Technical Committee Process Safety

Burning Behavior of Petroleum Products with Flashpoint > 55 °C

The fire hazard in tank farms storing products with a flash point above 55 °C was assessed on the basis of measurements on a selection of representative samples. The flash points, lower explosion points and fire points determined by various methods could be used for this purpose. A minimum distance of 16.5 K between flash point and higher fire point was determined. Furthermore, the lower explosion points are no more than 8K below the flash point according to DIN EN ISO 2719. Based on the results, the conclusion is drawn that in the context of the separate storage of the previously investigated product groups in tank farms and refineries in the northwestern European region, no risks regarding explosion hazard and fire hazard are to be feared in intended operation, provided that the product temperature does not exceed 40 °C in the liquid phase.
On the basis of the results, it is concluded that there is no risk of explosion and fire during normal operation of the product groups examined above being stored separately in tank farms and refineries in the north-western part of Europe, provided that the product temperature in the liquid phase does not exceed 40 °C.