1. Safe Handling of
Flammable and
Combustible Liquids

2. 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 enough vapor within a test vessel in
sufficient concentration to form an ignitable mixture
with air near the surface of the liquid.
Remember, it is the vapors, not the liquid, that Burns!
A chemical’s flashpoint is listed on the MSDS under the Fire and
Explosion section.

3. Flammable and Combustible Liquids
Flammable Liquids Combustible Liquids
Any liquid having a Any liquid having a
flashpoint below 100o F flashpoint at or above
(37.8o C) or lower. 100o F (37.8o C).
NFPA Classes IA, IB, & IC NFPA Classes II & IIIA & B

4. Flammable and Combustible Liquid
Classifications
Flammable Liquid - any liquid having a flashpoint below 100o F
(37.8o C) or higher, the total of which make up 99 percent or more
of the total volume of the mixture. Flammable liquids shall be
known as Class I liquids. Class I liquids are divided into three
classes as follows:
Class IA - shall include liquids having flashpoints below 73 F (22.8 C)
and having a boiling point below 100 F (37.8 C).
Class IB - shall include liquids having flashpoints below 73 F (22.8 C)
And having a boiling point at or above 100 F (37.8 C).
Class IC - shall include liquids having flashpoints at or above 73 F
(22.8 C) and below 100 F (37.8 C).

5. Flammable and Combustible Liquid
Classifications (Cont.)
Combustible Liquid - any liquid having a flashpoint at or above
100o F (37.8o C). Combustible liquids shall be divided into two
classes as follows:
Class II - shall include those with flashpoints at or above
100 F (37.8 C) and below 140 F (60 C), except any mixture
having components with flashpoints of 200 F (93.3 C) or higher,
the volume of which makes up 99 percent or more of the total
volume of the mixture.
Class III - shall include those with flashpoints at or above
140 F (60 C).

6. Flammable and Combustible Liquids
Classifications (Cont.)
Class III liquids are subdivided into two
subclasses:
Class IIIA - shall include those with flashpoints at or
above 140 F (60 C) and below 200 F (93.3 C), except
any mixture having components with flashpoints of 200 F
(93.3 C), or higher, the total volume of which makes up
99 percent or more of the total volume of the mixture.
Class IIIB - shall include those with flashpoints at or
above 200 F (93.3 C).

7. Classes of Flammable
and Combustible Liquids
200
IIIA
Flashpoint (Fo)
COMBUSTIBLE
140 (Flash Point >100 F)
II
100
73
IC
FLAMMABLE
(Flash Point < 100 F)
IA IB
100
Boiling Point (F)

8. Flammable Liquids in the Plant
 Triethalemine 17o F  Enamel Reducer 20o F
 Barsol A-2316 54o F  Isopropyl Alcohol 45oF
 Acetone Solvent 0o F  Methanol 45o F
 Barsol A-2343 56o F  MEK 23o F
 Barsol A-3447 0oF  Xylene 79o F
 N-Butanol 36o F  Toluene 45o F
 Sec. Butanol 72o F  Gasoline -50o F
 Glycol Ether 94o F  142 Solvent 66/3 610 F

9. Explosive Limits
Explosive limits involve the concentration level
of the given chemical in the air.
In popular jargon, a vapor/air mixture below the
flammable limit is too lean to burn or explode.
A mixture above the upper flammable limits 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.

10. Lower and Upper Explosive
Levels (LEL/UEL)

11. Controlling the potential for fire
and explosion with flammable
liquids is done through safe
Storage, Transfer, Use
and Disposal!

12. Hazards 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.

13. Flammable and Combustible 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.

14. Flammable and Combustible Liquids
Definitions (cont.)
Ventilation: Adequate if it is sufficient to prevent the accumulation
of significant quantities of vapor-air mixtures in concentrations
over ¼ 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.

15. 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

16. Safe Storage Practices
 No open flames, smoking, sparks
or welding is 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 need oxidizers.
 Drums of flammable liquid shall be grounded.
 A 10 lbs. fire extinguisher shall be readily
accessible within the storage area.

17. 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.

18. 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.

19. 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.

20. 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.