Gas Can Hazards

5/3/2019 (Permalink)

As we enter the warmer months of the year; many of us will begin our outdoor chores which will probably include lawn and property maintenance. Since most of the tools used for such endeavors are powered by gasoline; this might be a good time to talk about gas can and fuel safety.

The Portable Fuel Container Manufacturers Association estimates that there are approximately between 120 and 150 million plastic gas cans in circulation across the US. Statistics show that about a dozen people have lost their lives and thousands have been injured in the last twenty years. Scientists have found that under certain limited conditions lab tests show that gasoline vapor mixtures inside portable gas cans can ignite with explosive force. They stress that in most cases the following issues contribute to such danger:

• A very low volume of gasoline in the container.
• Low Temperatures.
• Aged gasoline or gas that has been in storage.
• Holding the can at a 42 degree pouring angle with the cap off and the spout open.

For an explosion to occur, gas vapor escaping the can must come in contact with a source of ignition such as a flame or spark and ignite, and the flame from the ignited vapor must travel back into the can through the spout, and the gas/air vapor mixture inside the can has to be in a concentration that falls within a defined flammability range.

Expertssay you should not leave small amounts of gasoline in a gas can, or fill the gas can more than 95 percent full. Use a tight-fitting cap and store the gasoline at room temperature, not in heat or cold. Do not store gas in unapproved, untested containers like milk or soda bottles. Remember not to refill a gas can close to a hot engine, or pour gas into a lawnmower or other small machine when it is still warm from use. Be aware of any possible sources of ignition nearby – flame or spark, including static electricity – when you are using a gas can.

SERVPRO of Sussex County encourages everyone to use caution when handling or transporting fuel. In the event of a spill or fire – please call us and we will be happy to help!