Storage of flammable liquids in workrooms and other locations

Store flammable and combustible liquids in areas that are:

• well ventilated, to reduce vapour concentrations
• free of ignition sources
• cool (temperature controlled) and dry
• supplied with adequate firefighting and spill clean-up equipment
• away from lifts, building and room exits, and main aisles leading to exits
• accessible to firefighters
• labelled with suitable warning signs, for example "No Smoking"

Precautions when handling flammable liquids include:

• during refuelling, all engines and motors must be switched off and allowed to cool
• keep open flames and other ignition sources away from flammable or combustible liquids
• no smoking during the fuelling process
• use the assessed transfer method and compatible containers, with appropriate bonding and earthing where static ignition is a risk. Setting a container on the ground or attaching a strap does not automatically control charge, particularly with non-conductive containers
• do not use any flammable liquid or gas unless it has been positively identified beforehand
• tell employees about the health and physical hazards

Precautions when handling flammable gases such as LPG include:

• keep the storage area separate from other buildings
• keep empty and full bottles separate
• do not store oxygen bottles with LPG
• place cylinders on a firm foundation and secure them upright
• fence the storage area with a secure, lockable gate
• display warning signs
• fit all LPG cylinders with valve-protection devices
• do not store LPG cylinders close to sources of ignition
• place LPG cylinders away from vehicle traffic
• prefer suitable outdoor LPG storage. Any permitted indoor arrangement needs a competent assessment of ventilation, leaks, ignition, quantity and applicable requirements; fire-resistant construction alone does not make it safe
• keep cylinders away from stairways, exit doors and places where they might obstruct the means of escape
• eliminate ignition sources from the area
• secure cylinders upright using a suitable stable rack or restraint arrangement; protect valves and prevent impact or uncontrolled movement
• remove from the store only the bottles actually needed, and return them after use

Structural measures to prevent the spread of fire and smoke

To assess the risk in your premises you need to evaluate their construction and layout. Fire affects different building materials in different ways, so the use of building materials must be tightly controlled to make sure suitable materials are used in construction.

Common building materials

• Concrete. Fire behaviour depends on the structural design, materials, cover, loading and exposure. Spalling and loss of strength can occur; concrete construction is not a guarantee against collapse.
• Steel. Heating can reduce strength and cause expansion or distortion. Required fire resistance may use designed encasement, boards, coatings or other measures; steel is not always protected in one prescribed way.
• Bricks. Individual bricks are extremely resistant to fire. In construction, however, the fire resistance of a wall is affected by the mortar that holds the bricks together. Even so, brick remains one of the most fire-resistant building materials in common use and can be extremely effective at preventing disasters.
• Timber. Timber is combustible, but performance depends on section size, charring, connections, protective layers and the complete design. Neither a blanket ban on heavy sections nor an assumption that timber is normally fire-retardant treated is an accurate design rule.
• Insulation. Products vary in combustibility and performance. Select the tested product and complete construction system required by the building design and applicable rules; a fire-retardant label alone does not establish suitability.
• Glass. Use a glazing system with the required tested fire-resistance performance, including frame and installation. Ordinary double glazing does not provide a guaranteed doubled fire-resistance time, and wire reinforcement alone does not establish the required rating.
• Gypsum. Gypsum sheathing is added under various structural materials to improve fire resistance, and gypsum board, or drywall, is the most commonly used interior finish. It consists of a layer of gypsum between two sheets of paper. The paper on the outside burns slowly, which prevents the fire from spreading. Next, the non-combustible core, which contains gypsum (calcium sulphate with chemically combined water), is affected. In a fire the water is driven off as steam, which slows heat transfer through the board. Finally, the gypsum core itself resists penetration by fire for a certain time.
• Wall coverings. Can change the way fire spreads across surfaces, so they should also be closely controlled.

Summary notes for Element 10 · Cheat sheet · Glossary. A study aid, not published or endorsed by NEBOSH.