CONTENTS
Construction Site Safety
15. Part 1. Highly Flammable Liquids
and Petroleum-based Adhesives
Introduction
Both highly flammable liquids (HFLs) and
petroleum based adhesives are widely used on
building and construction sites. The main hazards
are fire and explosion, and everything possible
must be done to lessen the risks.
Safety is divided into three areas:
• the storage of the substances
• the safe handling and transport of the
substances
• the uses to which the substances are put.
The main legislation dealing with this subject is the
Highly Flammable Liquids and Liquefied
Petroleum Gases Regulations 1972. It is enforced
by the Health and Safety Executive and local
authority Environmental Health Officers. The
regulations apply to all factories and workplaces,
including building operations and engineering
construction where HFLs and petroleum based
adhesives are present.
Legislation
The Health and Safety at Work Act 1974
The Highly Flammable Liquids and Liquefied
Petroleum Gases Regulations 1972
The Dangerous Substances (Notification and
Marking of Sites) Regulations 1990
The Personal Protective Equipment at Work
Regulations 1992
The Chemicals (Hazard Information and
Packaging) Regulations 1993
The Health and Safety (Safety Signs and Signals)
Regulations 1996
© Construction Industry Training Board
The Construction (Health, Safety and
Welfare) Regulations 1996
The Provision and Use of Work Equipment
Regulations 1998
The Control of Substances Hazardous to Health
Regulations 1999
The Management of Health and Safety at Work
Regulations 1999
References
HSE publications
CS 15 Cleaning and gas freeing of tanks
containing flammable residues
L21 The Management of Health and Safety at
Work Regulations 1992. Approved Code of
Practice
L22 Safe use of work equipment. The Provision
and Use of Work Equipment Regulations 1992.
Approved Code of Practice (Revised 1998)
L25 The Personal Protective Equipment at Work
Regulations 1992. Guidance on Regulations
EH40 Occupational exposure limits 1993
HSG 51 The storage of flammable liquids in
containers
British Standards
BS 5345 Code of Practice for selection,
installation and maintenance of electrical
apparatus for use in potentially explosive
atmospheres
BS 5378 Safety signs and colours
BS EN 3 Portable fire extinguishers
GE 700/15/1
March 1994
CONTENTS
Definitions
Highly flammable liquid means any liquid, liquid
solution, emulsion or suspension which when
tested in a manner specified in the regulations:
a) gives off a flammable vapour at a
temperature of less than 21°C
Reference
The Highly Flammable Liquids and Liquefied
Petroleum Gases Regulations 1972, Schedule 1
b) supports combustion.
Reference
The Highly Flammable Liquids and Liquefied
Petroleum Gases Regulations 1972, Schedule 2
This includes solvents and all types of mixtures
and solutions, such as oil based paints, white
spirit, thinners, coating formulations which contain
volatile flammable solvents, and petroleum based
adhesives.
Petroleum based adhesives means all mixtures
of petroleum and any other substance which,
when tested, give off a flammable vapour at
temperatures below 21°C.
The Management of Health and Safety at
Work Regulations 1999 place a requirement on
every employer to make a suitable and sufficient
assessment of every work activity to detect and
define any hazard that employees might encounter
during their work, or to any other person who
might be affected by their operations.
Once those hazards have been identified, it is then
the employer’s duty to put control measures into
place, and to remove or reduce those hazards as
far as is reasonably practicable.
Where a hazard is identified that requires it, the
employer must offer health surveillance to
employees. This must be appropriate, taking into
account the risks to their health and safety that
have been identified.
The employer must provide employees with
comprehensible and relevant information on any
risks that exist in the workplace and of any
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FIRST PAGE
control measures that are in place to reduce those
risks.
Employees, in turn, have a duty under these
regulations to tell their employer of any work
situation which presents a risk to themselves or
their workmates, or of any matter which affects the
health and safety of themselves or their
workmates.
The Personal Protective Equipment at Work
Regulations 1992 are somewhat more specific, in
that they require an employer to make an
assessment of the workplace in an attempt to
decide which, if any, personal protective
equipment should be issued. In deciding which
type to issue, the employer must take into account
the risk that the PPE is being used for, and that
the PPE will fit the wearer and allow them to work
comfortably. If more than one task is to be
performed, the employer should make sure that
the PPE is compatible and of use for every task
that is to be undertaken.
Whilst the employer must, as far as possible,
ensure that any personal protective equipment
supplied must be worn, the employee in turn must
ensure that they wear the equipment provided and
know the procedures for report loss or defect to
the employer.
The Provision and Use of Work Equipment
Regulations 1998 require that an employer only
supplies work equipment that is correct and
suitable for the job and ensures that the
equipment is maintained and kept in good working
order.
Where the use of the equipment involves a
specific risk to the health and safety of employees,
the use of the equipment must be restricted to
specified workers.
All three sets of regulations require that,
additionally, the employer provides employees with
adequate information, instruction and training to be
able to carry out any work task to the best of their
ability and in complete safety.
(For further information, see Construction Site
Safety, Module 2, General Safety Legislation)
CONTENTS
The requirements for storage
The requirements for the storage and use of
petroleum mixtures are identical to those
requirements necessary for highly flammable
liquids, so any reference to HFLs should also be
taken as a reference for petroleum based
adhesives. The paragraph later in the module
which relates to petroleum based adhesives
shows the special precautions that are required for
these kinds of substance.
Storage of highly flammable
liquids
On most building or construction sites, HFLs are
not stored in fixed tanks but are contained in small
containers from half a litre in size up to 225 litres.
The following points explain the safe methods of
storing white spirit, thinners, flammable adhesives,
oil based paints or solvents in differing sizes of
can or drum.
Where storage is less than 50 litres, metal
lockable bins may be used.
Storage in the open air
A store should be built:
• on a concrete sloping pad with a sump to
catch any leaks or spillage
• with a low sill all around, which is sufficient
to contain the contents of the largest can or
drum stored + 10%
• surrounded by a 1.8 metre high wire fence
FIRST PAGE
• so that it is protected against direct sunlight
• at least 2 metres away from nearby
buildings or boundaries, except that where
the boundary of the store forms part of a
solid wall, cans or drums may be stacked
up against that wall up to 1m from the top.
Cans or drums should be stored:
• so that their contents can be easily
identified and removed in the event of any
leak or damage
• on their sides and chocked to prevent
movement.
Stores or bins must be kept locked at all times and
only sufficient for each day’s operations should be
removed, as and when needed.
They should be clearly marked with signs stating
Highly Flammable or giving the flammability, e.g.
‘Flashpoint below 21°C’.
Where this cannot be done, a sign should be
displayed stating Highly Flammable Liquids as
near as possible to the store.
Signs must conform to the Health and Safety
(Safety Signs and Signals) Regulations 1996 and
BS 5378 Safety signs and colours. All signs
purchased from reputable suppliers will be to these
specifications.
Naked flames, smoking, matches or lighters must
not be allowed in the area of the store, and proper
prohibition signs must be clearly displayed as well
as other signs already indicated.
Any lighting within a store must be flameproof, and
under no circumstances should electrical sockets
be permitted. Where there is a need for electrical
apparatus, other than lighting, within a store, the
supply must be permanently wired in, using
intrinsically safe equipment.
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CONTENTS
Secure storage area
Storage inside a building
A separate building should be provided, if possible,
solely for the storage of highly flammable liquids
where protection from the weather or security is
required. It need not be built of fire resisting
materials, but should be at least 2 metres away
from other buildings or boundaries.
Where a separate building cannot be provided,
and the store forms part of an existing structure,
the surrounding walls and roof of the store must
be fire resisting and the door should be of the fire
resisting type and open outwards.
Other points to be noted.
• Stores should not be built below ground
level, because the vapours from spillages
and leaks will not be able to disperse
• Adequate cross ventilation at both high and
low level is necessary
• The store should always be kept locked
when unattended
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FIRST PAGE
• A door sill of approximately 150 mm in
height should be provided to catch any
leaks or spillages in order to retain the
liquids inside the building
• Signs should be positioned on or near the
store stating Highly Flammable or Flash
point below 21°C. All signs should conform
to the Health and Safety (Safety Signs and
Signals)Regulations 1996 and BS 5378
Safety signs and colours. All signs
purchased from reputable suppliers will be
to these specifications
• Naked flames, smoking, matches or
lighters must not be allowed in the store,
and signs dictating this must be clearly
displayed
• Any lighting or other electrical apparatus
must be flameproof.
Any shelves or racking in the store should be of a
non-ferrous metal or other noncombustible
construction.
CONTENTS
Where the total storage is not more than 50 litres,
HFLs may be stored in a metal cupboard or bin
which should be kept locked when unattended.
Fire
Fires involving flammable liquids usually fall into
one of two categories:
• flowing liquid fires
• contained liquid fires.
Flowing fires can be extinguished by using either
dry powder extinguishers (blue) or vaporising liquid
extinguishers (green). Carbon dioxide
extinguishers (black) may also be used on this
type of fire, but may be ineffective depending on
wind conditions.
Contained fires can be extinguished using either
foam extinguishers (cream) or carbon dioxide
extinguishers (black).
DO NOT USE A WATER EXTINGUISHER FOR
ANY FIRE INVOLVING HIGHLY FLAMMABLE
LIQUIDS, BECAUSE THE WATER WILL
CAUSE A VIOLENT REACTION AND MAKE
THE LIQUID OVERFLOW.
Portable fire extinguishers should, wherever
possible, be sited in pairs (so as to minimise the
risk of failure) and in strategic positions adjacent to
the store.
Colour of fire extinguishers
A new British Standard European Norm, BS EN 3
states that the body of all fire extinguishers should
be red in colour with a panel, not more than 5% of
the surface area of the extinguisher, fixed to the
extinguisher body denoting the extinguishing
agent contained.
Whilst this is true for new extinguishers, the
standard is not retrospective and there are, and
will be for a very long time, extinguishers which will
conform to the old standard with the recognised
colours of RED for water, CREAM for foam, etc.
There are also extinguishers that are self-coloured
metal with a designatory panel on them showing
what medium is contained.
Extinguishers should be coloured in one of the
following ways:
FIRST PAGE
a) coloured predominantly signal red with an area
large enough to be readily apparent, colour
coded by medium
b) colour coded entirely by medium
c) of self-coloured metal with an area large
enough to be readily apparent, colour coded by
medium
Colour coding by medium is intended to provide a
means of rapid recognition of the type of
extinguisher by trained persons at the time when
the extinguisher is needed for use.
Colour coding by medium
Extinguishing Colour
medium
Water Signal red
Foam Pale cream
Powder (all types) French blue
Carbon dioxide Black
Halon Emerald green
Training in the correct types of extinguisher to use
and the safe way to operate fire fighting equipment
is essential and should be undertaken by ALL
staff who work with highly flammable liquids. The
use of the WRONG extinguisher in the WRONG
way will have serious consequences.
Advice on training can be obtained from any
extinguisher manufacturer or your local fire
station.
Further guidance can be found in Construction
Site Safety, Module 17, Fire – Legislation,
Prevention and Control.
Handling of highly flammable
liquids
All deliveries of HFLs should be made directly into
a store. They must not be off loaded into one
position, and left until later for someone to put
them away in the correct store.
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CONTENTS
Only take out of the store or bin, at any one time,
enough HFLs to enable you to work for your daily
shift, in order to do the job in hand.
Decanting, mixing or sampling should not be
carried out in a store. It should be done in the
open air or in a separate room constructed of fire
resisting materials.
Funnels should be used to prevent spillage whilst
decanting is taking place and drip trays should be
used to catch any spillage that may inadvertently
occur.
Any spillage should be soaked up using dry earth,
sand or proprietary absorbents.
Metal bins with lids should be provided for any
used absorbents to be placed in and these should
be emptied regularly and carefully.
Advice should be sought on the disposal of all
used absorbents from the local authority Waste
Disposal Officer.
For further information see Construction Site
Safety, Module 31 Part 1, Waste Management.
Empty tanks and containers
DO NOT CUT ANY EMPTY TANKS,
CONTAINERS OR DRUMS. THEY ARE FULL
OF GAS AND WILL EXPLODE AND KILL YOU.
Special care is necessary when demolishing or
dismantling disused tanks. By disturbing the tank
or heating the residues left inside, you may cause
an explosive concentration of vapours. Before any
dismantling work is carried out, advice should be
sought from the Health and Safety Executive.
Any entry which is to be made into disused or
large tanks should only be made under a Permit to
Work system.
Further advice on Permit to Work systems is
contained in HSE guidance note CS 15.
Use of highly flammable liquids
In general, where work involves the use of any
HFL inside a room, all electrical power should be
turned off. If space heating is needed, it should be
flameproof and incapable of causing the ignition of
any vapours given off by the HFL.
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FIRST PAGE
Heavy concentrations of HFL vapours should be
avoided and dispersed, if necessary, by natural or
mechanical ventilation. If mechanical ventilation is
necessary, a flameproof motor, not in the
ventilation trunking, should be used.
Reference
BS 5345 Code of Practice for selection,
installation and maintenance of electrical
apparatus for use in potentially explosive
atmospheres
Other points to be considered
• Naked flames, welding and heating torches
or smoking materials should be prohibited
in any area where HFLs are present
• Metal bins with lids must be provided for
offcuts, waste or rags. They should be
emptied regularly
• A suitable container with a lid should be
used for any brushes or scrapers which
require soaking, to remove residues of
HFLs. This should be placed in a safe area
well away from any possible source of
ignition.
Spraying of highly flammable
liquids
The use of a gun for spraying highly flammable
liquids may introduce airborne explosive mists into
the workplace, thereby creating a hazard both to
the user and to other workers in the area. New
covering materials, such as paints, varnishes and
lacquers, and the techniques for applying them,
have been developed and extensive use of spray
painting equipment can now be seen on
construction sites.
Points to be noted
• Identify the material carefully and always
follow the manufacturer’s instructions as to
preparation, use and application
• Always use the correct type of spraying
equipment. Never make do, just because
the proper equipment is not immediately to
hand
CONTENTS
• Only use protective clothing and respiratory
protective equipment as a last resort, when
no alternative or other control measures
are available
• Always use the hygiene and washing
facilities provided
• Do not introduce ignition sources into the
working area
• Do not smoke or use naked flames in the
working area
• Always place warning signs in the
approaches to the area where the work is
being carried out, and in the doorways of
the room where HFLs are being used. Use
physical barriers, if necessary, to stop any
unauthorised persons approaching the
work site.
Petroleum based adhesives
The requirements for the storage and use of
petroleum mixtures are identical to those
necessary for highly flammable liquids. All
references on the previous pages should,
therefore, also be applied to petroleum based
adhesives. The following notes indicate the
additional, special precautions that are required for
petroleum based adhesives.
Dangers can arise from petroleum based
adhesives in poorly ventilated areas, when
vapours are allowed to collect in spaces or areas
where they cannot naturally disperse. Vapours
from petroleum based adhesives are flammable,
narcotic and toxic, and will replace the oxygen in
the air causing drowsiness, unconsciousness and
ultimately death.
Ignition of the vapours by a spark from a tool, by
switching a light switch, plug or any other electrical
equipment on or off, can result in a serious
explosion.
Points to remember
• Identify the adhesive carefully and follow
the manufacturer’s instructions as to uses
and application of the adhesive
FIRST PAGE
• Open all doors and windows. It is essential
that the work area is ventilated as well as is
possible
• Extinguish all flames, pilot lights and
heating appliances
• Do not smoke or allow ignition sources into
the work area
• Use the correct warning notices in areas
where petroleum based adhesives are
being used. Put up physical barriers, if
necessary, to prevent unauthorised entry.
Where petroleum based adhesives are used and
you are concerned about dangerous vapours
collecting and possibly causing a dangerous
situation, use sampling equipment to assess the
possibility of a hazardous situation occurring.
The Control of Substances
Hazardous to Health
Regulations 1999
The Control of Substances Hazardous to Health
(COSHH) Regulations 1999 apply when highly
flammable liquids or petroleum based adhesives
are being used in circumstances where there
could be a hazard to health.
For further information on the Control of
Substances Hazardous to Health Regulations
1999, the Approved Code of Practice
accompanying those regulations should be
referred to. Construction Site Safety, Module 33,
COSHH, may be referred to for additional
guidance.
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CONTENTS FIRST PAGE

Construction Site Safety

15. Part 1. Appendix A

Safety questionnaire 3. Are there signs stating HIGHLY FLAMMABLE

LIQUIDS or FLASH POINT BELOW 21°C?
This questionnaire has been worded so that all the
correct answers are YES. If you have a NO 4. Is there a sill across the doorway to prevent
perhaps you need to give the matter more leakages or spillages reaching the open air?
attention. 5. Is there adequate cross ventilation at both high
and low level?
Highly flammable liquids
6. Is there the required separation distance
Storage in the open air between the store and adjacent buildings or
boundaries?
1. Is the base of the HFL store, concrete and
sloped? Storage in the workplace
2. Is there a low level sill surrounding the base? 1. Is there a lockable metal cabinet available to
store up to 50 litres of highly flammable
3. Is there a ramp for access to the store over the
liquids?
sill?
2. Is it marked with the correct safety signs?
4. Is a sump provided to catch any leakages or
spillages? Decanting
5. If necessary, is there a roof or cover over the 1. Is decanting done only in the open air or in a
store to protect the contents from direct fire resisting building?
sunlight?
2. Are HFLs only decanted into small correctly
6. Is there an adequate separation distance marked containers with effective closures?
between the store and adjacent buildings or
3. Are funnels correctly used to assist decanting?
boundaries?
4. Are drip trays strategically positioned to catch
7. Are there signs stating HIGHLY FLAMMABLE
any leakages or spillages?
LIQUIDS or FLASH POINT BELOW 21°C?
5. Are absorbents available to mop up any
8. Are the correct fire extinguishers provided and
spillage?
positioned adjacent to the store?
6. Are metal bins available for used absorbents to
Storage in buildings
be placed in?
1. Is the storage building used exclusively for the
7. Are these bins emptied regularly?
storage of highly flammable liquids?
8. Is the contaminated absorbent safely, carefully
2. If the store is part of a multi-purpose building,
and properly disposed of?
is there adequate fire separation from the rest
of the building?

15/1/8
CONTENTS
Use of highly flammable liquids
1. Where HFLs are used, is adequate ventilation
provided?
2. If there is a need for mechanical extraction, is
the electric motor out of the line of discharge of
the fumes?
3. Are there signs stating NO SMOKING or
NAKED LIGHTS?
4. Are metal waste bins with lids provided for
HFLs no longer required?
5. Are the correct warning notices provided?
6. Are fire extinguishers of the correct type
provided and positioned adjacent to the
workplace?
7. Are containers with lids provided for cleaning
brushes?
Spraying
1. Have the materials in use been clearly
identified?
2. Are the correct precautions in relation to use
and storage being observed?
3. Is the correct spraying equipment being used?
4. Is the correct protective clothing and
equipment being worn?
5. Are the necessary precautions being taken to
avoid all ignition risks?
6. Are warning notices correctly displayed?
7. Are barriers in use if necessary?
8. Are the correct types of fire extinguishers
provided and positioned adjacent to the
workplace?
FIRST PAGE
Petroleum-based adhesives
1. Has the type of adhesive to be used been
correctly identified?
2. Have the precautions for safe usage been
checked?
3. Is there adequate ventilation in the area where
the adhesive is to be used?
4. Is there a need for mechanical extraction and if
so is the electric motor out of the line of
discharge of any fumes?
5. Is respiratory protection being used as
necessary?
6. Is protective clothing being used as required?
7. Are the necessary precautions being taken to
avoid all ignition sources, such as matches,
lighters, heaters being taken into the area of
work?
8. Are all electrical circuits isolated prior to the
commencement of work?
9. Are warning notices correctly displayed?
10. Are barriers in use if necessary?
11. Are empty containers disposed of safely, not
heated or cut?
Empty tanks and containers
1. Are the necessary precautions being taken
against the risk of explosion in storage tanks
under demolition or dismantling?
2. Is a Permit to Work system used when work is
being carried out on disused or redundant
tanks?
3. Are authorising Permits to Work being
obtained before any entry into a tank is made?
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CONTENTS FIRST PAGE

Fire
Emergency procedures
1. Are the correct types of fire extinguisher
provided and suitably positioned adjacent to
the store or workplace?
2. Have the staff been correctly trained to use
them?
3. Are there procedures to call the Fire Brigade?
4. Is there a telephone available to call the Fire
Brigade?

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