Flammable Liquids

Biofuel Tank Fire (12/2024; damaged heating coil)

Providence Fire Department Field Notes Date: 26Dec2024 Time: 15:04 Address: 130 Terminal Rd Incident No.: 2024-45273 Investigator: Eric Pedro SUMMARY  OVERVIEW… Membership Required You must be a member to access this content.View Membership LevelsAlready a member? Log in here...

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Biofuel Tank Fire (12/2024; damaged heating coil) Read More »

Static electricity from flowing gasoline?

Gasoline (UN1203) is a NON-conductive flammable liquid. These liquids, as all liquids, generate static electricity as they flow through hoses, piping, and free fall into tanks and containers. Since the liquid is non-conductive, it can not conduct the static charge to the hose/pipe/container so the charge can be dissipated to the “ground”. Authorities say quick…...

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Static electricity from flowing gasoline? Read More »

Scrubbing the inside of a mix tank with Naptha using a Teflon bristle brush is not advised

Another incident where the lack of respect for static electricity and flammable atmospheres results in severe injuries. A Teflon bristle brush generates a lot of static electricity; coupled with the low flashpoint of Naptha (73F) and we have a serious hazard. At 5:30 a.m. on February 24, 2020, an employee, 42, was scrubbing interior surfaces…...

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Scrubbing the inside of a mix tank with Naptha using a Teflon bristle brush is not advised Read More »

Switch Loading + Static Electricity = Fatal Burns

FACT: Most flammable liquid vapors have a Minimum Ignition Energy (MIE) of less than 1 millijoule (mJ). Most of us do not even feel static which is less than 15 mJ. So the amount of energy necessary to ignite most flammable vapor atmospheres is not even observable by humans. At 6:15 p.m. on October 30,…...

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Welding on Diesel Tank results in fatality

At 2:45 p.m. on May 31, 2024, Employee #1, 39, was performing welding work on a diesel fuel tank. During the welding process, an explosion occurred, resulting in the employee’s fatal injuries. The explosion was caused by overpressure inside the tank, which caused metal parts to be ejected. Emergency services responded to the scene, but…...

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Just when you think you have seen and heard it all…

At 3:00 a.m. on February 19, 2020, Employee #1, 30, was using a torch to “dry” his shirt after spilling isopropanol on it. The employee’s shirt caught on fire, and the employee picked up the shirt in an attempt to extinguish the flames. The employee started to spin the shirt in his left hand and,…...

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Just when you think you have seen and heard it all… Read More »

Filling ungrounded process vessel with Isopropyl Alcohol (Flash Fire)

On July 23, 2020, an employee, 30, was looking into a vessel being filled with chemicals, including Isopropyl alcohol, to ensure the level of the mixture was above the blades before turning on the mixers. The access port was mounted with one bolt so the employee could rotate the cover to look in. The employee…...

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OSHA may allow it, but NFPA and IFC allow it ONLY under “special purposes”

I have spent my career working with flammable liquids, and those who have followed my writings on the topic understand why I have stopped using 1910.106 as my baseline flammable liquid safety standard and instead began using either the IFC or NFPA 30. I have been involved in several serious events where atmospheric storage tanks…...

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OSHA may allow it, but NFPA and IFC allow it ONLY under “special purposes” Read More »

Flammable Liquid Containers and Size

29 CFR 1910.106(d)(2)(iii) specifies the maximum container size depending upon the category of flammable liquid and the type of material from which the container is made. However, it is not uncommon to see flammable liquids in plastic and glass containers that are larger than allowed by the standard. In many cases the chemical is in…...

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Unloading Flammable Liquids and the Code

As many of you know, I stopped using 1910.106, OSHA’s flammable liquid standard, nearly 20 years ago. Instead, I use the Internation Fire Code for all my Hazardous Materials, especially flammable liquids and gases. This code provides some excellent design/requirements for unloading flammable liquids, which can be one of the HIGHEST RISKS on a plant…...

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Information Signs @ our Flammable Liquid Truck/RCar Unloading Stations

Since 2012, the IFC has required special signage at each Flammable Liquid Truck/Railcar unloading station. This signage is intended to reduce “tank overflow” events (e.g., Loss of Primary Containment (LOPC) events). Here are the requirements:… Membership Required You must be a member to access this content.View Membership LevelsAlready a member? Log in here...

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Flash Fire inside process vessel – “splashing filling” into an alcohol atmosphere

On July 7, 2020, an employee, 33, was standing on a ladder pouring caramel color from its storage container into a 500-gallon batch of rum that was being made in a 1250-gallon tank of alcohol (type unknown). As the employee began to pour the caramel, a flash occurred due to an electrostatic discharge contacting the…...

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