26/3/23, 19:51 L.E.

L Charts « Sensing Oy

Gas Controlling

L.E.L. charts

The Low Explosion Limit (LEL) defines the lowest concentration of a combustible in air that allows
the explosion. There could be a high explosion risk even with very small gas concentrations, in fact
the great part of flammable gases and vapours have the LEL figure below 5 % of volume.

The Upper Explosion Limit (UEL) defines the maximum concentration of fuel in air that may cause
explosion. Concentrations of the combustible above the UEL cannot generate explosion because
of the insufficient concentration of the burner (typically Oxygen).

E.g. Methane (CH4) L.E.L. = 5 % (=50000 ppm) and U.E.L. = 15 % (150000 ppm). 20% of LEL = 1 % (=
10000 ppm).

Example Example
Propane (C3 H8 ) L.E.L. = 2,1 % ( = 21000
https://sensing.fi/en/gas-list/lel-charts/ 1/3
26/3/23, 19:51 L.E.L Charts « Sensing Oy

Methane (CH4 ) L.E.L. = 5 % ( = 50000 ppm), ppm), U.E.L. = 9,5 %

U.E.L. = 15 % 20 % L.E.L. = 0,42 % ( = 4200 ppm)
20 % of L.E.L. = 1 % ( = 10000 ppm)

Propane

Methane

Safe area - (common definition)

0-20% LEL
Margin of certainty - 20-100% LEL
LEL (5%) -> UEL (15%)
Rich area 15% ->

Chart by Visualizer
Chart by Visualizer

Example Example
Hydrogen (H2) L.E.L. = 4 % (=40000 ppm), Ethanol (C2H5OH) L.E.L. = 3,3 % (=33000
U.E.L. = 75,6 % (756000 ppm). ppm), U.E.L. = 19 % (190000 ppm).
20% LEL = 0,8 % (=8000 ppm). 20% LEL = 0,66 % (=6600 ppm).

https://sensing.fi/en/gas-list/lel-charts/ 2/3
26/3/23, 19:51 L.E.L Charts « Sensing Oy

Hydrogen Ethanol

Safe area - (common definition)

Chart by Visualizer
0-20% LEL
Margin of certainty - 20-100% LEL
LEL (4%) -> UEL (75.6%)
Chart by Visualizer
Rich area 75.6% ->

© 2020 All rights reserved // GDPR

https://sensing.fi/en/gas-list/lel-charts/ 3/3