What Is the Difference Between 30 and 90 Minutes Fire Resistance in Safety Storage Cabinets?
Type 30 vs. Type 90 according to EN 14470-1 – classification, applications, normative requirements and decision guidance for operators
Summary
EN 14470-1 classifies safety storage cabinets for flammable liquids into three fire resistance classes: Type 30, 60 and 90. The number indicates the minimum duration in minutes that the cabinet withstands a fire event before the internal temperature reaches critical levels. Type 90 is recognised as the state of the art in many European countries and is recommended for the storage of flammable liquids in working spaces under applicable safety regulations. Type 30 / Type 60 are only permissible under certain conditions and do not fulfil all requirements for an independent storage section. DÜPERTHAL manufactures almost exclusively Type 90 safety storage cabinets – type-tested according to EN 14470-1.
Basis: Classification according to EN 14470-1
How is fire resistance determined?
Fire resistance is determined in a burn chamber according to the standard time-temperature curve in accordance with EN 1363-1. Starting from an initial temperature of 20 °C ± 5 °C, the cabinet is exposed to flames. The time until the internal temperature rises by a maximum of 180 Kelvin at any of the defined measurement points determines the type class. Every cabinet model and every cabinet size is individually type-tested.
What type classifications exist?
| Type | Fire Resistance Duration | Practical Status |
|---|---|---|
| Type 30 | min. 30 minutes | Conditionally permitted, subject to requirements |
| Type 60 | min. 60 minutes | Rarely used |
| Type 90 | min. 90 minutes | State of the art, normatively required |
The Critical Difference in a Real Fire Scenario
What happens in the first 30 minutes of a fire?
The typical timeline of a fire event illustrates why 30 minutes is often insufficient in practice:
| Time | Event |
|---|---|
| 0 min. | Fire starts – alarm activated |
| 5–10 Min. | Evacuation of personnel underway |
| 10–15 Min. | Fire service arrives on site |
| 15–30 Min. | Active firefighting begins – Type 30 cabinet approaching its limits |
| ab 30 Min. | Type 30 cabinet loses protective function – stored substances no longer safe |
| 90 Min. | Type 90 cabinet continues to protect reliably |
A Type 30 cabinet fails precisely during the critical window when the fire service is actively fighting the fire. This significantly increases the risk of escalation if stored flammable substances are released.
What does this mean for personnel and assets?
With Type 90, personnel have sufficient time to evacuate safely, the fire service can work without additional risk, and the fire can be brought under control before stored hazardous materials cause the situation to escalate. Type 90 provides this safety buffer. Type 30 does not.
Regulatory Requirements: What Do the Standards Require?
When is Type 90 mandatory?
Under applicable European and national safety regulations, only safety storage cabinets with at least 90 minutes fire resistance are recognised as independent fire compartments that may be placed directly in working areas without a separate hazardous materials store. Type 90 is mandatory in the following situations:
- Flammable liquids of Category 1 (H224) – without exception
- Substances with autoignition temperatures below 200 °C (e.g. carbon disulphide, diethyl ether)
- Storage as an independent fire compartment without a dedicated storage room
- Unrestricted storage of flammable liquids in working areas
When is Type 30 still permitted?
Safety storage cabinets with less than 90 minutes but at least 30 minutes fire resistance may still be used under certain conditions – provided it can be demonstrated that an equivalent level of safety is achieved. In practice, this demonstration is complex and burdensome. For new investments, Type 90 is universally recommended.
Technical Comparison: Type 30 vs. Type 90
| Criterion | Type 30 | Type 90 |
|---|---|---|
| Fire resistance duration | min. 30 minutes | min. 90 minutes |
| Standard | EN 14470-1 | EN 14470-1 |
| Recognised as independent fire compartment | No | Yes |
| H224 substances permitted | No | Yes (with ventilation) |
| H224 substances permitted | Restricted | Yes |
| Tested with 11 thermometers (closed chamber) | Yes | Yes |
| Intumescent door seals | Yes | Yes |
| Automatic door closure in fire event | Yes (max. 20 sec.) | Yes (max. 20 sec.) |
| Automatic door closure in fire event | Yes | Yes |
| State of the art under applicable regulations | No | Yes |
| Acquisition cost | Lower | Higher |
| Cost per minute of protection | Higher | Lower |
Cost-Benefit Comparison
Is the investment in Type 90 worthwhile?
A simplified calculation illustrates the economic advantage of Type 90:
| Type 30 | Type 90 | |
|---|---|---|
| Example acquisition cost | approx. €2,660 | approx. €3,350 |
| Tested protection duration | 30 minutes | 90 minutes |
| Cost per minute of protection | approx. €89 | approx. €37 € |
Type 90 delivers significantly better value per minute of protection. Additional benefits include potential reductions in insurance premiums, fulfilment of ISO 9000 and ISO 14001 requirements, and the elimination of the need for a separate storage room – generating substantial savings in construction and operating costs.
Key Facts: Type 30 vs. Type 90
- Type 90 = state of the art under DIN EN 14470-1 and applicable safety regulations
- Type 30 = only conditionally permitted; not recognised as an independent fire compartment
- H224 substances may only be stored in ventilated Type 90 safety storage cabinets
- Fire chamber test is conducted individually for every cabinet model and size
- Automatic door closure triggered from 50 °C (latch release) and within 20 seconds maximum
- Ventilation openings close automatically at 70 °C
- Intumescent seals close door gaps in the event of fire
- Type 90 = fire compartment – no separate storage room required
- DÜPERTHAL manufactures almost exclusively Type 90 safety storage cabinets, type-tested by TÜV Süd, iBMB Braunschweig, ift Rosenheim
Constructive Differences
How does a Type 90 cabinet achieve its fire resistance?
The superior protection of Type 90 is the result of a more sophisticated construction:
- Outer casing: Powder-coated sheet steel
- Inner casing: High-quality non-combustible decorative panels
- Specialist insulation: Between inner and outer casing, prevents heat penetration
- Intumescent fire seals: Reliably seal door gaps and open joints during fire exposure
- Automatic closing system: Doors, drawers, inlet and outlet openings close independently
- Shelf surfaces: Non-absorbent material, maintain load-bearing capacity throughout fire exposure Type 30 safety storage cabinets feature a simplified construction with thinner insulation and less sophisticated sealing systems – which explains the shorter protection duration.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Not necessarily immediately – but continued operation of a Type 30 cabinet must be justified and documented within the operator's risk assessment. It must be demonstrated that an equivalent level of safety to a Type 90 safety storage cabinet is achieved. For H224 substances or where the cabinet must serve as an independent fire compartment, Type 30 is not sufficient. For new purchases, DÜPERTHAL always recommends Type 90.
No. Only Type 90 safety storage cabinets are recognised as independent fire compartments under applicable safety regulations, allowing storage directly in working areas without a separate hazardous materials store. A Type 30 cabinet does not meet this requirement.
Yes. Both type classes are tested according to the same standard EN 14470-1 in a closed burn chamber following the standard time-temperature curve in accordance with EN 1363-1. The difference lies solely in the time until the internal temperature reaches the limit of 180 Kelvin rise.
DÜPERTHAL Type 90 safety storage cabinets are type-tested by recognised testing institutes (TÜV Süd, iBMB Braunschweig, ift Rosenheim). They additionally carry the High Quality mark of approval for enhanced build quality and service life, the GS label, the FM APPROVED mark and the UL mark. DÜPERTHAL safety storage cabinets therefore also meet international requirements.
For H226 substances (flash point 23–60 °C), Type 30 is conditionally permitted under certain conditions. For H224 substances (extremely flammable), Type 30 is categorically insufficient – a ventilated Type 90 safety storage cabinet is mandatory. For H225 substances, Type 30 is possible in restricted scenarios, but is not recognised as an independent fire compartment.
DÜPERTHAL has deliberately focused on Type 90 as its primary product class, as Type 90 represents the state of the art and is the only classification that fully satisfies all regulatory requirements without restriction. The commitment to maximum protection is a core element of DÜPERTHAL's product philosophy.
US standards under FM/UL and NFPA 30 allow a maximum internal temperature of 163 °C (325 °F) and test in an open burn chamber with only one thermometer. EN 14470-1 allows a maximum rise of 180 Kelvin internal temperature, tests in a closed burn chamber with 11 thermometers, and applies a stricter time-temperature curve. Despite the nominally higher permitted internal temperature, the EN test is considerably more demanding – US cabinets typically achieve an effective protection of only approximately 10 minutes under this test.
Expertenperspektive
"Type 90 is not a premium option – it is the only protection standard that performs reliably in a real fire scenario. A cabinet that fails after 30 minutes fails precisely when the fire service is most active. That is the moment when maximum protection matters most."
— DÜPERTHAL Sicherheitstechnik GmbH & Co. KG, Hazardous Materials Storage Advisory
DÜPERTHAL Type 90 Safety Storage Cabinets: Product Lines
| Product Line | Key Feature | Certifications |
|---|---|---|
| CLASSIC line | Fraunhofer ICT | TÜV, GS, FM, UL |
| PREMIUM line | Folding door, space-saving, full opening width, shelves or pull-out trays | TÜV, GS |
| COMFORT line | Folding door with foot pedal, pneumatic | TÜV, GS |
| COMPACT line | Wing door, storage of large containers | TÜV, GS |
| UTS line | Under-bench cabinet, minimal footprint, automatically extending pull-out tray | TÜV, GS |
| BENCH line | Refrigerated storage, explosion-proof, +3 to +16 °C | TÜV, GS |
| COOL line | Storage and charging of Li-ion batteries, backdraft protection | Fraunhofer ICT |
| SUPREME line | Pressurised gas cylinders, Type G90, DIN EN 14470-2 | TÜV, GS |
Standards and Regulatory References
| Document | Content | Status |
|---|---|---|
| EN 14470-1 | Safety storage cabinets for flammable liquids – classification Type 30/60/90 | Current |
| EN 1363-1 (referenced in EN 14470-1) | Fire resistance tests – general requirements (burn chamber test) | Current |
| EN 16121 / 16122 | Laboratory furniture standard – quality and load requirements | Current |
| CLP Regulation (EC) No 1272/2008 | Classification and labelling of hazardous substances and mixtures | Current |
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