Fire precautions flash

From the viewpoint of safety, information about the flash point is of most significance at or slightly above the maximum temperatures [30 to 60°C (86 to 140°F)] that may be encountered in storage, transportation, and use of liquid petroleum products, in either closed or open containers. In this temperature range the relative fire and explosion hazard can be estimated from the flash point. For products with flash points below 40°C (104°F), special precautions are necessary for safe handling. Flash points above 60°C (140°F) gradually lose their safety significance until they become indirect measures of some other quality. 

Handling. The main hazard associated with these olefins, especially the lighter homologues, is their low flash point. Although no special precautions are necessary with regard to fire extinguishing, these olefin... 

Precautions. The reagent is highly hygroscopic and is handled most satisfactorily in a dry box. Reactions are advisedly carried out in an inert atmosphere. It is caustic to skin and membranes. The reagent reacts exothermally with oxygen, and excessive exposure to oxygen or air at an elevated temperature presents a fire hazard. The flash point is 160-165°. 

Though there do not seem to be any generally available technical reports, there are genuine stories of explosions and burn accidents caused by the inadvertent formation and subsequent decomposition of hydrates of hydrocarbons in railway tank cars in the cold climate of Canada. Incidents occurred due to the practice of washing empty tank carr following their use for transporting liquid hydrocarbons. In a cold winter climate, it is possible to form hydrates with small amounts of hydrocarbon residues, which later decompose when the tank car warms up, e.g., when exposed to sunshine. For example, the clathrate hydrate of isobutene (2-methyl-propene, b.p. -6.9" C) needs only 1.12 bar at 273 K to be stable. Precautions were not taken around such nominally clean and empty tankers, and exposure to sparks or naked flames led to flash fires and explosions. While the main content of the tankers was butane, other hydrocarbons were present. In another kind of industrial accident, a worker was killed by H2S gas liberated from H2S hydrate residue in a heavy water production plant, during a shutdown for maintenance. 

Precaution Combustible solid powd. material may form explosive dust-air mixts. incompat. with strong oxidizers mixing in a nonpolar hydrocarbon can cause static buildup which can cause flash fire Hazardous Decomp. Prods. Combustion prods. CO2, CO FIMIS Flealth 0, Flammability 1, Reactivity 0 Storage Keep container closed CAP-482-20 [Eastman]... 

Toxicology LD50 (oral, raf) > 5 g/kg, (dermal, rabbif) > 2 g/kg powd. may cause minimal eye irrifafion inh. of dusf may cause dizziness and sneezing nonprimary skin irrifanf TSCA listed Precaution Finely divided dusf may presenf flash fire or explosion hazard Hazardous Decomp. Prods. CO2, CO, NO, and ofher tow m.w. org. frag-menfs... 

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