Re the editorial "Fumes Spark Blaze", those of us who are (or in my case have been) pilots are well aware of the dangers of static electricity when refuelling. When refuelling aircraft the plane is "earthed" by clipping an earthwire "static line" from the bowser to a tab on the airframe and then another connected to the fuel nozzle to a tab near the filler cap before removing the cap. This is known to be particularly important when fuelling from drums.
Approved "jerry" cans are either metal or if plastic contain carbon (hence the black colour) to make the container conductive to prevent static build up.
Without knowing all the facts in this case one can't help but nominate static as the likely cause of this fire.
Wombat 280 said
04:02 PM Sep 16, 2009
or refueling while the gen was hot and one splash and your ash. Should always ground the container before pouring or filling just ensure the charge is discharged to ground.
Seen many geny operator run down to a splattering geny to refuel the unit because the lights have gone out and you can see the exhaust glowing in the dark.
Mick themungrel said
05:37 PM Sep 16, 2009
jimricho wrote:
Approved "jerry" cans are either metal or if plastic contain carbon (hence the black colour) to make the container conductive to prevent static build up.
Gday Better have a look at any auto parts store or servo that sells jerry cans and most are red or yellow very rarely see a black one .
dave06 said
11:14 AM Sep 17, 2009
yes we have banned carpet of any kind and nylon or synthetic clothing near our work areas as we always have fuel spills somewhere and static will ignite it everytime
the different colored drums are indicitive of the substance to which it is carrying, different states, different laws and colors, yellow normally water, red plastic or green steel jerry cans nearly always petrol or diesel, black signifys diesel
in my early days as a builder I would often, well if the truth was told, always refuel the generators whilst they were hot and running, in all my years of doing this I have had numerous spills and a lot of fume but without an ignition source it just dissipated in to the air
try a test, soak a rag with petrol, throw it on the ground and bring a match to it, you will quickly find you have to be pretty damn close to get it to ignite, hot day or fume the distance will be greater before ignition
the reason the servo's want you to ground the container is nothing to do with earthing it, youve already done that when you picked it up, you put it on the ground so when or if it bursts in to flame you dont throw the damn thing away and spread the fire, thereby reeking more bloody havoc, nothing to do with anything else
the most dangerous thing that is lurking in your shed is that rag that you used to clean the boys cricket bat with last week, the linseed oil soaked rag will spontanaously combust with no warning, fuel nearby and lookout
-- Edited by dave06 on Thursday 17th of September 2009 11:20:18 AM
Vic41 said
12:16 PM Sep 17, 2009
This link will show some of the fuel containers in different colours and uses sold as "All Safe" they were previouly sold as "Rheem". See;
-- Edited by Vic41 on Thursday 17th of September 2009 12:16:40 PM
dave06 said
12:24 PM Sep 17, 2009
yep a lot of "chinese" one's here as well being sold through various outlets, seen them in south aussie and N.T. and N.S.W., dont remember them in vic or W.A. might have been but dont remember seeing them
that's discounting the "lawnmower" style tin (white) and the chainsaw style (red or sometimes blue plastic)
but the colors are definately "out there" and varied
one other thing, every fuel bowser is grounded and earthed through the hose and bowser, the nozzle is made of a "non sparking" alloy, and the inlet on your motor vehicle is coated with a non sparking alloy overcoat, the ignition source for fuel vapours will ALWAYS come from you!!!
I cringe when I see "polyester man" get out of his vehicle and grab the nozzle to refill, I try to get away as soon as possible
try not to wear "synthetic" clothing when refilling anything and that includes your shoes
justcruisin01 said
02:51 PM Sep 18, 2009
A friend of ours was fueling a geny out beside his c/van, fumes entered the vents behind gas fridge causing a flashback to him & a fire ,scortched the side of van but all was saved ,He received burns to arms legs &a few days in hospital. Goes to show,if it can it will.Maybe more hast less speed.
Approved "jerry" cans are either metal or if plastic contain carbon (hence the black colour) to make the container conductive to prevent static build up.
Without knowing all the facts in this case one can't help but nominate static as the likely cause of this fire.
Better have a look at any auto parts store or servo that sells jerry cans and most are red or yellow very rarely see a black one .
the different colored drums are indicitive of the substance to which it is carrying, different states, different laws and colors, yellow normally water, red plastic or green steel jerry cans nearly always petrol or diesel, black signifys diesel
in my early days as a builder I would often, well if the truth was told, always refuel the generators whilst they were hot and running, in all my years of doing this I have had numerous spills and a lot of fume but without an ignition source it just dissipated in to the air
try a test, soak a rag with petrol, throw it on the ground and bring a match to it, you will quickly find you have to be pretty damn close to get it to ignite, hot day or fume the distance will be greater before ignition
the reason the servo's want you to ground the container is nothing to do with earthing it, youve already done that when you picked it up, you put it on the ground so when or if it bursts in to flame you dont throw the damn thing away and spread the fire, thereby reeking more bloody havoc, nothing to do with anything else
the most dangerous thing that is lurking in your shed is that rag that you used to clean the boys cricket bat with last week, the linseed oil soaked rag will spontanaously combust with no warning, fuel nearby and lookout
-- Edited by dave06 on Thursday 17th of September 2009 11:20:18 AM
http://www.haigh.com.au/index.php?option=category_all&ID=80
-- Edited by Vic41 on Thursday 17th of September 2009 12:16:40 PM
Goes to show,if it can it will.Maybe more hast less speed.