Cabinets for non-flammable chemicals

What is an acid and alkali storage cabinet used for?

An acid and alkali storage cabinet is used to store non-flammable corrosive substances: acids, alkalis and their solutions, as well as other chemicals that do not require protection from fire. It protects people from contact with reagents and the room from the effects of spills and corrosion. It is no substitute for a fire-resistant safety storage cabinet: solvents and other flammable liquids are kept in 30-minute fire-resistant safety storage cabinets or 90-minute models to EN 14470-1. The general rules for laboratory storage are covered in our article on storing hazardous substances.

EN 16121 and EN 16122: what the standards test

Both standards apply to storage furniture. EN 16121 specifies safety, strength, durability and stability requirements for cabinets, while EN 16122 describes the test methods: shelf loading, the opening and closing of doors and drawers, and the stability of the cabinet both full and empty. For a chemical storage cabinet, this means that shelves do not sag under heavy bottles, extended drawers do not tip the cabinet over and the doors stand up to daily use. The corrosion resistance of the interior depends on the materials and construction, so it is worth checking where the hinges and locks are mounted.

From this categoryAcid and alkali cabinet SL-ClassicThe SL-Classic is a cabinet for acids and alkalis, compliant with EN 16121 and EN 16122, featuring pull-out shelves and trays, available in widths of 1200 and 597 mm.See product

Acids and alkalis in one cabinet: how to separate them

Acids are not stored on the same shelf as alkalis, because in a spill they react with each other, giving off heat and fumes. They can share a cabinet only on separate shelves with their own spill trays, and ideally they should be kept in separate compartments or cabinets. Our guide to storing acids and alkalis explains why this matters so much and how to plan the shelf layout.

Ventilation and corrosion-resistant materials

In SL-Classic cabinets, the safety components are mounted outside the storage compartment, so acid vapours do not corrode them. Built-in air ducts allow the cabinet to be connected to an extraction system. The model data sheets state the recommended extraction rate: for SL-Classic, 31 m³/h at a width of 1200 mm and 14 m³/h at 597 mm, which corresponds to 30 air changes per hour. Where the room has no extract duct, the alternative is a ventilated chemical cabinet with a filter. We have brought together the full requirements for this type of cabinet in our article on requirements for acid and alkali cabinets.

From this categoryAcid and alkali cabinet SL-Classic-UBSee product

SL-Classic, SL-Classic-UB and CS-Classic models

• SL-Classic: tall cabinet (1965 mm), 597 or 1200 mm wide, with pull-out shelves and removable plastic spill trays.
• SL-Classic-UB: under-worktop version, 600 mm high, in widths of 590, 1100 and 1400 mm, with pull-out shelves; recommended extraction rate from 4 to 11 m³/h.
• CS-Classic: steel body with a textured paint finish, 1950 or 1105 mm high, three door options (hinged, hinged with opening glass panels, folding), metal shelves on pull-out runners, a cylinder lock and levelling for uneven floors.