[BC] Static Myth Busted...

[Alan Alsobrook]

Just to make sure everyone understands what I was saying, _YES_ Gasoline 
is far more volatile and dangerous than diesel.

The only point I was trying to make is that inside a container Diesel is 
more likely to have an explosive mixture. Such that given an ignition 
source the container of diesel is likely to explode, while the gasoline 
can will burn at the mouth of the can. If the can happens to be plastic 
it will soon melt away allowing the contents to burn freely.

To try to do a brief summary of the dangers of storing gasoline vs fuel 
oil.  To ignite the fuel oil most likely the ignition source would have 
to be inside the fuel oil container. For gasoline due to it's low flash 
point (this is what determines volatility) the gasoline vapors will 
often escape from the can and travel along the floor and will tend to 
find an ignition source (most typical in basments/garages is a gas water 
heater or furnace) and flask back to the can, again pointing out this is 
occurring _outside_ the container.

Also it's interesting that your local jurisdiction limits you to 2 
gallons of gasoline storage since it only takes a few ounces (if that 
much) to level a house.

Ron Cole wrote:
> Becasue Gasoline is so dangerious.
> A Local city ordnance prohibits the storage of more than 2 gallons of
> gasoline in the garage of a home. The local stores only sell 1 and 2 gallon
> plastic cans for Lawn mowers and the like.
> 
> Ron
> 
>>------ At 12:50 AM 11/14/2005, Kevin Tekel wrote: -------
>>>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.
>>
>>As a car dealer kid I have to agree. Gasoline is far more dangerous.
>>Diesel or #2 fuel oil generally has to be a mist to ignite at low
>>temperatures. Would you dare heat your house with gasoline? Most
>>large buildings heat with #6 fuel oil. It has to be heated just to
>>flow. It's like molasses.
>>
>>I called my local fire department to be sure. A 5 gallon container of
>>gasoline in a garage is far more dangerous than a 275 gallon oil tank
>>in the basement.

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