Static electricity hazard while pumping gasoline

[3930dave]

Over in Oil/Fuel, I had started a thread about aromatic compounds in gasoline.

Round about post #14, we started discussing fueling up gas cans that were still in vehicles. Jas dug up some really good links concerning static electricity safety issues while fueling.

Whether or not you have laws concerning where the cans should be placed while fueling, there is some really valuable information contained in the links Jas lists.

http://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/oil-fuel-lubricants/282271-non-aromatic-fuel-2.html

Fuel safe, Rgds, D.

 

[Tollster]

I know plastic bed liners can cause serious injury if you do not remove the jugs from the bed. I always put mine on the ground and away from the vehicle during refueling, even though I don't have a bed liner.

 

[MillWeld]

I put a grounding strap on my steel gas caddy and ground it sometimes to the gas pump handle or the truck body. I have read that the conductivity of the truck tires is sufficient for static discharge to the earth.
Bob

 

[timster2]

I have read that the conductivity of the truck tires is sufficient for static discharge to the earth.
Bob

You don't need a path to ground just sufficient difference in potential energy between two objects for static discharge. During the winter with low humidity when you walk across a carpet, a static generator, and touch a door knob which is in an insulated wood door you get that familiar spark. The door is not grounded, however, the knob has a lower potential than your static charged body which could have in excess of 30,000 volts.

The reason women are involved more often with gas station fires in the winter is because they get back in the car while fueling slide across the seat then touch the fueling nozzle and discharge their static causing a spark at the worst possible location. You may have noticed that at a lot of gas stations the automatic filling latch on the fueling nozzle is removed. This forces you to stay outside while fueling.

You could have a whole thread just on static and its destructive potential.

 

[3930dave]

I put a grounding strap on my steel gas caddy and ground it sometimes to the gas pump handle or the truck body. I have read that the conductivity of the truck tires is sufficient for static discharge to the earth.
Bob

Static can slowly discharge through tires. The old fashioned ground strap on the metal bumper (think 1970's), can make that happen quicker. Good to hear that you are making use of the ground strap on your caddy - wise move.

That's a good point about the pump handle Timster, hadn't thought about it in that way. Many clothing fabrics today are synthetic, that typically makes the sliding-across-the-seat scenario you descibe worse (compared to cotton). A lot of the No Cell Phone Use at gas stations is partly there to discourage people from re-entering the car to answer a phone.

Rgds, D.

 

[Gator6x4]

You don't need a path to ground just sufficient difference in potential energy between two objects for static discharge. During the winter with low humidity when you walk across a carpet, a static generator, and touch a door knob which is in an insulated wood door you get that familiar spark. The door is not grounded, however, the knob has a lower potential than your static charged body which could have in excess of 30,000 volts.

The reason women are involved more often with gas station fires in the winter is because they get back in the car while fueling slide across the seat then touch the fueling nozzle and discharge their static causing a spark at the worst possible location. You may have noticed that at a lot of gas stations the automatic filling latch on the fueling nozzle is removed. This forces you to stay outside while fueling.

You could have a whole thread just on static and its destructive potential.

I thought it was because they always have a cell phone pressed to their ear. (LOL)

 

[Todd727]

Can't believe this video hasn't been posted to this thread:

 

[Soundguy]

glad i have a diesel!

also glad I had plenty of ESD training in electronics classes decades ago. I find myself touching something to discharge befroe I open coputers.. ful caps, nozzles.. most things with electronics..e tc. I still have esd bracelets and clip lanyards at my repair station in my shop

 

[3930dave]

Can't believe this video hasn't been posted to this thread:

I was expecting the vehicle to go up; there are a few of those gas station vids out there with the vehicle engulfed - some fatal.

Likely a synthetic sweater. If she'd have closed the driver's door, we wouldn't be watching this.

Doesn't take much.

Rgds, D.

 

[V1Rotate]

When line service personel are refueling aircraft, they are required to attach a ground cable from the fuel truck to the aircraft before they bring the fuel hose to the plane.

 

[Midniteoyl]

Can't believe this video hasn't been posted to this thread:

Supposedly, getting into, then sliding out of the car caused a static buildup on her. Just like socks on carpet. One reason I do NOT get back in the car while fueling..

 

[Midniteoyl]

I know plastic bed liners can cause serious injury if you do not remove the jugs from the bed. I always put mine on the ground and away from the vehicle during refueling, even though I don't have a bed liner.

Ditto.. place the jug on the ground, and I maintain contact with the nozzle and jug while filling.

 

[k0ua]

glad i have a diesel!

also glad I had plenty of ESD training in electronics classes decades ago. I find myself touching something to discharge befroe I open coputers.. ful caps, nozzles.. most things with electronics..e tc. I still have esd bracelets and clip lanyards at my repair station in my shop

Same here, I have been doing the exact same thing since I learned about ESD in the late 70's..

 

[MillWeld]

Static can slowly discharge through tires. The old fashioned ground strap on the metal bumper (think 1970's), can make that happen quicker. Good to hear that you are making use of the ground strap on your caddy - wise move.

Rgds, D.

I have also grounded my caddy directly to the gas hose handle before pumping. That should be a low resistance connection to ground and dissipate the charge faster. Do you think that is a good choice for grounding?
Bob

 

[3930dave]

I have also grounded my caddy directly to the gas hose handle before pumping. That should be a low resistance connection to ground and dissipate the charge faster. Do you think that is a good choice for grounding?
Bob

I need to update some software first... but I should snap a pic of the safety stickers on the pump islands here. I was reading one recently at a station, and noted the relevant clause/subclause legislation #. But, turns out our province seems to have privatized the handling of said legislation's documentation - either that or it is so buried on the provincial site that it is not readily found. (I can only find it For Sale so far - Go Public Safety !).

The relevant clause said that a drum/caddy should be electrically bonded to the vehicle, or trailer that it is on. Sounds reasonable, at a minimum.

I know a little bit about grounding in general, but not gas pumps in particular (from a hard-core engineering standpoint). The "rubber" fuel hose could be made to be fairly conductive electrically, but I don't know for sure if it is or isn't.

My inclination would be to connect a ground as far away from the fuel openings (hose end, tank fill port) as possible, to reduce the chance of a spark near vapour. The fuel pump chassis should be well grounded itself, that would be my first choice.

As I think V1R mentioned, electrically grounding is standard practice for airplanes, before doing anything else. This is well understood in aviation, not so much at 7/11. If you clip onto the hose handle, likely nobody will notice - if you clip onto the pump itself, the kid inside might think you are "hacking" the gas pump !



I need to find some better general purpose documentation on fueling up road vehicles, esp. with aux. tanks.

Rgds, D.

 

[CalG]

Video aside, Has anyone ever actually talked to someone that has "caught fire" while fueling?

I mean we all do it so regualrly, and I have never heard of it until the internet got a hold of it.

The instance of a "fire while fueling" has never been reported in our local paper.

Not to dismiss common sense, and I will continue to set the jugs down on the ground while filling. And I will NEVER pull my polyester sweater down while fueling...;-)

But.. this is just not something to get your undies wrapped up over. Statistcs and all.

 

[cqaigy2]

And I will NEVER pull my polyester sweater down while fueling...;-)

I'd be more grateful if you pulled up your britches before bending over. :dance1:

But i noticed she didn't just run away, she shut the pump off. That's pretty gutsy.

 

[Midniteoyl]

Video aside, Has anyone ever actually talked to someone that has "caught fire" while fueling?

I mean we all do it so regualrly, and I have never heard of it until the internet got a hold of it.

The instance of a "fire while fueling" has never been reported in our local paper.

Not to dismiss common sense, and I will continue to set the jugs down on the ground while filling. And I will NEVER pull my polyester sweater down while fueling...;-)

But.. this is just not something to get your undies wrapped up over. Statistcs and all.

Havent seen it myself, but... Here is one from a guy fueling a can in truck.

It DOES happen..

 

[MillWeld]

I mean we all do it so regualrly, and I have never heard of it until the internet got a hold of it.

The instance of a "fire while fueling" has never been reported in our local paper.

Out of millions? of pumping events every day only 150 have been reported.
Static Electricity Causes Gas Pump Fires - Urban Legends

So it is a rare event.

 

[MillWeld]

I know a little bit about grounding in general, but not gas pumps in particular (from a hard-core engineering standpoint). The "rubber" fuel hose could be made to be fairly conductive electrically, but I don't know for sure if it is or isn't.

I think the fuel hose has a braided sleeve for abrasion resistance as well serving as a ground path.