Maintenance of fire-resistant cabinets for hazardous substances
For the storage of flammable liquids in workrooms, a fire protection cabinet is needed that meets the strict requirements of EN 14470-1. To ensure that the hazardous materials cabinet also complies with these requirements in the long term, regular maintenance including a fire protection usability test is required. Read below to find out how professional maintenance is carried out and which certifications the commissioned service technician must have.
Fire protection requirements according to EN 14470-1
EN 14470-1 regulates the construction requirements and test conditions for fire-protected safety cabinets for the storage of flammable liquids in workrooms. These are the strict fire protection requirements:
- Tested fire resistance over a minimum period of time (e.g. 90 minutes)
- Avoidance of explosive atmospheres through a technical exhaust air system
- In the event of fire, the cabinet doors must close automatically and completely from any position within max. 20 seconds.
- Automatic closing of supply and exhaust air openings from 70 (+/-10) °C
- The shelves/drawers must support the max. load specified by the manufacturer, even during the fire period.
- The floor spill pallet for leakage containment must still be fully functional even after a fire has occurred
Testing of fire protection devices - only with qualification!
Hazardous substance cabinets for the storage of flammable liquids should be comprehensively checked at least once a year with regard to their function and reliability. Safety inspections, especially on electrical systems as well as fire and explosion protection devices, may only be carried out by skilled persons who have the appropriate qualifications. DENIOS technicians have the following certifications:
The basis for a uniformly high standard in all services is the qualification as Safety Certificate Constructor (SCC). With their training as electricians, our service technicians are able to carry out electrical switching and installation work professionally and safely. Furthermore, as Hazardous Material Officers, they are experts in handling hazardous materials and know exactly how to store and handle them properly. In addition, our technicians take part in regular internal training and external advanced training courses so that they are always up to date with the latest knowledge.
This is how maintenance works
The maintenance of the safety cabinets is completed in a uniform process according to the following maintenance steps in compliance with the law. Each prescribed criteria of the inspection process is carried out conscientiously and professionally and documented in writing.
Function test and visual inspection
The service specialists check the safety cabinet for damage on the inside and outside. In this way, they are able to detect malfunctions in the mode of operation. Furthermore, drip pans, ventilation slots and pipe penetrations must be checked for possible contamination. It is important to observe the maximum load of the shelves, which must not be exceeded. This must be guaranteed by the customer.
Safety check
The service technicians pay special attention to the precise inspection of the closing mechanisms of doors and fire dampers. These must always work perfectly, because in the event of damage, both the doors and the supply and exhaust air openings must be able to close automatically in order to prevent further damage that may be harmful.
Fire safety inspection
Here, the sealing systems on the safety cabinet are checked. In the event of an emergency, these must seal properly so that no toxic gases or flames can escape. Conversely, no air should be able to enter the cabinet so that the fire cannot spread.
Ventilation testing
The technical ventilation is inspected and the air filter it contains is replaced by a new one. Only the regular replacement of the air filter always guarantees a good air exchange in the safety cabinet, so that the escaping gases of the hazardous substances in the air can be purified. Failure to change the air filter can cause the gases to mix, which in the worst case can lead to fire or explosion. In addition, the functioning of the monitoring electronics and control technology is checked.
Legal assurance control
Compliance with the legally prescribed collection volume of the spill pallet is an essential factor for the safety of the safety cabinet and is checked accordingly by the technician. The legally prescribed markings are also inspected as part of the legal assurance check.
Documentation
The documentation is specifically coordinated for each cabinet type by issuing an inspection package and creating an electronic inspection report (PDF). In your auditing and in the event of damage, you are thus on the safe side. Only regular maintenance of your safety cabinets extends the manufacturer's warranty and contributes significantly to the protection of your employees and the value retention of your facilities. In this way, you increase your productivity and avoid financial follow-up costs.
Your all-inclusive carefree package: Maintenance from a professional
Take advantage of the professional maintenance service from DENIOS. Our service technicians have all the necessary certifications to professionally carry out functional tests and maintenance work on fire resistant cabinets. We will provide you with a test report and inspection sticker for your documentation.
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The specialist information on this page has been compiled carefully and to the best of our knowledge and belief. Nevertheless, DENIOS Ltd cannot assume any warranty or liability of any kind, whether in contract, tort or otherwise, for the topicality, completeness and correctness either towards the reader or towards third parties. The use of the information and content for your own or third party purposes is therefore at your own risk. In any case, please observe the locally and currently applicable legislation.
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