MCP HES Meeting

CDB Commissioning Team

June 2014

Chuandongbei Gas Project

Safe Handling of
Flammable and
Combustible Liquids

Chuandongbei Gas Project

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 vapor, within a test vessel, that
will ignite with a spark, but will not continuously
burn.
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

Flash Point, Fire Point,

Auto-Ignition Point VIDEO

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Flammable and Combustible

Liquids
Flammable Liquids
Any liquid having a
flashpoint < 100o F
(37.8o C).
NFPA Classes IA, IB, & IC

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

Flammable and Combustible

Liquids Classifications
Flammable Liquid - any liquid having a flashpoint < 100o F (37.8o C)
NFPA Flammable Liquids Subdivision:
Class IA - flashpoints < 73 F (22.8 C) and boiling point < 100 F (37.8 C)
e.g. Ethylene Oxide, Methyl Chloride, and Pentane
Class IB - flashpoints < 73 F (22.8 C) and boiling point 100 F (37.8 C)
e.g. Acetone, Benzene, Ethyl Alcohol, Isopropyl Alcohol
Class IC - flashpoints 73 F (22.8 C) but < 100 F (37.8 C)
e.g. Methyl Alcohol, Naptha

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Flammable and Combustible

Liquid Classifications
Combustible Liquid - any liquid having a flashpoint 100o F (37.8o C).
NFPA Combustible Liquids Subdivision:
Class II - flashpoints 100 F (37.8 C) < 140 F (60 C)
e.g. Fuel Oils # 1, 2, 4 & 5; Kerosene
Class IIIA- flashpoints 140 F (60 C) < 200 F (93 C)
e.g. Naphthalenes, Formic Acid
Class IIIB- flashpoints
200 F (93 C)
e.g. Formalin, Glycerin, Ethylene Glycol

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Flammable and Combustible

Liquid Classifications
IIIB
200

Flashpoint (F)

IIIA
140

COMBUSTIBLE
(Flash Point >100 F)

II

100

IC

73

IA

IB

FLAMMABLE
(Flash Point < 100 F)

100
Boiling Point (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
Lower Explosion Limit (LEL) is too lean to burn
or explode. Also, mixture above the Upper
Explosion Limit (UEL) 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!

Chuandongbei Gas Project

Hazards Control 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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Hazards Control of Flammable

Liquids

Always refer to the Material Safety

Data Sheet (MSDS)

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Hazards Control of Flammable

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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Hazards Control of Flammable

Liquids
Definitions (cont.)
Ventilation: Adequate if it is sufficient to prevent the
accumulation of significant quantities of vapor-air mixtures
in concentrations over 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.

Chuandongbei Gas Project

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.
FLAMMABLE

Keep Fire Away

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Safe Storage Practices

Open flames, smoking, welding is not
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 with 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.

Chuandongbei Gas Project

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.

Chuandongbei Gas Project