Static discharge might cause fire at petrol stations

In light of a recent incident where a three year old boy was set on fire by leaking, burning petrol at a petrol kiosk in Malaysia, widespread discussion has been going on about the harmful effects of static electricity at the pumps, cited to be a likely cause for the abovementioned accident.

Static electricity related incidents at retail service station outlets are not common because it is abnormal to get a sufficiently high enough fuel vapour rich atmosphere in an open air environment, but it still happens.

A few guidelines issued by the AIP for safe refuelling:

• Turn the engine off

• Don't use any sort of electronic device, smoke, or use any form of naked flames near the pumps.

Battery powered equipment such as mobile phones, pagers, and cameras represent a potential ignition source. Mobile phones can ignite fuel or fumes. Mobile phones that light up when switched on or when they ring, or if dropped, can theoretically release enough energy to provide a spark for ignition.

• Do not enter the vehicle during the refuelling process.

Avoid potential static electricity problems at the petrol pump by staying outside your vehicle while refueling. Motorists should not get back into their vehicles during refueling.

It may be tempting to get back in the car when it is cold or for any number of reasons. Staying outside the vehicle will greatly minimize the likelihood of any build-up of static electricity that could be discharged at the nozzle.

[B]Motorists who cannot avoid getting back into the vehicle should always first touch a metal part of the vehicle with a bare hand, such as the door, or some other metal surface, away from the fill point upon exiting the vehicle. [/B]

• IN THE UNLIKELY EVENT A STATIC-CAUSED FIRE OCCURS WHEN REFUELING, LEAVE THE NOZZLE IN THE FILL PIPE AND BACK AWAY FROM THE VEHICLE. NOTIFY THE STATION ATTENDANT IMMEDIATELY.

Credits: nikolaiski