Flammable and Combustible Liquids Storage Requirements

The hazard classification of a liquid determines the type and size of container in which it may be stored.

• Read Flammable and Combustible Liquids Container Size and Quantity Limits to find container type, size, and quantity limits for the material you store.

• Store flammable liquids in an approved flammable storage cabinet. A variety of commercially manufactured cabinets are available.
  • Cabinets must be listed with UL1275 and labeled "Flammable – Keep Fire Away". 
  • Doors must be well fitted, self-closing and equipped with a 3-point latch kit system. 
• When flammable liquids must be stored outside a flammable storage cabinet, use approved safety cans whenever possible. They have spring-loaded lids and an internal screen which prevents combustion of the contents.
• Do not use large polypropylene ("Nalgene") containers with stopcocks or valves at the bottom to store flammable liquids. These valves frequently leak and are unsafe in a fire.
• Never store flammable liquids in a standard or domestic refrigerator or freezer. Flammable liquids that must be chilled or frozen require specially designed "spark-proof" refrigerators or freezers.
• Cabinets no longer used for flammable liquids must be painted over so they do not indicate flammable storage. 

• Avoid storing flammable liquids on high shelves or in direct sunlight.
• Store flammable liquids in a well ventilated area.
• Caution: Never use environmental rooms (also called cold/ warm rooms) to store flammable, combustible, or other hazardous materials. Environmental rooms have many ignition sources and little or no outside air circulation. You can use small quantitites of flammable or hazardous materials (500 ml) in these spaces, but do not store them there.

• Transfer flammable and combustible liquids within a chemical fume hood when possible, and in a proper dispensing location such as a high hazard room (also called a flammable room). Examples of proper locations for dispensing Class I flammable liquids include:
  • Pacific Hall rooms 4014 A/B, 5014 A/B, and 6014 A/B
  • Natural Sciences Building rooms 3104C, and 4104C
  • Properly ventilated laboratory room
• Wear appropriate PPE (i.e., Nomex® lab coat, goggles and face shield, gloves, non-synthetic clothing) when transferring material.
• Use proper bonding and grounding techniques (see Bonding and grounding below) when transferring Class I Flammable Liquids.
• Avoid contaminating either vessel during transfer.

Bonding and grounding is the process of providing an electrically conductive path between a dispensing container, a receiving container, and an earth ground. This pathway eliminates the potential buildup of static electricity and possible spark that can cause a flash fire if there is a flammable mixture of fuel and air.

• See a diagram of a bonded and grounded configuration.

Read about applicable requirements and definitions, and how to ground and bond below. Glass containers are excluded.

Requirement

Class 1 Flammable Liquids must be bonded and grounded when transferring liquids in accordance with Code of Federal Regulations, 29 CFR 1910.106(e)(6)(ii):

"Grounding." Class I liquids shall not be dispensed into containers unless the nozzle and container are electrically interconnected. Where the metallic floorplate on which the container stands while filling is electrically connected to the fill stem or where the fill stem is bonded to the container during filling operations by means of a bond wire, the provisions of this section shall be deemed to have been complied with.”

Definitions

• Bonding is the process of connecting 2 or more conductive objects together by means of a conductor so that they are at the same electrical potential, but not necessarily at the same potential as the earth [NFPA 77 - 3.1.2].
• Grounding is the process of bonding 1 or more conductive objects to the ground, so that all objects are at zero (0) electrical potential; also referred to as "earthing" [NFPA 77 - 3.1.10].
• Grounding plate is a metal plate used to provide a bond for the receiving container.
• Grounding rod is an easily cleaned nonreactive metal rod designed to provide a bonding point for containers that are too small or that have no metal attachment point.
• Static electric discharge is a release of static electricity in the form of a spark, corona discharge, brush discharge, or propagating brush discharge that might be capable of causing ignition under appropriate circumstances [NFPA 77 3.1.16].

How to bond and ground

• Carefully assess and identify a safe location, avoiding:
  • Poorly ventilated spaces
  • Open flames or heat sources (e.g., hot plates, Bunsen burners etc)
  • Electrically charged equipment
• Transfer flammable liquids within a chemical fume hood when possible and in a proper dispensing location such as a high hazard room (flammable room) or well-ventilated laboratory room.
• Use proper bonding and grounding cables:
  • Plastic coated 10' coiled grounding cable with clamps on both ends work well (see image below). Some locations may have permanent cables available.
  • Braided 3' bonding cable with alligator clips on both ends work well (see image below).
• Find an earth ground (copper water lines work well) and label it for future reference. Do not use fire sprinkler lines!
• Remove dirt, debris, paint, etc., to ensure a good metal to metal connection.
• Connect the dispensing vessel to the earth ground.
• Place receiving vessel in a secondary container or on a bonding metallic floorplate.
• Connect the bonding cable from the receiving vessel to the dispensing vessel or floorplate (metal to metal).
  • Note: If the receiving container is too small, does not have a metal connection, or you do not have a metal floorplate, provide a grounding rod (use care that it does not tip over).
• Once properly connected, proceed with your transfer.
• When complete, disconnect all bonding and grounding cables and remove the grounding rod if applicable.
• Clean all equipment and properly transport the material to the laboratory.
• Leave the bonding and grounding equipment readily available for the next person to use.

2 examples of bonding and grounding configurations.