Safety cabinets for flammable liquids – EN 14470-1

The cabinets are tested in a furnace heated according to the EN 1363-1 standard fire curve, simulating a realistic fire scenario:

• 5 minutes: approx. 576 °C
• 30 minutes: approx. 842 °C
• 60 minutes: approx. 945 °C
• 90 minutes: approx. 1000 °C

Classification depends on the time the cabinet limits the internal temperature rise to ≤ 180 K (≈ 200 °C maximum).

• Type 30
• Type 60
• Type 90

Type 15 only existed in the previous edition of the standard.

These classes indicate how long the cabinet protects its contents before the critical temperature limit is reached

• Doors: fully self-closing within 20 s; hold-open devices released at approx. 50 °C; fitted with intumescent seals expanding under heat.
• Ventilation: inlet and exhaust vents automatically close at approx. 70 °C. Without connection to ventilation or filtration, vapours may accumulate, and the area may be classified as an ATEX hazardous zone.
• Spill containment: sump with ≥ 10 % of total storage volume or ≥ 110 % of the largest container, remaining functional after fire exposure. In Belgium, the Code on well-being at work also applies: at least the largest container and a quarter of the total. Calculate both and use the larger result.
• Load capacity: shelves and pull-out trays must support the rated load throughout the fire resistance period.

EN 14470-1 does not require earthing. Many cabinets have an earthing point, but this varies by model: on some versions only the interior fittings can be earthed. An earthing point alone does not protect; the connection must be made correctly, and when decanting, the containers and equipment used are part of the assessment too.

Earthing depends on the risk assessment and the manufacturer’s instructions; we strongly recommend it for cabinets containing combustible or flammable products.

• Covers: safety cabinets ≤ 2 m³; classifications type 30/60/90; testing according to EN 1363-1.
• Does not cover: walk-in storage rooms or masonry constructions; storage of other hazardous substances (e.g. acids, alkalis); lithium-ion batteries: EN 14470-1 does not test a fire that starts inside the cabinet, which is what VDMA 24994 covers.

The Dutch guideline PGS 15 (Publicatiereeks Gevaarlijke Stoffen 15) is sometimes cited for safety cabinets for flammable liquids, but it only applies in the Netherlands. In Belgium, the Code on well-being at work (book III, title 5) sets where flammable liquids in mobile containers may be stored, including in a safety cabinet with self-closing doors and a sump holding at least the largest container and a quarter of the total volume. EN 14470-1 is the European product standard used to test the cabinet's fire resistance. What else the Code and the regions require is explained in our guide to the storage of hazardous substances.

Inspection and maintenance: a fire-resistant safety cabinet limits the consequences of a fire. In the workplace, the Belgian Code on well-being at work requires such fire protection equipment to be inspected at least once a year and maintained according to the manufacturer's instructions, keeping the dates and findings on record (art. III.3-22). The Code does not name safety cabinets separately; the obligation follows from this broad definition. An inspection is not automatically a check by an accredited body. We order the annual inspection from Asecos for you; read more in our FAQ on the annual inspection of a safety cabinet.