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Clean Earth Technology has designed the Pump Flooding procedure described on page 8 to
mitigate the risk of vapor ignition in flammable liquids recovered by the Spill Buddy.
The results of flashpoint testing have been used to help regulating bodies determine the
temperatures at which potentially combustible liquids turn into a vapor, creating a flammable or
explosive gas.
Hazardous locations are further defined by means of the class/division system and have been
formulated by the NEC, CSA, OSHA, and the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA).
These definitions are as follows:
Flammable Liquids
Flammable fluids are defined as liquids having closed cup flash points below 100°F
(37°C). Flammable liquids are referred to as Class I liquids.
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A class IA flammable liquid is a liquid with a flashpoint below 73ºF (22.8ºC) and a boiling
point below 100ºF (37.8ºC). An example of a class IA liquid is n-pentane, since its flashpoint
and boiling point are 56ºF (49ºC) and 97ºF (36ºC), respectively.
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A class IB flammable liquid is a liquid with a flashpoint below 73ºF (22.8ºC) and a boiling
point at or above 100ºF (37.8ºC). An example of a class IB liquid is acetone, since
its flashpoint and boiling point are 0ºF (18ºC) and 133ºF (56ºC), respectively.
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A class IC flammable liquid is a liquid with a flashpoint at or above 73ºF (22.8ºC) and
below 100ºF (37.8ºC). An example of a class IC liquid is turpentine, since its flashpoint
lies in the range from 95 to 102ºF (35 to 39ºC).
Combustible Liquids
Combustible fluids are defined as liquids having closed cup flash points at or above
100°F (37°C). Combustible liquids are referred to as Class II or Class III liquids.
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Class II liquids - flash points at or above 100°F (37.8°C) and below 140°F (60°C).
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Class IIIA liquids - flash points at or above 140°F (60°C) and below 200°F (93.4°C). c.
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Class IIIB liquids - flash points at or above 200°F (93.4°C).
An example of a Combustible liquid is the Lamplight® Ultra Pure Red Paraffin Lamp Oil that
CET uses for testing new and repaired units before shipment. This material has a flashpoint of
250F (121C) making it a class III liquid. Furthermore, its low toxicity makes it a safe testing fluid
due to its high ignition temperature and the lack of chemicals that are listed in the CERCLA
Hazardous Substance list. CET uses a red colored fluid but it also can be found in clear, or
colored green or blue.
This fluid is easily found and can also be used as a pump flooding fluid as defined on page 8.
Envirotecnics
Tel: +34 872 080 542
envirotecnics@envirote
cnics.com
www.envirotecnics.com
