Safe Handling of Flammable and Combustible Liquids

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Safe Handling of Flammable and Combustible
Liquids
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Flammable and Combustible Liquids

• The determining factor in whether a liquid is
  flammable or combustible is its flashpoint.
• Flashpoint The minimum temperature at which a
  liquid gives off enough vapor within a test
  vessel in sufficient concentration to form an
  ignitable mixture with air near the surface of
  the liquid.
• Remember, it is the vapors, not the liquid, that
  Burns!
• A chemicals flashpoint is listed on the MSDS
  under the Fire and Explosion section.

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Flammable and Combustible Liquids

• Flammable Liquids
• Any liquid having a flashpoint below 100o F
  (37.8o C) or lower.
• NFPA Classes IA, IB, IC

• Combustible Liquids
• Any liquid having a flashpoint at or above 100o
  F (37.8o C).
• NFPA Classes II IIIA B

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Flammable and Combustible Liquid Classifications
Flammable Liquid - any liquid having a flashpoint
below 100o F (37.8o C) or higher, the total of
which make up 99 percent or more of the total
volume of the mixture. Flammable liquids shall
be known as Class I liquids. Class I liquids are
divided into three classes as follows Class IA
- shall include liquids having flashpoints below
73 F (22.8 C) and having a boiling point below
100 F (37.8 C). Class IB - shall include liquids
having flashpoints below 73 F (22.8 C) And having
a boiling point at or above 100 F (37.8
C). Class IC - shall include liquids having
flashpoints at or above 73 F (22.8 C) and below
100 F (37.8 C).
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Flammable and Combustible Liquid Classifications
(Cont.)
Combustible Liquid - any liquid having a
flashpoint at or above 100o F (37.8o C).
Combustible liquids shall be divided into
two classes as follows Class II - shall include
those with flashpoints at or above 100 F (37.8
C) and below 140 F (60 C), except any
mixture having components with flashpoints of 200
F (93.3 C) or higher, the volume of which makes
up 99 percent or more of the total volume of the
mixture. Class III - shall include those with
flashpoints at or above 140 F (60 C).
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Flammable and Combustible Liquids Classifications
(Cont.)
Class III liquids are subdivided into two
subclasses Class IIIA - shall include those
with flashpoints at or above 140 F (60 C) and
below 200 F (93.3 C), except any mixture having
components with flashpoints of 200 F (93.3 C),
or higher, the total volume of which makes up 99
percent or more of the total volume of the
mixture. Class IIIB - shall include those with
flashpoints at or above 200 F (93.3 C).
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Classes of Flammable and Combustible Liquids
Flashpoint (Fo)
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Flammable Liquids in the Plant

• Triethalemine 17o F
• Barsol A-2316 54o F
• Acetone Solvent 0o F
• Barsol A-2343 56o F
• Barsol A-3447 0oF
• N-Butanol 36o F
• Sec. Butanol 72o F
• Glycol Ether 94o F

• Enamel Reducer 20o F
• Isopropyl Alcohol 45oF
• Methanol 45o F
• MEK 23o F
• Xylene 79o F
• Toluene 45o F
• Gasoline -50o F
• 142 Solvent 66/3 610 F

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Explosive Limits

• Explosive limits involve the concentration level
  of the given chemical in the air.
• In popular jargon, a vapor/air mixture below the
  flammable limit is too lean to burn or explode. A
  mixture above the upper flammable limits is too
  rich to burn.
• Most flammable liquids are volatile, meaning they
  evaporate quickly, and can reach a concentration
  in air that could lead to an explosion.

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Lower and Upper Explosive Levels (LEL/UEL)
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Controlling the potential for fire and explosion
with flammable liquids is done through safe
Storage, Transfer, Use and Disposal!
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Hazards of Flammable Liquids

• Exposure Control Measures Include
• Eliminating flames, static electricity, sparks
  from electrical circuits.
• Temperature.
• Proper Ventilation.
• Grounding/Bonding.
• Spill Control/Emergency Response.
• Proper disposal of spent flammable
• liquids and soaked rags.

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Flammable and Combustible Liquids

• Definitions
• Grounding Applying a grounding wire to a
  container to eliminate a difference in static
  charge changes the potential between an object
  and ground.
• Bonding Use of a wire between two drums to
  eliminate the static charge potential between
  objects.

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Flammable and Combustible Liquids

• Definitions (cont.)
• Ventilation Adequate if it is sufficient to
  prevent the accumulation of significant
  quantities of vapor-air mixtures in
  concentrations over ¼ of the Lower Explosive
  Limit.
• Safety Can An approved red container, of not
  more than 5 gallons capacity, having a
  spring-closing lid and spout cover and so
  designed that it will safely relieve internal
  pressure when subjected to fire exposure.
• Oily Waste Can A self closing metal container
  used to store oil soaked rags.

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Container Portable Tank Storage
Design, Construction and Capacity of Containers
Only approved containers and portable tanks may
be used to store flammable and combustible
liquids. Metal containers and portable tanks
meeting the requirements of the Department of
Transportation are deemed acceptable when
containing products. Not more than 60 gallons
of Class I and/or Class II liquids, or not more
than 120 gallons of Class III liquids may be
stored in an individual cabinet.
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Safe Storage Practices

• No open flames, smoking, sparks or welding
  is allowed in flammable liquid storage areas.
• Store in a cool location. Not outside in direct
  sunlight. The warmer the flammable liquid is the
  more vapors it generates!
• Storage shall be in an open or well ventilated
  area.
• Do not store need oxidizers.
• Drums of flammable liquid shall be grounded.
• A 10 lbs. fire extinguisher shall be readily
  accessible within the storage area.

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Storage Inside Building

• Flammable or combustible liquid drums shall not
  be stored so as to limit use of exits, stairways,
  or areas normally used for the safe egress of
  people.
• The storage of flammable or combustible liquids
  in containers or portable tanks is prohibited in
  office occupancy areas, except that which is
  required for maintenance and operation of
  building and operation of equipment.
• Leaking containers shall be removed to a storage
  room or taken to a safe location outside and the
  contents transferred to an undamaged container.

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Incidental Storage (Small quantities)

• Liquids located outside of storage cabinets/areas
  shall not exceed
• ? 25 Gallons of Class IA in containers.
• ? 120 Gallons of Class IB, IC or
• Class II liquids in containers.

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Transferring of Flammable Liquids

• Liquids shall be kept in covered/closed
  containers when actually not in use.
• Open flame and smoking is strictly prohibited in
  transferring areas.
• Liquid transfer shall be through a devise drawing
  through the top of the drum or by gravity through
  an approved self-closing valve. Transfer by air
  pressure is prohibited.
• Containers from which flammable liquids are
  dispensed are to be grounded and bonded to avoid
  fire due to static electricity.
• Flammable liquids are only to be
  dispensed into approved safety cans.

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Use and Disposal of Flammable Liquids

• Open flames, smoking, welding/brazing is
  prohibited in areas where flammable liquids are
  store, transferred, used or disposed of.
• Keep containers and drums sealed when not in use.
• Clean up spills!
• Maintain good ventilation.
• Mixing of flammable liquids is prohibited!
• (Mixing flammable liquids can lower their
  combined flashpoint.)
• Rags used to apply flammable liquids are to be
  disposed of in a self-closing oily waste can.