We have a number of vans transporting equipment for site work.  Equipment includes various cans of aerosols containing extremely flammable substances, would only ever be up to 10 full and part full cans.  I am trying to find info on what are the storage requirements for these within the vans.  We have been looking at putting a small COSHH cabinet in each van but is this necessary as we are limited for space and trying to keep weight down.  Does anyone have experience of this please. 

We have a small "COSHH" (fire proof etc.) box in a van that uses small amounts of solvents and aerosols. This has far more to do with decreasing the likelihood of accidental release whilst driving. It is small, around 50cm square, and fixed to the van floor.

We felt it a necessary control to reduce the risk of exposure to the driver. Another benefit is reduced carrying capacity, thus reducing the amount take with them.

For construction the default is "Chemical = COSHH" and no one seems to challenge this ignorance.

Try and look beyond the pictograms on the aerosols and listed in Section 2 of the Safety Data Sheet.

The aerosol manufacturer will have used the correct packaging group and type to satisfy ADR (European Road Transport) and it is highly likley these are transported in bulk under Limited Quantity exemption to the distributor i.e. as the material is in smaller packages a lot of the transport restrictions do not apply for the UN Class of product being moved. At ten aerosols your activity would also be LQ.

Your issues will be related to conditions within the vehicle:

A lot of aerosols have specific temperature limits especially those containing highly flammable substances so to my thinking a box within a box during summer even in the UK may not be a good idea especially when the cargo area does not have active ventilation.

You need to protect the dispenser head from damage or inadvertant activation and the body from being punctured.

My neighbour now has a modified wooden wine rack (on its back) in his van for the expanding filler foams and marker paints he uses - previously they were in a wooden rack built in to the side of the van.

Nice use of a wine rack!