Ventilated laboratory cabinets: secure storage of chemicals

Ventilated cabinets provide safe and organised storage of hazardous substances. In an environment where chemicals are frequently handled, it is important to find a suitable storage solution to prevent the spread of harmful fumes and limit the risks of contamination for laboratory staff.

In addition to providing safety, a chemical storage cabinet ensures compliance with regulations in force concerning the storage of hazardous products. It also helps to organise a laboratory and provide fast, secure access to the products required, thereby improving operational efficiency and minimising the risks linked to incorrect handling of substances.

To ensure maximum safety in the lab, it is crucial to consider several criteria before choosing the right ventilated cabinet model. First of all, you need to identify the type of product that will be stored (acids, bases, solvents, flammable products, etc.).

There are several chemical safety cabinet models on the market, including compact cabinets that can easily be installed under a bench and tall, vertical cabinets. You need to assess the available space in the lab and the quantity of chemicals to be stored in order to choose the appropriate cabinet.

The largest Erlab safety cabinet is the 1634 model, designed to store up to 240 glass flasks of chemicals.

To store flammable products, it is essential to choose a fireproof cabinet that meets current safety standards, the main one being EN 14470-1.

Make sure that your cabinet meets the safety standards and features a filtration system, retention trays to catch leaks, lockable doors and materials that withstand all types of chemical.

Before placing chemicals in the cabinet, it is vital to check that each product is identified and labelled according to regulations. Each chemical must have an up-to-date and accessible safety data sheet (SDS).

It is recommended to group chemicals together according to their hazard class and above all to avoid storing incompatible products in the same place that could react dangerously in the event of an incident.

Hazardous products frequently handled in laboratories include corrosive acids (sulphuric acid, hydrochloric acid), flammable solvents (ethanol, acetone), toxic gases (ammonia, carbon monoxide), powerful oxidising agents (hydrogen peroxide, potassium permanganate) and carcinogenic substances (benzene, formaldehyde).

The heaviest chemicals must be placed on the lower shelves to prevent them from falling accidentally. Flammable or volatile products must be placed in specific compartments fitted with an adequate ventilation system.

If your fireproof cabinet does not have a ventilation system, it must be equipped with an autonomous filtration system such as filtration boxes.

Filter units provide a ventilation system and combine fire protection with protection from inhalation. They are compatible with most flammable product storage cabinets and help eliminate toxic fumes emitted by stored products.

When storing hazardous products, the priority is to limit the risk of accidents. The cabinet and the products stored in it must therefore be inspected regularly, Erlab ventilated cabinets are designed with glass doors to give lab staff a constant view of the products stored.

It is also advisable to clean the inside of the cabinet regularly to eliminate chemical residue that could lead to dangerous chemical reactions, and to make sure that retention trays are empty and operational.