Legislation: Act on Inflammable and Explosive Goods
This law regulates the management of inflammable and explosive goods and states that anyone handling, transferring or importing inflammable or explosive goods must take the necessary measures and care to prevent, avoid and limit accidents, injury and damage.
Permit to handle inflammable gases and liquids
A permit is necessary to handle inflammable goods if the total amount is in excess of a certain level. In 2005, the University Hospital was granted a general permit for the entire organisation that also covered operations on Campus US. Other campuses are responsible for ensuring that permits for their operations are in place.
Operations that deal with amounts of goods requiring a permit must appoint an Inflammable Material Manager. Operations must report the amount of inflammable material stored to KLARA, the chemical management system.
Concepts and terms for flammable goods
- Flammable goods are divided into flammable gases, flammable liquids and fire reactive goods.
- Flammable gases are gases that form a flammable mixture in air at 20 °C.
- Flammable liquids are liquids with a flash point of 100°C or less.
- The flash point is the liquid temperature at which a flammable liquid emits a flammable vapour-air mixture.
- Fire-reactive substances are either flammable solids, self-igniting substances, substances which emit flammable gases in contact with water, oxidising substances or organic peroxides.
Basic principles for safe handling
- Flammable substances should only be handled in dedicated and authorised locations, taking into account the risk of ignition and the risk of formation of an explosive atmosphere.
- Handling, and therefore also storage, shall be carried out in such a way that unauthorised persons do not have access to the substances.
- Flammable substances shall not be stored in spaces other than those intended for flammable substances.
- No flammable goods may be stored in fume cupboards other than what is needed for the task in question. On completion of the task, the flammable goods must be moved to the designated storage cabinet.
- Large packages that result in transfer to another container should be avoided; the purchase of smaller packages should be endeavoured.
- Waste is classed as a flammable product and must be handled in the same way as unused products.
Flammable liquids
Flammable liquids contribute to the rapid spread of fire when ignited, with potentially serious consequences. Depending on the flash point, or if the liquid is heated, an explosive atmosphere is formed and the presence of ignition sources must be taken into account.
The amount of flammable material stored in the institution/equivalent should always be minimised. This applies in particular to flammable goods stored in the front of the laboratory. No exact limits can be set for the volumes that may be stored in the laboratory, but they should be limited to the amount needed for the day's work. Flammable goods should never be stored or temporarily placed in an escape route.
Flammable liquids contribute to the rapid spread of fire when ignited, with potentially serious consequences. Depending on the flash point, or if the liquid is heated, an explosive atmosphere is formed and the presence of ignition sources must be taken into account.
The amount of flammable material stored in the institution/equivalent should always be minimised. This applies in particular to flammable goods stored in the front of the laboratory. No exact limits can be set for the volumes that may be stored in the laboratory, but they should be limited to the amount needed for the day's work. Flammable goods should never be stored or temporarily placed in an escape route.
Here is a summary of the rules for the storage of flammable liquids:
- Less than 50 litres per fire compartment, fire rated cabinet is not required.
- More than 50 litres per fire cell, fire rated cabinet required at least EI30, which means the cabinet can withstand a fire for 30 minutes.
- Ventilated storage
- Unventilated storage - there is a potentially explosive atmosphere. Classification plan required.
- Consider the requirements for protection against the spread of flammable liquids in the event of spillage or leakage and what the flammable liquid may be stored with.
- Flammable liquids must not be stored with flammable gases or flammable materials.
All flammable liquids must be stored in the designated storage area when not in use for daily operations. At the end of the working day, the flammable liquid should be returned to the storage area. In the absence of a specific risk assessment, the normal daily requirement is 10 litres of flammable liquid.
Gas and aerosols
Flammable gas is defined as a gas which, at a temperature of 20°C and normal pressure of 101.3 kPa (normal air pressure), can form a flammable gas mixture with air. Examples of flammable gas are LPG, hydrogen and acetylene. Flammable aerosol containers (spray cans) are also considered as loose containers of flammable gas.
Pressurised containers pose a particular risk and must therefore be handled safely.
- There shall be operating and maintenance procedures describing maintenance and cylinder replacement.
- Annual inspection of the gas pipework system shall be carried out.
- A list of gas cylinders should be kept.
- Loose cylinders should be handled and positioned in a way that is appropriate from a safety point of view.
- Be moved on purpose-built trolleys.
- Secured in place and kept upright at all times.
- The main tap of the cylinder shall be closed when the gas is not in use.
- Keys for attaching and detaching regulators or other connections to the gas cylinders shall be provided in places where gas cylinders are connected.
- The place where gas cylinders are located shall be signposted.
If the gas cylinder contains flammable gas, there is a risk of a flammable gas mixture arising in the event of a leak. Particular care must be taken to avoid ignition sources.
Fire-reactive goods
There are a number of substances that can cause or aggravate a fire, including oxidising, self-reactive, etc. However, only those substances listed in regulations issued by MSB or its predecessor are classified as fire reactive according to LBE. These substances are:
- Hydrogen peroxide (SÄIFS 1999:2 chapter 3.2)
- Organic peroxides (SÄIFS 1996:4 chapter 4)
- Ammonium nitrate (SÄIFS 1995:6 chapter 10)
- Low-nitrated nitrocellulose (SÄIFS 1989:5 §11)
Storage of flammable goods
Due to the characteristics of flammable and explosive materials, including their reactivity with other substances, the risk of ignition and explosion, as well as the potential formation of toxic and corrosive substances during a fire, regulations are in place for the storage of such materials.
Wherever possible, separate storage of flammable and explosive goods should be pursued. This means having a dedicated storage cabinet for each group of substances classified as flammable or explosive goods, without any mixture with other substance groups.
This section is solely based on the laws and regulations of the Myndigheten för samhällsskydd och beredskap (MSB) concerning flammable goods.
The following co-storage is prohibited by law or regulation:
- Explosive materials must be stored in a separate storage space.
- Flammable liquids should not be stored together with flammable gases or flammable aerosol containers under normal circumstances. (except for individual aerosol spray cans)
- Co-storage of flammable gases with gas cylinders containing halogen compounds, toxic, corrosive, or self-igniting gases is not allowed.
- Highly flammable materials, such as fabric, paper, cardboard, and similar materials, must not be stored in the same space as flammable or explosive substances.
- The quantity of co-stored chemicals should be limited as much as possible to reduce risks.
- The storage space should meet requirements for ventilation, fire separation, and containment for all stored substances.
- Liquids should be stored in the lower part, and dry products should be stored in the upper part of the storage space.
- Procedures and appropriate spill materials should be available and known to all involved parties.
- Flammable goods must not be stored together with goods of other hazards, such as products with toxic, corrosive, or oxidizing contents. However, the following exceptions apply:
- Toxic substances that are also flammable should be stored with flammable liquids or in a separate cabinet.
- Corrosive substances that are also flammable should be stored with flammable liquids or in a separate cabinet.
- The safety data sheet contains information about the properties of the substance. Perform checks to ensure that chemicals do not react dangerously with each other based on the information in the safety data sheet.
According to the Swedish Civil Contingencies Agency (MSB) information leaflet for laboratories, co-storage of small quantities and individual smaller containers may be permitted in certain cases, but this should be assessed on a case-by-case basis.
General storage rules
General storage rules apply to chemical products, including flammable goods. These rules are described on the page Management of chemicals.
Labelling
Cabinets and storerooms where flammable goods are stored must be labelled. The signs inform those who handle flammable goods in the workplace of their location. The signs are also important so that the fire and rescue service can quickly obtain information about where the flammable goods are stored in the event of an incident. With the help of the signs, it should be possible to find the flammable goods from the nearest corridor. This means that sometimes signs are needed not only on the door of the store or cabinet but also on the door leading from the corridor to the store or cabinet where the flammable goods are stored. All signs must be of good durability with regard to the surrounding environment and be placed in a visible position.
Region Östergötland
Within Region Östergötland's operations, all handling of flammable goods must be done according to guidelines for handling flammable goods.