Safety Storage Cans

Safety cans are designed to permit safe handling, storage, transport, or disposal of flammable liquids or waste by controlling any flammable vapors that may be present.

 

Safety Requirements

To meet OSHA requirements, a safety storage can must

• Have a flame arrester
• Be leakproof
• Automatically vent vapor
• Self-close after filling or pouring
• Have a max. containment volume of 5 gal. (18.9L).

In addition, any portable safety can containing flammable liquids with a flash point at or below 26.7°C (80°F) must also be emblazoned with a yellow band or stenciled identification marker.

Department of Transportation (DOT) and United Nations (UN) approvals require the cans to have specific features, such as roll bars, to ensure safe transport of flammable liquids.

Flame Arresters

Safety cans must have a flame arrester inside the spout or fill opening that prevents fire flashback to the can contents. Flame arresters are made of wire mesh or perforated metal, with a large surface area to permit heat dissipation while allowing a free flow of liquid during dispensing or filling. By absorbing and dissipating the heat from any liquid or air entering the can, flame arresters keep the vapor temperature inside the can below its flash point.