Flammable and Combustible Liquids

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Flammable and Combustible Liquids

• INSY 3020
• Spring 2006

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Where do you encounter Flammable Liquids

• Gasoline Car/Truck
• BBQ
• Deodorant Sprays/Perfumes

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Flammable and Combustible Liquids

• 29CFR 1910.106
• Based on National Fire Protection
  Association-NFPA 30 Code
• The standard applies to handling, storage and use
  of flammable and combustible liquids with flash
  point below 200F

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Definitions

• Boiling Point
• It is the temperature at which the liquid and
  vapor (gas) phases of a substance can exist in
  equilibrium
• Temp at which vapor pressure 1 atm

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Definitions

• Vapor Pressure
• Partial pressure of the vapors produced at the
  surface of a liquid at a given temperature (i.e.
  100º F)
• Remember, its the vapor which burns, not the
  liquid.
• How will you find the vapor pressure of a liquid?

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Definitions

• Vapor Density
• The weight of a flammable vapor compared to air.
  (Air 1)
• Vapor with high density are more dangerous than
  vapors with low density.

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Definitions

• Relationship between Boiling Point and Vapor
  Pressure
• The boiling point is the temperature at which the
  vapor pressure of the liquid equals the external
  pressure

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Definitions

• Flash Point
• The minimum temperature at which a liquid gives
  off enough vapor within a test vessel in
  sufficient concentration to form an ignitable
  mixture with air near the surface of the liquid.

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How to Determine Flash Point?

• It is determined by heating the liquid in test
  equipment and measuring the temperature at which
  a flash will be obtained when a small flame is
  introduced above the surface of the liquid.

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How will you differentiate between a flammable
liquid a combustible liquid?

• Depends on flash point and vapor pressure/boiling
  point
• Both are properties of materials

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Classes of Flammable and Combustible Liquids
Flashpoint (Fo)
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Flammable and Combustible Liquids

• Flammable Liquids
• Any liquid having a flashpoint below 100o F
  (37.8o C) or lower.
• NFPA Classes IA, IB, IC

• Combustible Liquids
• Any liquid having a flashpoint at or above 100o
  F (37.8o C).
• NFPA Classes II IIIA B

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Flammable Liquid Classification

• Flammable liquids are also called as Class I
  liquids
• Class IA - flashpoints lt73 F and boiling point
  lt100 F.
• Class IB - flashpoints lt 73 F boiling point gt100
  F.
• Class IC - flashpoints at or above 73 F and below
  100 F.

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LFL or LEL

• Lower Flammable Limit (LFL) or Lower Explosive
  Limit (LEL)
• The percentage of vapor in the air below which a
  fire cannot occur.
• This is because there isnt enough vapor fuel
  mixture is too lean.

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UFL or UEL

• Upper Flammable Limit (LFL) or Upper Explosive
  Limit (UEL)
• The percentage of vapor in the air above which a
  fire cannot occur.
• This is because there isnt enough air for the
  fire mixture is too rich.

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Lower and Upper Explosive Levels (LEL/UEL)
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Combustible Liquid Classification

• Classified among two classes
• Class II - shall include those with flashpoints
  at or above 100 F (37.8 C) and below 140 F (60
  C)
• Class III - shall include those with flashpoints
  at or above 140 F (60 C).

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Combustible Liquid Classification

• Class III Classification
• Class IIIA - shall include those with flashpoints
  at or above 140 F (60 C) and below 200 F (93.3
  C)
• Class IIIB - shall include those with flashpoints
  at or above 200 F (93.3 C).

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FIRE Prevention
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Hazards of Flammable Liquids

• Exposure Control Measures Include
• Eliminating flames, static electricity, sparks
  from electrical circuits.
• Temperature.
• Proper Ventilation.
• Grounding/Bonding.
• Spill Control/Emergency Response.
• Proper disposal of spent flammable
• liquids and soaked rags.

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Flammable Liquids Fire Prevention

• Controlling the potential for fire and explosion
  with flammable liquids is done through
• Housekeeping
• Control of ignition sources
• Remember STUD- Storage, Transfer, Use and
  Disposal.

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Housekeeping

• Establish maintenance and operating practices to
  control leakage and prevent the accidental
  release of flammable or combustible liquids
• Promptly clean up spills
• Maintain adequate aisles for unobstructed
  movement of personnel and application of fire
  protection equipment

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Housekeeping

• Combustible waste material and residues must be
• Kept to a minimum
• Stored in covered metal receptacles
• Disposed of daily
• Kept away from unit operations and building
  areas.

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Ignition Sources

• Sources of ignition can include
• Open flames
• Smoking
• Cutting and welding
• Hot surfaces
• Friction heat
• Static, electrical, and mechanical sparks
• Spontaneous ignition
• Radiant heat
• Heat producing chemical reactions

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Definitions

• Grounding Applying a grounding wire to a
  container to eliminate a difference in static
  charge changes the potential between an object
  and ground.
• Bonding Use of a wire between two drums to
  eliminate the static charge potential between
  objects.

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Ignition Sources

• Static charge can be generated when liquids are
  dispensed and it must be controlled by proper
  grounding as follows
• The container being filled is connected to the
  dispensing container with a wire
• The dispensing container is connected to a ground
  wire

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Ignition Source Electrical Equipment

• Ensure that the electrical equipment is of the
  correct type
• All electrical wiring and equipment must be
  installed according to the requirements of
  Subparts S of OSHA standards
• Some areas require special (explosion-proof)
  electrical equipment

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Ignition Sources- Hot work, cutting, welding

• In order to perform hot work, activities must be
  planned
• Follow established safe working procedures
• Obtain a hot working permit
• Must be conducted under the supervision of a
  qualified competent person

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Container Portable Tank Storage

• Only approved containers and portable tanks may
  be used for storage
• Portable Tanks must have provisions for emergency
  venting
• Metal containers and portable tanks should meet
  the requirements of the Department of
  Transportation
• Gases must be stored in a safety can

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Storage Cabinets Design, Construction and
Capacity of Containers

• Not more than 60 gallons of Class I or II
  liquids, or 120 gallons of Class III liquids may
  be stored in the cabinet
• Internal temperature must not exceed 325 F when
  subjected to a 10 minute fire test
• Label it is Flammable-Keep Fire Away

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Storage Cabinets Design, Construction and
Capacity of Containers

• The bottom, top, door and sides of metal cabinets
  must be at least No18 gage sheet metal and double
  walled with 1.5 inch air space
• Doors should have 3 point lock
• Door sill raised at least 2 above the cabinet
  bottom

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Storage Equipment

• Safety Can An approved red container, of not
  more than 5 gallons capacity, having a
  spring-closing lid and spout cover and so
  designed that it will safely relieve internal
  pressure when subjected to fire exposure.

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Safety Can
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Oily waste cans
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Oily waste cans

• Oily Waste Can A self closing metal container
  used to store rags and cloths soaked in flammable
  liquid
• Protects fires from spontaneous combustion,
  sparks and careless use of smoking material

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Oily waste cans Design, Construction and
Capacity of Containers

• The lid opens no more than 60 degrees and remains
  closed when not in use
• Isolates rags and oil from fire sources and
  limits oxygen to eliminate spontaneous
  combustion.
• Round construction and elevated bottom encourage
  circulation of air around can to disperse heat
  and reduce moisture build-up and rusting.

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Plunger Cans
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Plunger Cans Design, Construction and Capacity
of Containers

• Dispense flammable liquids and solvents safely,
  without waste or exposure.
• Help you quickly and easily moisten cleaning
  cloths or swabs.
• The perforated pan screen serves as a flame
  arrester.

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Storage rooms

• Must comply with NFPA
• 6 air changes/hr required by NFPA
• Rooms must be liquid tight where the walls join
  the floor
• Storage room must meet the standard methods of
  fire test by NFPA

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Storage Rooms Design, Construction and Capacity
of Containers

• Floors in storage area at least 4 below the
  surrounding floor
• Rooms must be liquid tight
• Aisle at least 3 wide
• Containers over 30 gallons must not be stacked

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Storage Rooms Ventilation

• 6 complete air changes/hour required by NFPA
• Every inside storage room must be provided with
  either a gravity or a mechanical exhaust
  ventilation system

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Storage Inside Building

• Flammable or combustible liquid drums shall not
  be stored so as to limit use of exits, stairways,
  or areas normally used for the safe egress of
  people.
• The storage of such liquids in containers or
  portable tanks is prohibited in office occupancy
  areas
• Leaking containers shall be removed to a storage
  room or a safe location outside and the contents
  transferred to an undamaged container.

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Incidental Storage (Small quantities)

• Liquids located outside of storage cabinets/areas
  shall not exceed
• ? 25 Gallons of Class IA in containers.
• ? 120 Gallons of Class IB, IC or
• Class II liquids in containers.

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Safe Storage Practices

• No open flames, smoking, sparks or welding is
  allowed in flammable liquid storage areas.
• Store in a cool location. Not outside in direct
  sunlight. The warmer the flammable liquid is the
  more vapors it generates!
• Storage shall be in an open or well ventilated
  area.

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Safe Storage Practices

• Do not store need oxidizers.
• Drums of flammable liquid shall be grounded.
• A 10 lbs. fire extinguisher shall be readily
  accessible within the storage area.

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Getting Information

• How do you get information about
• hazardous chemicals?

• You can get information two ways
• from the product label,
• from the product material safety data sheet.

MSDS
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Getting Information
What is a material safety data sheet?

• Material safety data sheets or MSDSs are
  information sheets on products that
• tells what chemicals are in the product,
• what the hazards of the chemicals are,
• how to protect yourself from the hazards.

MSDS
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Material Safety Data Sheet
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Material Safety Data Sheet
MSDS what information do they have?

• Names of hazardous chemicals in a product,
• Physical and chemical properties of the product,
• Physical hazards of working with the product,
• Health hazards of working with the product
  (including signs and symptoms of overexposures),

Acetone
Flammable highly volatile
Burns
Headaches, eye irritation
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Material Safety Data Sheet

• The main way the chemical enters the body,
• The legal limit allowed in the air
• If the chemical is a carcinogen
• Precautions for safe use of the hazardous
  chemical,

Inhalation
750 ppm
No
Use with adequate ventilation, keep away from
open flame
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Material Safety Data Sheet

• Exposure control methods, including personal
  protective equipment,
• Emergency and first aid procedures,
• The date the MSDS was prepared or revised,
• Name, address and phone number of the person
  responsible for the information in the MSDS.

Wear respirator, rubber gloves
Eyes flush with water for 15 minutes
1996
John Doe 1234 Maple St. Anywhere, USA
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MSDS

• MSDS must be in English.
• Other languages are acceptable in addition to
  English.
• MSDS must be completely filled in by the
  originator. There must be no blank fields.
  Terminology such as N/A and none is acceptable.

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MSDS

• A particular MSDS may apply to several mixtures
  if the ingredients are the same but differ only
  by composition percentages.
• MSDS must be immediately available for workers to
  review.

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Questions Comments