Handlermfg.com | Instruction Manual | 2013
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NFPA 30
Section A.6.3.4 of the National Fire Protection Association Code 30, 2003
edition, states
“Venting of storage cabinets has not been demonstrated to be necessary for
fire protection purposes. Additionally, venting a cabinet could compromise the
ability of the cabinet to adequately protect its contents from involvement in a fire
because cabinets are not generally tested with any venting. Therefore, venting
of storage cabinets is not recommended.
However, it is recognized that some jurisdictions can require storage cabinets
to be vented and that venting can also be desirable for other reasons, such as
health and safety. In such cases, the venting system should be installed so as
not to affect substantially the desired performance of the cabinet during a fire.
Means of accomplishing this can include thermally actuated dampers on the
vent openings or sufficiently insulating the vent piping system to prevent the
internal temperature of the cabinet from rising above that specified. Any make-
up air to the cabinet should also be arranged in a similar manner.
If vented, the cabinet should be vented from the bottom with make-up air
supplied to the top. Also, mechanical exhaust ventilation is preferred and
should comply with NFPA 91, Standard for Exhaust Systems for Air Conveying
of Vapors, Gases, Mists, and Noncombustible Particulate Solids. Manifolding
the vents of multiple storage cabinets should be avoided.”
