Operation (continued)
26
Static electricity and filling the gasoline tank:
Static electricity can initiate from ungrounded gasoline tanks or containers, from flowing gasoline, and
from persons carrying a static electric charge
Static electricity can explosively ignite gasoline vapors that are present during the fueling process, resulting in
serious burns to nearby persons. To avoid static electricity while fueling, certain steps must be followed before
and during the fueling process in order to minimize and safely dissipate static charge build-up:
•
Touch a grounded metal object before starting
. Always dissipate static charge from your body before
beginning the fueling process by touching a grounded metal object at a safe distance away from fuel
sources.
•
Use a portable container to fill tank
. Never fill the generator’s gas tank directly from the fuel pump –
the generator’s tank is not
grounded and the high velocity flow of gasoline from a fuel pump can cause
static electric build-
up. Use an approved portable container to transfer gasoline to the generator’s tank.
•
Fill container on the ground.
Never fill the portable gas container while it is sitting inside a vehicle,
trailer, trunk, or pick-up truck bed. ALWAYS place container on the ground to be filled.
•
Keep nozzle in contact with container
. Keep nozzle in contact with the portable container at all times
while filling. Manually control the flow of gasoline; DO NOT
use the nozzle’s lock
-open device.
•
Use a portable container made of metal or conductive plastic.
It will dissipate the charge to ground
more readily.
About static electricity and fueling
Many common objects can accumulate and retain a static electric charge. Objects made of non-conductive
materials (e.g. plastics) easily accumulate and retain static electric charge, as can objects made of conductive
material (e.g. metal, water) if they are not electrically grounded. The static electric charge on an object, such as
a human body or plastic fuel tank/container, can reach as high as several thousand volts!
A static electric spark can be generated if the static electric charge stored on an object “jumps” to another, less
charged object. Such a spark can ignite invisible gasoline vapors that are present during fueling situations.
Typical sources of static electric hazards during fueling
The following objects can accumulate a static electric charge and cause an ignition spark in typical fueling
situations:
1.
Ungrounded tanks/containers. Any ungrounded fuel tank or container can accumulate a static electric
charge as a result of contact with other objects or friction during transportation. This static electricity can
discharge as a spark to the grounded gasoline dispenser nozzle, as the nozzle is first brought close to the
tank/container at the beginning of the fueling process.
2.
Flowing gasoline. Most people are not aware that gasoline accumulates static electric charge while flowing
through a hose or pipe. This charge then transfers to and accumulates in the gas tank or container that is
being filled. The total amount of charge accumulation depends on the amount of gas pumped into the
container, the speed with which it is pumped, and whether or not the tank/container is grounded. If sufficient
static electric charge accumulates in the fuel tank or container during the fueling process, the tank/container
may discharge a spark to the grounded gasoline dispenser nozzle.
3.
Persons. A person dispensing the gasoline can carry a static electric charge on their body, typically resulting
from contact with their car seat or electronics. The static electricity can discharge as a spark between that
person’s hand and either the ground
ed dispenser nozzle or the fuel tank opening.
