Safe storage
After knowing how many flammable oils, chemicals, and other liquids are commonplace around the shop, the first order of business is proper storage. Not only of the liquids themselves, but any rags, gloves, or other material that may be soaked in them. All of it is liable to catch fire.
This means that proper storage should be top of mind, especially when it comes to more hazardous materials like cleaners, solvents, or aerosol sprays. The first step is to know what could be a risk.
“It’s important to evaluate and determine the threat level,” explained Steve Eyer, engineering systems national sales manager at safety container provider Denios. “Any professional shop should have a materials manager familiar with what hazardous materials are on site.”
To make matters worse, sometimes fire can even occur without an external heat source.
“Unfortunately, these rags do create heat from chemical reactions between different chemicals, and that’s how fire starts,” Beltran explained. “Ensuring hazardous chemicals are segregated, stored in appropriate containers within designated areas, and accessible only to trained personnel” are all best practices.
Proper storage minimizes the risk of a fire igniting, but if it does, the goal is to keep it contained or prevent it from spreading rapidly.
Denios offers leak-proof and OSHA/NFPA-certified waste cans of various sizes meant to hold oily rags and other materials, keeping them contained and allowing for easy disposal away from potential heat sources.
“With each flammable and combustible liquid, the first line of defense is the primary container in which the material is stored,” Eyer noted. “Ensuring containers are sealed and closed while not in use or reducing storage quantities for high-risk areas are best practices.”
Outfitting your shop
When it comes to equipping your shop with the right tools to combat fire, extinguishers are paramount. But not just any extinguisher. For example, Cowan recommended that a shop that does a lot of grinding and deals with metal shavings may want to opt for a Class D extinguisher, as they are designed specifically to fight fires involving combustible metals. According to Beltran, it doesn’t stop there.
“Beyond standard fire extinguishers, a shop should consider having fire blankets, fire hoses, smoke detectors, carbon monoxide detectors, heat detectors, fire suppression systems for specific areas (like kitchens), and signage clearly indicating the location of fire safety equipment to help prevent or mitigate fire damage,” he listed.
Spill kits are another consideration. Solvents or degreasers formulated specifically for cleaning oil, like the Oil Eater Orange Cleaner, can help prevent slips and falls while also eliminating a potential fuel source for a shop fire.
It’s also important to keep in mind any environmental factors like ventilation (or lack thereof) and humidity that can contribute to or exacerbate fire, and how to regulate these factors with proper shop construction.
While not all of these measures are necessary for every shop depending on size and other varying factors, it never hurts to be overprepared. And local fire departments can provide the most accurate preventative measures for your space.
