Hazardous Areas | Material Comparison (Petrol Vs. Diesel)

December 20, 2024

Introduction

Life is filled with hidden hazards—some of which, like explosive risks, are more common than you'd expect in our everyday environment. Whether it's filling up the car at a service station, turning on the stove at home, or even baking a cake, explosive atmospheres can form around us without us even realizing it. Many organizations are unaware of the risks they face when producing, handling, and storing a range of liquids, gases, and dusts.

This article explores some surprising, un-intuitive facts about explosive hazards involving common materials like dusts, liquids, and gases. By comparing these materials, we’ll see just how close—or how different—they can be when it comes to hazardous properties.

Petrol Vs. Diesel

Most people know that unleaded petrol and diesel are not interchangeable. You can’t refuel a diesel car with petrol or vice versa without causing significant damage to your vehicle. But have you ever wondered why?

The answer lies in an important hazardous area concept: flashpoint. The flashpoint is the lowest temperature at which a liquid gives off enough vapour to form an ignitable mixture with air.

Petrol has a flashpoint of -43°C, meaning at room temperature (~20°C), it is already evaporating and creating a flammable vapour. On the other hand, diesel has a much higher flashpoint, between 52°C and 93°C, meaning it needs to be at a much higher temperature to produce an explosive atmosphere. It’s even possible to drop a match into a pool of diesel and have the flame snuffed out by the fuel—although, of course, you shouldn’t try this at home.

Here’s a video by a Dutch hazardous area expert that demonstrates this difference through a simple science experiment.

Conclusion

When it comes to dealing with flammable liquids or combustible dusts, there’s no room for complacency. It’s vital to engage with a hazardous area expert who can provide you with comprehensive advice and guidance specific to your situation. As we’ve seen, each material—whether it’s dust, liquid, or gas—comes with its own unique risks, requiring tailored safety measures.

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