Hazmat responses in commercial enterprises don’t typically happen. Usually, when you go to your local grocery store or Walmart, the most alarming spill is an overturned carton of milk or a few renegade avocadoes that somehow found their way to an adjacent aisle.
Unfortunately, these haphazard mishaps were not the case at an Oregon Walmart recently when customers were abruptly ushered from the store when associates discovered a fire in the pool chemical area. Thanks to due diligence and a well-executed evacuation plan, employees and customers escaped the building unscathed but the errant fire still serves as a reminder on the importance of proper storage of dangerous materials.
Upon further investigation, authorities found multiple types of chemicals “were stored in the aisle the fire started in.” Fire chief Gordon Sletmore was relieved to find that there were no injuries. “Walmart did a great job of evacuating people. If there is a fire in a commercial business and somebody tells you to leave, you should leave like the customers here did,” he said.
Fire rated flammable chemical solutions
While we have no reason to doubt Walmart’s protocol in responding to dangerous situations such as these – in fact, we applaud their timely execution; we can’t help but wonder if similar fires like this could be prevented with proper storage facilities. Although the adage is true in saying that hindsight is 20/20, we firmly believe that one of our fire rated chemical storage units can prevent similar fires. Certain chemical compounds and mixtures are typically benign on their own, but if stored in proximity to other volatile substances, such as cleaning solutions, explosions or fires can be imminent. Our two-hour and four-hour fire rated solutions are professionally welded lockers that can separate and manage corrosives, oxidizers and flammable chemicals.
More about our Fire-rated structures
Our Two-Hour Fire Rated structures are designed for storing comustibles and flammable chemicals that need to be located within 10’ to 75’ of an occupied facility or property line. These structures are battle test and ready to withstand the unrelenting abuse of intense fires for more than two hours. Our four-hour flammable chemical units offer similar protection, but for an extended period of time. These rentals allow your worried mind to rest assured, knowing that they meet all NFPA and OSHA requirements for storing volatile chemicals.
Depending on your level of desired protection, our rentable flammable chemical storage buildings come with a variety of options. Our four-hour version, for example, comes equipped with explosion proof lights and a mechanical exhaust fan that can endure grueling punishment and blistering heat. These units also come with a dry chemical fire suppression system and an explosion relief panel. Rest easy with the reassurance that our premium 12 Gauge steel construction is built to contain the most unpredictable elements. And what is security without a heavy-duty lock system? We have you covered and protected. Call (866) 298-0674 for a quick quote and to put your worried fears to rest.
