Several years ago, the campus Fire Marshal and I worked on some guidance for how to properly vent a flammable liquid storage cabinet.  Here’s the link to the pdf:  http://ehs.ucdavis.edu/ps/fp/fn/biefs/ventingFlammableStorageCabinets.pdf/view

 

In that document, if cabinets are not vented, the openings need to be sealed with the bungs supplied.

 

Hope this helps,

Debbie

 

Debbie M. Decker, CCHO, ACS Fellow

Chair, Division of Chemical Health and Safety

University of California, Davis

(530)754-7964

(530)304-6728

dmdecker**At_Symbol_Here**ucdavis.edu

 

Birkett's hypothesis: "Any chemical reaction

that proceeds smoothly under normal conditions,

can proceed violently in the presence of an idiot."

 

 

 

 

If there is not ducted ventilation through the cabinet, the bungs (both of them), should remain in place. This will likely improve the temperature barrier properties of the unducted cabinet.  Unless, of course, the authority having jurisdiction requires otherwise.  Then you want those flame arrestors to remain in good condition.

 

If an existing cabinet is exhausted from the high bung rather than the low bung and you can accomplish it without undue difficulty or expense, I would correct the error.

 

 

Peter Zavon, CIH
Penfield, NY

PZAVON**At_Symbol_Here**Rochester.rr.com

 

 

 

Dear Listers,

 

Thanks in advance and pardon the cross-posting.

 

NFPA 30 states that IF flammable cabinets are ducted to the ventilation system that the supply be provided at the top and the exhaust be connected to the bottom. Presumably, this creates a downward directed cross draft that ensures removal of vapors with high vapor density from the bottom of the cabinet.

 

I have two questions:

 

1) if there is not a ducted supply does that supply bung stay open or closed?

 

2) if an existing cabinet is vented with the exhaust from the top should it be changed to vent from the bottom?

 

Many thanks,

 

Chris

 

Christopher E. Kohler, MS, LPG, CCHO

Laboratory Safety Manager, EHS

Laboratory Safety Instructor, ACS

Adjunct Faculty, SPEA

 

Environmental Health and Safety

1514 E Third Street

Bloomington, IN 47405

(812) 855-5454

cekohler**At_Symbol_Here**iu.edu