How Safe is your Lab Fridge?

The Electricity at Work Regulations 1989 requires electrical equipment exposed to flammable or explosive substances to be constructed to minimise the danger arising from such exposure. One such piece of electrical equipment, often overlooked, is the laboratory fridge.

Fires and explosions have been reported that arise directly from domestic refrigerators and freezers being used in laboratories. It is, therefore, recommended that laboratories where flammable substances may be stored use purpose built spark free appliances.

Spark free fridges and freezers, such as Labcold’s, have no internal source of ignition as all the ignition points are removed from the cabinet. Since 1997 there have been 25 serious fires in laboratories, each of which incurred loses in excess of £13 million.

One way to reduce this hazard to life and work is to ensure that your lab fridge/freezer is fit for purpose and from a specialist manufacturer who manufactures specifically for laboratories such as Labcold.