Flammable and Combustible Liquids

Click here for the general use Standard Operating Procedure for flammable and combustible liquids.

Summary:The risks associated with the use of laboratory chemicals must be well understood prior to their use in an experiment. As many chemicals have multiple hazards, ensure to review the safety guidance for all hazard classes that may apply.

Definition:
For the purposes of laboratory safety, both flammable and combustible liquids are considered fire hazards. Flammable liquids have a flash point of less than 100 °F and combustible liquids have a flash point of between 100-200 °F.

Per Cal/OSHA 8 CCR 5191, flammable material definitions are as follows:

(1) "Aerosol, flammable" means an aerosol that, when tested by the method described in 16 CFR 1500.45, yields a flame projection exceeding 18 inches at full valve opening, or a flashback (a flame extending back to the valve) at any degree of valve opening;

(2) "Gas, flammable" means:
(A) A gas that, at ambient temperature and pressure, forms a flammable mixture with air at a concentration of 13 percent by volume or less; or
(B) A gas that, at ambient temperature and pressure, forms a range of flammable mixtures with air greater than 12 percent by volume, regardless of the lower explosive limit.

(3) "Liquid, flammable" means any liquid having a flashpoint below 100° F (37.8° C), except any mixture having components with flashpoints of 100° F (37.8° C) or higher, the total of which make up 99 percent or more of the total volume of the mixture.

(4) "Solid, flammable" means a solid, other than a blasting agent or explosive as defined in 29 CFR 1910.109(a), that is liable to cause fire through friction, absorption of moisture, spontaneous chemical change, or retained heat from manufacturing or processing, or which can be ignited readily and when ignited burns so vigorously and persistently as to create a serious hazard. A chemical shall be considered to be a flammable solid if, when tested by the method described in 16 CFR 1500.44, it ignites and burns with a self-sustained flame at a rate greater than one-tenth of an inch per second along its major axis.

Examples:
Flammable and combustible liquids used in Stanford University laboratories include: Acetone, Methyl alcohol, Acetic acid, Toluene.

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