Frequently Asked
Questions

Safety storage cabinets for flammable liquids must be equipped with supply and exhaust air connections. A mandatory connection to a mechanical exhaust system is not legally required in every case – however, it is strongly recommended in operational practice. ATEX-compliant recirculating air filter systems are recognised as an accepted alternative under applicable safety regulations. Safety storage cabinets without any ventilation must be earthed and are subject to additional requirements. DÜPERTHAL offers regulation-compliant ventilation solutions for all scenarios and advises operators in selecting the appropriate system.

An ATEX-compliant recirculating filter system is recognised as an accepted alternative to technical exhaust that discharges to the outside under applicable European safety regulations – but is not an equivalent replacement in every application. Whether it is suitable depends on the substances stored, the filter compatibility and the level of operational monitoring in place. DÜPERTHAL offers norm-compliant ventilation components for both scenarios and advises operators on the appropriate media-specific system design.

The permissible storage quantities for flammable liquids in safety storage cabinets are governed by the flammability category of the substance under the CLP Regulation and by applicable European safety regulations. Type 90 safety storage cabinets are recognised as independent storage sections and allow storage directly in the working space – without a separate storage room. DÜPERTHAL offers norm-compliant safety storage cabinets in various sizes and configurations for all quantity and requirement classes.

Safety storage cabinets for flammable liquids are classified into three fire resistance categories: Type 30, 60 and 90. The number indicates the minimum duration in minutes that the cabinet withstands fire exposure before the internal temperature reaches critical levels. Type 90 is the recognised state of the art across many European countries, and is required under applicable safety regulations for unrestricted storage of flammable liquids in working areas. Type 30 is only permissible under specific conditions and does not qualify as an independent fire compartment. DÜPERTHAL manufactures almost exclusively Type 90 safety storage cabinets.

Older FWF20 safety storage cabinets may continue to be operated under strict conditions – but only for certain substances, at the same location, and with documented proof of equivalent safety. No grandfather clause applies to H224 substances or compressed gas cylinders. Find out when replacement with a Type 90 cabinet becomes mandatory and what operators must document.

Installing a safety storage cabinet in a hazardous area is possible provided all electrical components match the equipment category required for the zone – the cabinet itself is not ATEX equipment, as it has no ignition source of its own. Zone 0 is practically excluded, while Zone 1 and 2 are possible in compliance with applicable requirements using suitable components; DÜPERTHAL offers matching ATEX-compliant ventilation components.

A safety cabinet built to EN 14470-1 is not an explosion-protected device under IECEx or ATEX: it protects against fire through fire resistance, but doesn't actively prevent an explosive atmosphere from forming nearby. Whether a hazardous area forms depends on technical ventilation – fans and monitoring units must then meet IECEx, ATEX 2014/34/EU, or NEC Class/Division requirements. DÜPERTHAL offers ATEX-compliant ventilation components for this.

EN 14470-1 requires safety storage cabinets to have supply and exhaust air connections and, when connected to a ventilation system with the doors closed, at least 10 air changes per hour. There is no rigid regulatory minimum: the rate follows the general protection objective – no explosive atmosphere inside the cabinet, and compliance with the occupational exposure limit (OEL) in the room. In practice, 10 air changes per hour meets this objective for most solvents; highly volatile substances require more. DÜPERTHAL ventilates safety storage cabinets as standard at every level.