4 Tips for Storing Flammable Materials Around the House

2/17/2022 (Permalink)

SERVPRO of Fallbrook and South Oceanside arrived on scene to a fire loss.

From gasoline and propane to lesser-known culprits like nail polish remover and cleaning chemicals, there are many flammable materials in and around your home. In fact, it is likely that some of your most frequently-used products are considered highly combustible. With this in mind, safety is in your best interest. Learning how to store flammable materials at home can not only prevent fire hazards, but also poisoning and explosions. SERVPRO of Fallbrook and South Oceanside is sharing the best ways to store flammable liquids around the house.

Negligence and lack of caution can have detrimental consequences, particularly when it comes to flammable solutions and materials. Follow these tips to keep your family and property safe.

1. Store Flammable Items in the Proper Containers

Sometimes as you go through a product, it can be tempting to consolidate the solution or move it to an alternative container to free up storage space. However, when it comes to flammable materials, this is ill-advised. Always store these products in their proper containers. You should never use household storage options (such as a milk jug, Tupperware, old cans, or other items) for your flammables. Any household combustibles should be stored in Factory Mutual (FM)-certified safety containers to mitigate the volatility.

2. Location

The place where you keep your flammables is just as important as the container in which they are stored. It is not uncommon for homeowners to keep these solutions in the garage, basement, laundry room, or even under the sink. However, this can have deadly repercussions.

Store flammable liquids in a well-ventilated spot that is not attached to your main living area. Avoid keeping flammables near equipment that could cause a spark, or near an open flame. This means that these items should be kept away from your car, cigarettes, washers and dryers, HVAC systems, hot water heaters, and electrical power tools.

3. Consider the Temperature

You never want to keep flammables in an area with high heat, indoors or out. As such, these products should not be left in direct sunlight. One solution is to build a storage cabinet, or purchase a flammable liquid locker.

4. Keep Out of Reach

One key component of knowing how to store flammable materials at home is keeping them out of reach. You don’t want these solutions falling into the wrong hands. Curious children and pets could easily be injured or poisoned if you do not take the proper precautions. The aforementioned storage solutions can be the needed buffer to prevent tragedy.

Safe Storage of Flammables is Important

As a homeowner, you have so many items of your to-do list. Be sure that the proper storage of flammables does not fall to the wayside. Knowing how to store flammable materials around the house keeps your family and your property safe now, avoiding a need for fire restoration later.