcohol (Ethanol) | High Flash V.M.&P. Naphtha |
| Pentane | Ethylene Dichloride | Paraldehyde |
| Petroleum Ether* | Ethyl Ether | Styrene |
| Propylene Oxide | Heptane | Xylenes |
| Vinyl Chloride | Hexane | Butyl Alcohol |
| Acetaldehyde | Isopropanol | Butyl Aceylate |
| 2-Butyne | (Methyl Alcohol) Methanol | M-Xylene |
| 2-Chloropropane | Methyl Ethyl Ketone | O-Xylene |
| Dichlorosilane | Methyl Isobutyl Ketone | P-Xylene |
| Methyl Ethel Ether | Methyl Methacrylate | Amyl Alacohol |
| Methyl Formate | Petroleum Ether* | Amyl Bromide |
| Methyl Mercaptan | V.M.&P Naphtha | Butyl Nitrate |
| Cimethyl Sulfide | Pyridine | Chlorobenzene |
| Ethyl Amine | Tetrahydrofuran | Cumene |
| Ethyl Chloride | Toluene | Cyclohexanone |
| Ethyl Nitrite | p-Dioxane | Dibutyl Ether |
| Furan | Ethyl Nitrate | Hexylamine |
| Hydrocyanic Acid | Methyl Isobutyl Ketone | Isoamyl Acetate |
| Isoprene | Methyl Methacrylate | Isobutyl Alcohol |
| 1, 3 Pentadiene | Octane | Nitromethane |
| Trichlorosilane | Triethylamine | Turpentine |
* May fall into Class IA or IB, depending on the Boiling Point of the mixture
source: Fire Protection Guide to Hazardous Materials, 10th edition, NFPA, 1991.
Each petroleum product (oil, antifreeze, WD40, etc.) should be categorized and kept under these limits. Some simpler rules of thumb may be easier to remember and follow:
- Class I liquids shall not be handled or used in basements.
- No flammable liquid storage in mechanical rooms.
- No more than one drum of combustible liquids in one room (one drum of oil or one drum of antifreeze).
- Minimize the amount and time that paint is stored in mechanical rooms, unless stored in flammable storage cabinets.
Updated February 8, 2007 by SAK
