Classifying Petroleum Liquids with Respect to Fire Characteristic

16 Classifying Petroleum Liquids with Respect to Fire Characteristics 

Hydrocarbons are derivatives from petroleum or crude, but within the context of our immediate discussions, we shall use the terms petroleum liquids and hydrocarbon liquids as being interchangeable. From a fire standpoint, there are only two categories of petroleum liquids, namely flammable liquids and combustible liquids. Both categories of materials will bum however, it is into which of these two categories that a liquid belongs that determines its relative fire hazard. Of the two categories, it is the flammables that are considered to be more hazardous, principally 

Fire hazard is viewed from the standpoint of safety, to which in the United States, the Occupational Safety and Health Standard (OSH) is often used as the basis for classification of flammables versus a combustible material. Additionally, the U.S. Department of Transportation also has very specific definitions regarding classification of fire hazards based on safe transport of materials. For initial discussions we will adhere to the OSHA definitions, and later refer to distinctions in U.S. federal definitions which are legal standards. 

The combustible liquid category are thus those liquids whose flash points are above 100°F. The category for petroleum liquids covers a range from the 100°F flash point of kerosene to the flash point of 450°F of some motor oils. Although these materials are less hazardous than flammable liquids, they still represent fire hazards and under certain conditions are as dangerous as flammables. Some typical examples of the two categories of fire hazards for petroleum liquids are given in Table 6. 

Flammables Flash Point, °F Combustible Flash Point, F 

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