Aerosol Can Storage Is a Property Management Issue, Not Just a Safety Issue
A few improperly stored cans can create fire risk, insurance concerns, and operational headaches that extend well beyond the maintenance room.
Aerosol cans are easy to overlook in an industrial building. They show up in maintenance shops, janitorial closets, production areas, and tenant storage rooms. Over time, the collection grows.
The problem is that aerosol cans are pressurized and often flammable. Improper storage can increase fire risk, create compliance issues, and potentially affect insurance coverage. The issue is not the cans themselves. It is whether ownership and management know where they are, how they are stored, and whether the property has procedures in place to manage the risk.
The recent Greek Management eblast on aerosol can storage highlights something we see often in industrial properties: small operational details that can become much bigger issues if nobody is paying attention.
Why It Matters
Industrial buildings house a wide variety of tenant operations. Maintenance teams and tenants frequently store cleaning products, lubricants, paints, and chemicals that arrive in aerosol form.
When these materials are stored improperly, several issues can arise:
- Increased fire risk
- Potential code compliance concerns
- Greater exposure to property damage
- Tenant safety issues
- Insurance questions following a claim
Even a relatively minor fire event can lead to operational disruption, business interruption, and expensive repairs.
The goal is not to create alarm. The goal is to make sure these materials are being managed appropriately before they become a problem.
Where Property Management Comes In
Fire and life safety is ultimately a management process.
Property managers should understand how tenants are using space, identify potential hazards during inspections, and make sure building safety systems are functioning properly.
The aerosol can storage guidance from our monthly eblast emphasizes three practical steps:
- Store aerosol cans in approved mesh wire cages.
- Understand the fire risks associated with pressurized and flammable materials.
- Maintain central station monitoring so alarms are transmitted and responded to quickly.
None of these are complicated. They are simply examples of the daily blocking and tackling that protects buildings and tenants.
What Owners Should Check
Industrial owners should periodically review:
- Where aerosol products are being stored throughout the property.
- Whether tenants have introduced hazardous materials that were not originally anticipated.
- Whether maintenance rooms have become informal storage areas.
- Whether fire alarm and monitoring systems are current and functioning properly.
- Whether inspection records and fire protection documentation are complete.
- Whether property inspections include reviews of storage practices and housekeeping conditions.
Many operational risks are visible if someone is looking for them.
What This Means for NJ and PA Industrial Owners
Many industrial buildings across New Jersey and Pennsylvania were designed for different users than the tenants occupying them today.
Manufacturing operations, light assembly users, contractors, and logistics companies often bring additional materials and processes into buildings that can gradually change the property’s risk profile.
Older buildings, in particular, may have limited dedicated storage areas, which leads tenants and maintenance teams to improvise.
That is where property management matters.
Good management is often the difference between identifying a small issue early and discovering it after an incident has already occurred.
The Bigger Lesson
Aerosol can storage may seem like a minor operational detail. It isn’t.
It is another reminder that industrial properties perform best when management stays engaged in the day-to-day details of how buildings are actually being used.
Most property problems do not begin with major failures. They start with small things that nobody thought were important enough to track.
A few cans on a shelf can be one of those things.
Greek Management helps industrial owners identify issues early, coordinate vendors, manage repairs, and keep property operations aligned with ownership expectations. If you want a practical second look at your property operations, we would be happy to talk.
Read more insights.