Industrial Safety and Environment

Flammable Materials - Hazards

 Flammability

• The flammability of a substance is a measure of its ability to burn.

 Flammable Materials

• Liquids

• Gases

• Solids
 Flammable Liquids

• ketones (methyl ethyl ketone)

• Ethers (the anaesthetic ethyl ether)

• Hydrocarbons (propane, benzene)

• Alcohols (methanol, ethanol)

 Flammable Gases

• Hydrogen

• Methane

• Acetylene

• Hydrogen sulfide

• Carbon monoxide
 Flammable Solids

• Dust of various metals such as zinc, aluminium, magnesium, titanium.

 Flammable Liquids

• Liquids are often classified as "flammable" or "combustible“.

 What are Flammable and Combustible Liquids ?

• Flammable and combustible liquids are those that can burn.

• Flammable liquids are those that ignite more easily than other liquids,

whereas those that are harder to ignite or burn less vigorously are

combustible.

• Materials are categorized as either flammable or combustible based on

their flash points.

 What are Flammable and Combustible Liquids ?

Flash point:

• The flash point of a volatile liquid is the lowest temperature at which

vapours of the liquid will ignite, when given an ignition source.

• Flammable liquids have a flashpoint below 37.8°C (100°F).

• Combustible liquids have a flashpoint at or above 37.8°C (100°F).

• Neither solids nor gases can have flash points.

 What are Flammable and Combustible Liquids ?

Flash point below 0:

• Petrol

• Acetone

• Benzene
 What are Flammable and Combustible Liquids ?

Flash point close to room temperature:

• Ethanol

• Methanol

• Kerosene
 What are Flammable and Combustible Liquids ?

Flammable goods with higher flash points:

• Diesel

• Biodiesel

• Lube Oil
 Volatility

• Many flammable and combustible liquids and solids are volatile in nature;

that is, they evaporate quickly.

• The rate of evaporation varies greatly from one liquid to another and

increases with temperature.

• It is their vapours combined with air, not the liquid or solids themselves,

that ignite and burn.

 Volatility

• In many instances, an increase in temperature creates a more hazardous

condition because of the increase in the rate at which vapours are evolved.
 Volatility

Conclusion:

• Flammable and combustible liquids vaporize and form flammable mixtures

with air when in open containers, when leaks occur, or when heated.
 Does the Liquid itself Burn ?

• Flammable and combustible liquids themselves do not burn.

• It is the mixture of their vapours and air that burns.

 Does the Liquid itself Burn ?

• Gasoline, with a flashpoint of -40°C (-40°F), is a flammable liquid.

• Even at temperatures as low as -40°C (-40°F), it gives off enough vapour

to form a burnable mixture in air.

 Does the Liquid itself Burn ?

• Phenol is a combustible liquid.

• It has a flashpoint of 79°C (175°F), so it must be heated above that

temperature before it can be ignited in air.

 What are Flammable and Explosive Limits ?

• These limits give the range between the lowest and highest concentrations

of vapour in air that will burn or explode.

 What are Flammable and Explosive Limits ?

• The lower flammable limit or lower explosive limit (LFL or LEL) of

gasoline is 1.4 percent; the upper flammable limit or upper explosive limit

(UFL or UEL) is 7.6 percent. 

 What are Flammable and Explosive Limits ?

• This means that gasoline can be ignited when it is in the air at levels

between 1.4 and 7.6 percent.

• A concentration of gasoline vapour in air below 1.4 percent is too “clean"

to burn.

• Gasoline vapour levels above 7.6 percent are too "rich" to burn.
 What is Autoignition Temperature ?

• A material's autoignition or ignition temperature is the temperature at

which a material self-ignites without any obvious sources of ignition, such

as a spark or flame.

• Most common flammable and combustible liquids have autoignition

temperatures in the range of 300°C (572°F) to 550°C (1022°F).

• Some have very low autoignition temperatures.

 What is Auto Ignition Temperature ?

• For example, ethyl ether has an autoignition temperature of 160°C (356°F)

and its vapours have been ignited by hot steam pipes.

 What is the Danger of Flashback ?

• Vapours can flow from open liquid containers.

• The vapours from nearly all flammable and combustible liquids are heavier

than air.

• If ventilation is inadequate, these vapours can settle and collect in low

areas like sumps, sewers, pits, trenches and basements.

• The vapour trail can spread far from the liquid.

What is the Danger of Flashback ?
What is the Danger of Flashback ?
 What is the Danger of Flashback ?

• If this vapour trail contacts an ignition source, the fire produced can flash

back (or travel back) to the liquid.

What is the Danger of Flashback ?
 What are Ignition Sources ?

• For a flammable or combustible liquid fire to start, a mixture of vapour and

air must be ignited.

 What are Ignition Sources ?

• There are many possible ignition sources:

– Sparks from electrical tools and equipment.

– Sparks, arcs and hot metal surfaces from welding and cutting.

– Tobacco smoking.

– Open flames from portable torches and heating units, boilers, pilot

lights, ovens, and driers.

 What are Ignition Sources ?

– Hot surfaces such as boilers, furnaces, steam pipes, electric lamps, hot

plates, irons, hot ducts and flues, electric coils and hot bearings.

– Embers and sparks from incinerators, foundry cupolas, fireboxes and

furnaces.

– Sparks from grinding and crushing operations.

 What are Ignition Sources ?

– Sparks caused by static electricity from rotating belts, mixing

operations or improper transfer of flammable or hot combustible

liquids.
 What is Spontaneous Combustion ?

• Spontaneous combustion occurs when a material in contact with air can

heat up sufficiently (without an outside heat source) to burn.

• The oils in some wastes and rubbish can slowly react with oxygen in the

air.

• This reaction creates heat that can build up over time if the wastes are left

undisturbed.
 What is Spontaneous Combustion ?

• When the heat level in a "self-heating material" is high enough (i.e., when

the temperature reaches the autoignition temperature), a fire may start.

 What is Spontaneous Combustion ?

• For example, rag soaked with vegetable oil in the bottom of a pail could

heat up enough to cause spontaneous combustion of the rag.

 
 What is Spontaneous Combustion ?

• However, the same oil-soaked rag would not be expected to heat up on a

clothes line because there would sufficient contact with moving air that

would prevent heat from building up.

 What is Spontaneous Combustion ?

• An oil-soaked rag would not heat up if it were in a tight bale because it

would not have enough air. 

 What is Spontaneous Combustion ?

• Similarly, wet or improperly cured hay stored loose (i.e., not baled) in a

barn is susceptible to heating up enough to cause spontaneous combustion.

 What is Spontaneous Combustion ?

• In the cases of spontaneous combustion of hay, grain and oil seeds, the

source of heat comes from the action of microorganisms (e.g., bacteria,

fungi) on materials having the right moisture and temperature conditions.

 What is Spontaneous Combustion ?

• Damp charcoal, meals (i.e., ground seeds), materials (fabrics, rags, cotton,

etc.) soaked with paints containing drying oils are some other examples of

materials have a spontaneous combustion hazard.

What is Spontaneous Combustion ?
 Why should a good storage area be like ?

• Store flammable and combustible liquids in areas that are:

– Well ventilated to reduce vapour concentrations.

– Free of ignition sources.

– Cool (temperature controlled) and dry.

– Supplied with adequate firefighting and spill clean-up equipment.

 Why should a good storage area be like ?

– Away from elevators, building and room exits, or main aisles leading

to exits.

– Accessible by firefighters.
 Why should a good storage area be like ?

– Labelled with suitable warning signs. For example: "no smoking".

 Hazards associated with flammable liquids

Risk of explosion:

• Flammable liquids such as liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) are usually

stored in pressurized cylinders.

• They are vulnerable to heat, collision and corrosion.

• They must be stored in a designated, clearly marked and temperature-

controlled area where there is no exposure to direct heat, sparks, or naked

flames.
Hazards associated with flammable liquids
 Hazards associated with flammable liquids

Risk of explosion:

• Safe, compliant flammables storage is imperative to reduce risk of

explosion or fire.

• Cylinders should be arranged away from traffic sources.

• Store only the minimum number required.

Hazards associated with flammable liquids
Hazards associated with flammable liquids
Hazards associated with flammable liquids
Hazards associated with flammable liquids
 Hazards associated with flammable liquids

Vapour inhalation dangers:

• The vapours released will not only ignite easily – they can be harmful if

inhaled or allowed to contact the skin.

 Hazards associated with flammable liquids

Vapour inhalation dangers:

• It is also considered to be a mild central nervous system depressant.

• High vapour may cause headache, nausea, dizziness, drowsiness,

incoordination, and confusion.

• It may also be irritating to the respiratory tract or eyes.

 Hazards associated with flammable liquids

Vapour inhalation dangers:

• For that reason, it is common to store flammable chemicals in covered

outdoor units where the vapours will dissipate.

• Wear PPE clothing including respiratory protection to avoid inhaling any

vapours.
 Hazards associated with flammable liquids

Incompatible chemicals:

• Flammable or combustible liquids can become dangerously volatile if they

come into contact with other substances.

• Grouping chemicals in separate areas according to type and keeping

storage to the minimum volume necessary is vital for mitigating risk.

 Hazards associated with flammable liquids

Container damage through corrosion:

• Where cylinders or containers are stored outside, water contact may lead to

corrosion.

• The area should be covered with sufficient drainage to eliminate ground

water, and containers should be checked regularly to identify rust or signs

of leakage.
 Water-Reactive Metals producing flammable hydrogen gas

• Examples include: potassium, sodium, lithium

 Uncommon Flammability Hazards

• Pyrophoric materials are those fine particles that can catch fire when

exposed to air without an ignition source.

• This is due to the very large , active surface area of the fine particles for a

given weight.
 Uncommon Flammability Hazards

Examples include:

• Metals such as zinc, cadmium, iron, cobalt, chromium.

• Organo-metallic compounds such as tetra ethyl lead

• Yellow phosphorus (must be stored under water)

 Uncommon Flammability Hazards

• Hypergolic reactions are combustion reactions that occur when a fuel

material and an oxidiser material are mixed without an ignition source.

• The heat of reaction is great enough to provide the required ignition.

 Uncommon Flammability Hazards

• An example is the mixing of sodium hypochlorite (dry "pool chlorine"

crystals) with brake fluid (a non-flammable oil).

• Other examples include:

– Acetone and 85% nitric acid

– Nitric acid and phenol

– Perchloric acid and magnesium powder.

 Flammable Liquids Lying Around Your House

• Nail polish remover

• Rubbing alcohol

• Gasoline, paint thinner and turpentine

• Lighter fluid

• Aerosol cans

• Linseed oil
Flammable Liquids Lying Around Your House
Flammable Liquids Lying Around Your House
Flammable Liquids Lying Around Your House