Laboratory safety cabinets: how can hazardous products be stored while keeping risks under control?

In a laboratory, effective risk control starts with compliant storage of hazardous substances. Safety cabinets consolidate and protect flammable solvents, acids/bases, toxic materials, gas cylinders and even lithium-ion batteries. Designed in accordance with EN 14470-1 (flammable liquids) and EN 14470-2 (gases), they provide fire resistance (30 or 90 minutes), an integrated spill containment sump, ventilation and locking. Height-adjustable shelves, self-closing doors with a fusible link, and filtration modules complete the ergonomics – for HSE compliance without slowing down the lab’s day-to-day work.

What are the different types of safety cabinets?

Depending on the risk profile, several complementary families can be distinguished. Cabinets for flammable liquids (standard EN 14470-1) provide fire resistance of 30 or 90 minutes, with self-closing doors, intumescent seals, ventilation connections and a spill sump. For acids and bases, a polypropylene or coated-steel interior resists corrosion and minimises fumes. Toxic/phytosanitary cabinets prioritise containment, activated-carbon filtration and a high-security lock. Gas cabinets (EN 14470-2) secure the cylinders, ensure high/low extraction and fire-rated pass-throughs. Finally, more and more laboratories are adopting cabinets for lithium-ion batteries (safe storage/charging, early detection, integrated extinguishing).

In terms of form factor, you can choose high-capacity columns, under-bench models for proximity to the bench, or combined versions (separate compartments to segregate incompatibilities). Key criteria: nature of the products, volumes and required retention, ventilation requirement (ducted exhaust or filtered recirculation), required fire-rating, ergonomics (pull-out shelves, low threshold), and installation environment (ventilated room, proximity to workstations).

Type	Principle	Applications
Flammables (EN 14470-1)	Fire-rated housing Type 30/90, self-closing doors, containment	HPLC solvents, xylene, alcohols, laboratory paints
Acids/Bases	Corrosion-resistant materials, ventilation/filtration	Nitric acid, HCl, sodium hydroxide, inorganic reagents
Toxic/Phytos	Containment, activated carbon, locking	Pesticides, toxic substances, harmful reagents
Gas cylinders (EN 14470-2)	Cylinder securing, high/low extraction, fire-rated pass-throughs	Speciality gases, CO?, N?, corrosive gases
Li-ion batteries	Safe storage/charging, detection/alert, extinguishing	Tools, robots, IoT, samplers

In which environments is a safety storage cabinet used?

The safety cabinets protect people, samples and premises across a wide range of settings.

• Life sciences and pharma: chromatography solvents, formulation development, toxicology.
• Quality control and R&D: routine reagents, standards, small gas cylinders.
• Chemistry and cosmetics: volatile raw materials, concentrated acids/bases.
• Agri-food and environment: plant protection products, extraction solvents.
• Histology/pathology: xylene, formalin (dedicated cabinets and ventilation).
• Workshops, maintenance, higher education: secure multi-purpose storage.

Benefits: reduced vapour emissions, segregation of incompatibles, regulatory compliance and better ergonomics at work.

Available types of safety cabinets

Security cabinet

Frequently asked questions about laboratory safety storage cabinets

What’s the difference between a flammable safety cabinet and a “generic” chemical cabinet?
The flammable safety cabinet is tested to EN 14470-1 and provides a Type 30/90 fire resistance rating. A standard chemical cabinet does not guarantee this level of fire protection.

Should I ventilate my cabinet? Extract or recirculate?
Ventilation is essential to maximise the cabinet’s service life. Venting reduces vapours. Extract to the outside wherever possible; otherwise use a validated activated-carbon filtration module matched to your chemicals, with regular maintenance.

How do I choose the fire resistance time (30 vs 90 min)?
Your health and safety risk assessment and your insurer will determine the required rating.

Can acids and bases be stored in the same cabinet?
Yes, but only in separate, ventilated compartments. Otherwise, use dedicated cabinets to prevent reactions and accelerated corrosion.

Do lithium-ion batteries need a dedicated cabinet?
Recommended. Choose a model for storage/charging with early detection, alarm and an extinguishing system, ideally with a high fire-resistance rating.

What should be checked during maintenance?
Condition of gaskets/seals, automatic door closing, clean sump/bund, adequate ventilation draw, filters in date, legible CLP signage, earthing if required.