1910.106(d)(5): Flammable Liquid Storage Inside Buildings
Flammable liquids, including stock for sale, must not be stored where they limit use of exits, stairways or areas used for safe egress. In office occupancies, storage is limited to what is needed for building maintenance and equipment, kept in closed metal containers in a cabinet, safety cans or a proper storage room, and leaking containers must be moved and their contents transferred to an undamaged container.
Key takeaways
- 1910.106(d)(5) is part of OSHA's general industry standards (29 CFR Part 1910, Subpart H).
- OSHA cited it 55 times in the last 3 years, in 53 inspections, with $114,380 in current penalties.
- Most citations: MI (6), VA (6), CA (5).
- Related part: 1910.106(d) Container and portable tank storage (357 citations).
- Free 5-minute toolbox talk for your crew below.
In this article
What this rule covers
29 CFR 1910.106(d)(5) ("Storage inside building") is one requirement inside 1910.106 Flammable liquids, an OSHA general industry standard (Part 1910, Subpart H). It includes 6 sub-paragraphs. The official text below is copied word for word from the Electronic Code of Federal Regulations (eCFR). The numbers, injury cases and training on this page show how OSHA enforces it on real job sites.
Official text
(5) Storage inside building — 55 citations
(i) Egress. Flammable liquids, including stock for sale, shall not be stored so as to limit use of exits, stairways, or areas normally used for the safe egress of people. Open (d)(5)(i) 20 citations
(ii) Containers. The storage of flammable liquids in containers or portable tanks shall comply with subdivisions (iii) through (v) of this subparagraph. 4 citations
(iii) Office occupancies. Storage shall be prohibited except that which is required for maintenance and operation of building and operation of equipment. Such storage shall be kept in closed metal containers stored in a storage cabinet or in safety cans or in an inside storage room not having a door that opens into that portion of the building used by the public. Open (d)(5)(iii) 17 citations
(iv) Mercantile occupancies and other retail stores. 1 citations
(a)-(d) [Reserved]
(e) Leaking containers shall be removed to a storage room or taken to a safe location outside the building and the contents transferred to an undamaged container.
(v) General purpose public warehouses. Storage shall be in accordance with Table H-14 or H-15 and in buildings or in portions of such buildings cut off by standard firewalls. Material creating no fire exposure hazard to the flammable liquids may be stored in the same area. Open (d)(5)(v) 7 citations
(vi) Flammable liquid warehouses or storage buildings. Open (d)(5)(vi) 6 citations
(a) If the storage building is located 50 feet or less from a building or line of adjoining property that may be built upon, the exposing wall shall be a blank wall having a fire-resistance rating of at least 2 hours.
(b) The total quantity of liquids within a building shall not be restricted, but the arrangement of storage shall comply with Table H-14 or H-15.
(c) Containers in piles shall be separated by pallets or dunnage where necessary to provide stability and to prevent excessive stress on container walls.
(d) Portable tanks stored over one tier high shall be designed to nest securely, without dunnage, and adequate materials handing equipment shall be available to handle tanks safely at the upper tier level.
(e) No pile shall be closer than 3 feet to the nearest beam, chord, girder, or other obstruction, and shall be 3 feet below sprinkler deflectors or discharge orifices of water spray, or other overhead fire protection systems.
(f) Aisles of at least 3 feet wide shall be provided where necessary for reasons of access to doors, windows or standpipe connections.
Source: eCFR, text current as of 2026-10-15. Read all of 1910.106.
Where and how often it was cited
| Year | Citations |
|---|---|
| 2023 | 1 |
| 2024 | 16 |
| 2025 | 28 |
| 2026 | 10 |
Top states: MI (6), VA (6), CA (5), NY (4), PA (4)
Largest penalties
| Employer | Location | Penalty for this rule |
|---|---|---|
| THE GOODYEAR TIRE & RUBBER COMPANY | DANVILLE, VA | $13,415 |
| PUGH ACQUISITION COMPANY | CORPUS CHRISTI, TX | $11,292 |
| ACTON TECHNOLOGIES, INC | PITTSTON, PA | $10,400 |
| SPRAY PRODUCTS CORPORATION | PLYMOUTH MEETING, PA | $10,372 |
| WIKOFF COLOR CORPORATION | LISBON, WI | $9,000 |
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A 5-minute crew talk on 1910.106(d)(5), plus alerts when this rule changes. Free.
OSHA interpretation letters
- The storage and handling of flammable and combustible liquids in Clairol's Stamford warehouse. (1986-09-19)
- Warehouses in which Class 1A and Class 1B liquids are stored. (1976-01-14)
- Storage of flammable and combustible liquids. (1975-09-02)
Related parts of this rule
- 1910.106(d) Container and portable tank storage 357 citations
- 1910.106(d)(2) Design, construction, and capacity of containers 125 citations
- 1910.106(d)(2)(i) General 83 citations
- 1910.106(d)(4) Design and construction of inside storage rooms 67 citations
- 1910.106(d)(3) Design, construction, and capacity of storage cabinets 65 citations
- 1910.106(d)(3)(ii) Fire resistance 59 citations
- 1910.106(d)(2)(iii) Size 39 citations
- 1910.106(d)(4)(i) Construction 26 citations
- 1910.106(d)(7) Fire control 23 citations
- 1910.106(d)(4)(iv) Ventilation 22 citations
- 1910.106(d)(6) Storage outside buildings 22 citations
- 1910.106(d)(5)(i) Egress 20 citations
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Frequently asked questions
Can flammable liquids be stored near exits?
No. They must not be stored so as to limit use of exits, stairways or areas normally used for safe egress.
What storage is allowed in offices?
Only what is required for maintenance and operation of the building and equipment, in closed metal containers in a storage cabinet, safety cans, or a proper inside storage room.
What should be done with a leaking container?
Remove it to a storage room or a safe location outside and transfer the contents to an undamaged container.
About this page
Sources
- 29 CFR 1910.106 (eCFR), text current as of 2026-10-15
- U.S. Department of Labor enforcement data: OSHA inspections, citations and accident records, copied nightly; data as of 2026-10-21
3-year window. Federal OSHA only; state-plan rules are not counted. Plain-language text is a summary, not legal advice; the official text controls. Black Belt Safety is not part of OSHA or the Department of Labor.