Flash Point-Ignition Point

What?
At Work Or At Home

Everyday We Use
Chemicals Whether At
Work Or In The Home

Proper Storage &

Understanding How
Dangerous Chemicals Can
Become If Subjected To Heat Is
Using Just Using Good Safety
Common Sense.

Flammable Liquids

Properties of Flammable Liquids

The vapor of a flammable liquid ignites and
causes fire or explosion not the liquid itself.
The flammability of a liquid depends on its
physical properties:
Vapor Pressure
Flash Point
Limits of Flammability
Vapor Density

Flammable Liquids
Vapor Pressure

Vapor pressure is a measure of how fast

a liquid evaporates.

The higher the vapor pressure the more

rapidly the liquid will evaporate.
Vapor pressure goes up and down with
the temperature of the liquid.
Hydraulic Systems uses oil under pressure
to harness the usefulness of chemicals.
When System are compromised, hazardous
conditions can be magnified.

What is Flash Point?

Flash

point is the lowest temperature at

which a liquid can form an ignitable mixture in
air near the surface of the liquid.
The lower the flash point, the easier it is to
ignite the material. For example, gasoline has a
flash point of -40 degrees C (-40 F) and is more
flammable than ethylene glycol (antifreeze)
which has a flash point of 111 degrees C (232
F).

What Is Ignition Point

Ignition

point

The minimum temperature at which a

substance will continue to burn without
additional application of external heat.
Also called kindling point.

Flammable Liquids
Limits of Flammability

The limits of flammability is the range that

a mixture of air and vapor is flammable.
Mixtures can be too lean (not enough
vapor) or too rich (too much vapor) to ignite
and burn.

Flammable Liquids
Flammable Limits Example

LEL lower explosive limit

UEL upper explosive limit

Flammable Liquids

Lower Explosive Limit LEL

In most work situations, the

lower explosive limit (LEL) is
the main concern.
Vapors from flammable liquids
can be found in the workplace,
but are often too diluted to
catch fire or explode.
However, these vapors can
quickly go above the LEL in small
room or confined space like a
tank.

Flammable Liquids
Vapor Density

Vapor density is a measure of how

heavy a vapor is compared to air.
Vapors with a density greater than
1.0 are heavier than air and can
collect near the floor, and flow like a
liquid.
This may create a fire/explosion
hazard if the vapor flows to an
ignition source.

Boiling Point Definition

Boiling

point is the temperature at

which a liquid changes to a gas (vapor
) at normal atmospheric pressure. A
more specific definition of boiling point
is the temperature at which the
vapor pressure of a liquid is equal to
the external pressure.

Example of Boiling Point

Water

freezes at

32 F.
Turns to liquid at
above 32 F.
Boils & changes to
Gas at 212 F.
Expands 17,000
times it normal
size when heated.

Boiling Point

MSDS relevance
Knowing the boiling point of a substance is an
important consideration for storage. For example,
storing a chemical with a boiling point of 50 C (122
F) in direct sunlight or next to a boiler could cause
the material to completely vaporize and/or result in
a fire or explosion.
Items with a low boiling point generally have a high
vapor pressure. Containers of such material can
build up significant pressure even when they are
below their boiling point. Likewise, low-boiling
materials easily produce large amounts of vapor
which can be flammable or even explosive.

When Condition Are Just Right

Accidents Result
A spectacular example of the consequences of
introducing a spark to a flammable limit atmosphere
occurred in Newcastle in September of 2003. A pipe fitter
left an acetylene cylinder inside his vehicle over the
weekend. Either the cylinder had a small leak or the valve
was not fully closed. The flammable limits for acetylene
are extremely broad, 2.5% to 100% in air.
Flashpoint is 0 F/-18C. Boiling point is -119F/-84C.
When the worker opened the door, an undetermined
spark source (the door light switch, light bulb, cellular
phone, static etc.) Ignited the mixture with catastrophic
results:
In the close-up view notice how the roof/door pillars are
bent completely sideways. It is amazing that the worker's
injuries were confined to his face and ear drums.

What Makes Flash & Ignitions

Points
Dangerous.
Any combustible material such as:
solid, liquid, or gas. Most solids and
liquids must vaporize before they will
burn.

Sufficient oxygen must be present in

the atmosphere surrounding the fuel
for fire to burn.

Flash & Ignition Points

Sufficient heat energy must be
applied to raise the fuel to its
ignition temperature.
Open flame
Sparks and arcs

Hot surfaces
Friction

This reaction can occur when

all three of the above elements
are present in the proper
conditions & proportions.

Extinguishment Theory

Remove Heat
Remove Fuel
Reduce Oxygen
WILL

Inhibit Chemical
Chain Reaction

Proactive Fire Safety

Fire Risk Analysis
How

do we identify potential fire risk?

Proactive Fire Safety

Fire Risk Analysis Cont.

Identify the fuel source & eliminate it if

possible.
Identify the heat source and eliminate it if
possible.
Terminate behaviors that lead to hazardous
conditions & replace with appropriate
behaviors conducive to good fire safety.
1. Storing flammable and combustible in
appropriate areas.
2. On equipment, in fire cabinets, in work areas.

Identifying Fire Hazards In Your

Work Area
What

chemical are present in your

work area? What are there flash points?
In stationary equipment areas
On mobile equipment
At shops

What

heat source are present?

Thermal (heat)
Electrical
Radiant

Do You Know Your Flashpoints?

The

following is a list of chemicals

used on this site, some of these you
may even use at home.
Do you know how they are stored?
At work?
At home?
See if you know which chemical is
which.

Try & Match Flashpoints With

The Chemical

247f/119c
145f/78c
160f
320f/160c
356f/180c
<-49f/<-45c
0f/-18c
-101f/-75.9c
None
-156f/-104c
-43.7f/-42c
79f
73f/23c
175f

Acetylene
Gasoline
Diesel Fuel
Hydraulic 40-wt oil
Propane
Butane
Citrol
CRC Contact Cleaner
Form Oil
Averoe Tree Paint
Ethylene Glycol (Antifreeze)
Carburetor Cleaner
Form Oil
CRC Power lube

Did You Choose Right

247f/119c------

Antifreeze/Eythlene glycol

145f/78c--------

Answer
160f------Diesel

Fuel-IP 500f

320f/160c-----Form

Oil

356f/180c-----40-wt

Hydraulic Oil

<-49f/<-45c----Unleaded

Gasoline

Answer
0f/-18c----Acetylene

-119f

Gas-BP

-101f/-75.9c-Butane,

778f

None------

AutoIP

Answer
-156f/-104c--Propane-Auto

842f

IP

-43.7f/-42c----

79fCarburetor

Cleaner-BP 110F

Answer
73f/23c-------------

175f----

In Conclusion
Any situation that can lead to a fire
underground is not good.
Lets all do our part to make sure our
work areas are accident free & fire safe.

Created By Pat Gazewood