[BC] Re: [RT] Static Myth Busted ...

[Alan Alsobrook]

You are correct, but if you note in my posting I specifically stated in
the fuel tank. It is because of the higher flash point of Diesel that it
is more likely to be explosive in a container. With gasoline the
concentration of vapors inside the tank will be above the Upper
Explosive Limit and will not burn. Sure you can get a fire at the mouth
of the tank where the fumes are mixing with air, but inside the tank the
mixture is too rich. With diesel the chance of having an atmosphere
within the explosive range is far greater, in fact with agitation of
going down the road and circulation near a hot engine, it's likely.

In fact if you read more of the site you referenced you'll see that they
explain what I had said in fairly good detail.

Perhaps I should note I've got 29 years in the fire department and over
20 years as a HazMat Team Commander.

Kevin Tekel wrote:

> Alan Alsobrook wrote:
> 
>>{side note Diesel is far more likely to ignite (in the
>>tank) than gasoline}
> 
> 
> While all fuels are flammable to some degree (or they wouldn't be fuels),
> all the data I've seen over the years indicates that gasoline is more
> flammable than diesel fuel.  Or, rather, gasoline _vapor_ is more
> flammable, since that's what actually ignites, not the liquid gasoline
> itself -- that's why an empty tanker truck is more dangerous on the road
> than one that's full to the brim of gasoline (you can empty out the liquid
> gasoline, but you still leave behind a tank full of smelly and flammable
> gasoline vapor).

-- 
Alan Alsobrook CSRE AMD CBNT
St. Augustine Fl. 32086 904-829-8885
aalso at Bellsouth.net