MSC Plan Review Guidance SOLAS-05 provides the following guidance for portable flammable lockers:
In spaces where a limited supply of flammable liquids or gases is necessary for the practical utility of the space, it may be permissible to install an approved flammable liquid cabinet to stow small quantities of items for daily use. These cabinets must:
- Provide adequate thermal insulation to protect the contents from an external fire. This thermal protection must be at least at the level required by SOLAS II-2, Table 9.1 between a category 14 space and the space in which the cabinet is located;
- Be designed to contain leakage and spills; and
- Be gas/fume-tight.
Cabinets manufactured and approved to EN14470-1, Type 60 or Type 90 are acceptable. Cabinets meeting NFPA 30 or UL 1275, only provide protection for 10 minutes and should only be used in category 11, 12 or 14 spaces. In all cases cabinets must be suitable for the intended use as determined by the flag administration. When used, these lockers must be permanently mounted to the deck and indicated on the Fire Control Plan or otherwise be included in the ship's Safety Management System (SMS) and training program. The quantity and types of materials contained in these lockers must be consistent with the manufacturer's recommendations.
Spaces other than category 14 spaces do not typically have the protections (for example: classified electrical fittings, ventilation and insulation) required for storing flammable liquids. However, the practical utility of certain spaces may necessitate the storage of a small quantity of ready-use flammable liquid or gas. This would include materials used frequently during operation where it is impractical for crew to travel to a centralized category 14 store room each time the materials are needed. As such, it may be permissible to store a small amount of these materials for daily use, not to exceed the storage capacity of a single locker of flammable liquids. Such storage should be in steel lockers designed for the purpose and provided with a means to safely contain and extinguish a fire involving these materials.