Static Electricity
Discharge and Fire
Department Editor: Scott Jenkins
hen flammable or combus-
W
tible atmospheres are present,
uncontrolled discharges of static
electricity are potentially dangerous or
even catastrophic. A significant portion
of industrial explosions and fires are
attributable to static electricity each year.
In theory, controlling static electricity by
grounding potential sources is simple, but
in practice, doing so effectively requires
thorough knowledge of processes and
operations, sound engineering controls,
properly specified safety equipment and
properly trained operational staff. This
column provides information on potential
sources of static electrical discharge.


Static risk
Static electricity discharges are pos-
sible almost continuously in the chemi-
cal process industries (CPI), because
static electricity is generated whenever
surfaces come into contact and then
separate. In most cases, the charging


currents generated over time in indus-
trial processes are small — typically no
greater than 1 × 10–4 Amps. However,
in hazardous areas, even small charges
can be a problem when the allowed to

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accumulate on objects that are not at
ground (earth) potential. If no ground is
present, voltages in excess of 30 kV can
develop. Depending on the capacitance
of the object, this may result in signifi-
cant levels of energy being available
for discharge. If the energy equals or
exceeds the minimum ignition energy


(MIE) of the surrounding flammable at-
mosphere, the potential for an explosion
and fire exist. Many commonly used
solvents and other flammable chemicals
have MIEs that are relatively low — on
the order of 1 mJ or less (Table 1).
Isolated conductors
Isolated conductors are electrically
conductive objects that are either inher-
ently or accidentally insulated from earth.
During day-to-day operations at indus-
trial facilities, isolated conductors are
probably the most likely source of static
ignition incidents.
The insulation effectively keeps any
static electricity buildup from safely
discharging, thereby resulting in ac-
cumulation of charge on the object. If
the isolated conductor then comes into
proximity with another object at a lower
potential, energy could be released in
the form of an incendive spark.
Isolated conductors may arise from
metal flanges, fittings or valves in pipe-
work systems; portable drums, containers
or vessels; tanker trucks, railcars and
intermediate bulk containers (IBCs); and
even people.
Many modern industrial paints,
coatings, gaskets, seals and other
non-conductive materials are sufficiently
insulating, so as to to possibly prevent
the proper dissipation of static charge.
Static discharge sources
Static discharges come in several forms,
the most important for CPI interests being
spark and brush discharges. A spark
is a discharge from a charged isolated
conductor to another conductor at lower
potential. A brush discharge occurs from
an electrostatically charged insulator to a
grounded conductor.
Typical possible sources of static elec-
trical discharges include the following:
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but not earthed (grounded), bag, bin,
drum, container and so on, from which
a powder is transferred into a reactor
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tive bag, bin, drum, container, and so
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in the transfer procedure, including, but
not limited to, shovels, funnels, chutes
and pipes
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he or she is not adequately earthed
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formed within a reactor during powder
transfer
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but not earthed, fixtures and fittings
within a reactor
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in a reactor
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filling into drums and tanks
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Static discharge prevention
Where recommendations tend to
converge is in the recommendation to al-
ways use conductive or static dissipative
materials, and to ensure effective bond-
ing and grounding. For information on
grounding best practices and examples
of preventing static electrical discharge,
consult National Fire Protection Associa-
tion (NFPA; Quincy, Mass.; www.nfpa.
org) standards 77 and 30.
In this context, the term “conductive”
would apply to metal materials, such
as stainless or carbon steel, aluminum
and others; and “static-dissipative” may
indicate rubber or plastics that have
Prevention
TABLE 1. TYPICAL MIE VALUES
Material Minimum
(gas/vapor or Ignition Energy
powder/dust) (MIE), mJ
Carbon disulfide 0.009
Methanol 0.14
Xylene 0.20
Toluene 0.24
Propane 0.25
Ethyl acetate 0.46
Zirconium 5.00
Epoxy resin 9.00
Aluminum 10.00
Sugar 30.00
Wheat flour 50.00
Note 1: Minimum ignition energy (MIE) is defined
as the minimum energy that can ignite a mixture
of a specified flammable material with air or oxy-
gen, measured by a standard procedure.
Note 2: MIE values are provided for guidance
only — specific MIE data for any material
should be verified. Source: NFPA, IChemE
been formulated with some added semi-
conductive additives. “Bonding” means
linking these objects together by means
of a suitably strong conductor (wire), and
“grounding” refers to a true “ground/
earth” connection that is applied to one
or more of the bonded objects.
When one or both of these techniques
is applied, and while a low resistance
connection between the objects and
ground is maintained, operators are
able to prevent dangerous levels of static
charge from accumulating. In the case
of fixed installations such as pipe work,
storage tanks and so forth, grounding is
relatively simple to implement.
However, these preventive measures
are more difficult to implement with
portable objects, such as drums, IBCs
and tankers. In these instances, purpose-
designed temporary grounding and
bonding devices must be used, with
strict procedures to ensure that they are
always in place prior to starting the
process. For instance, specific types of
clamps and devices for grounding and
bonding portable or mobile plant equip-
ment, drums and containers are recom-
mended in NFPA 77, and such ground-
ing clamps and devices generally should
employ sharp contact points. These
contact points should be made of a wear-
resistant material, have positive spring
pressure, and be universally adaptable to
a wide range of plant objects.
References
1. Tyers, G., Avoiding Static Sparks in Hazardous At-
mospheres, Chem. Eng., June 2009, pp. 44–49.
2. Glor, M., Preventing Explosions During the Trans-
fer of Solids into Flammable Solvents, Chem.
Eng., October 2007, pp. 88–95.
Editor’s note. This edition of “Facts at your Finger-
tips” was adapted from information in the two ar-
ticles referenced above.