Safety Guidelines for Storage of Flammable Materials

I. Scope and Objective

Fires can cause extensive damage to property, serious injuries and loss of lives. Highly flammable liquids like
petrol and solvents are obvious sources of fuel but less apparent fuel sources such as sawdust and metal particles
are also able to catch fire so long as the right conditions are met.

This Guideline aims to provide practical guidance on risk control measures that can be implemented to ensure
the safety and health of workers who work with flammable materials daily.

II. Fire Basics

Fire is a reaction in which a flammable material (e.g. a fuel source like oil or wood) combines chemically with
oxygen in the air to produce heat, light and smoke. Three components must be in place before a fire can be
ignited, namely: (1) fuel, (2) oxygen AND (3) ignition/ heat source.

III. Storage of Flammable Materials

Proper storage is essential to protect flammable materials from ignition sources. Through proper storage, fires
can be prevented and better controlled (to minimize fire spread) should it occur.

Keep storage areas away from heat and ignition source

Proper ventilation
Store in cool and dry place
Store in an area with adequate firefighting and spill clean-up equipment

Dangerous goods (this includes flammable materials) package stores are to be provided with warning placards
to be posted on-site at the storage location.

For indoor storage of flammable materials, the warning placard is to be posted at each entrance to the store.
For outdoor storage, the warning placard is to prominently displayed at the storage area.

The relevant placards for storage of flammable materials are as follows:

Classification of Flammable Materials based on UNRTDG

Storage placards for flammable materials based on United

Nations Recommendations on the Transport of Dangerous
Goods (UNRTDG) (Source of images: www.unece.org)

The size of each warning placard must not be less than 250 mm by 250 mm.

Along with the placards, the posting of suitable warning signs (e.g., No Smoking sign) is also recommended.