Standard Guide for Generation and Dissipation of Static Electricity in Petroleum Fuel Systems

SCOPE
1.1 This guide describes how static electricity may be generated in petroleum fuel systems, the types of equipment conducive to charge generation and methods for the safe dissipation of such charges. The guide is intended to increase awareness of potential operating problems and hazards resulting from electrostatic charge accumulation.
1.2 This guide is not intended to provide specific solutions but indicates available techniques the user may wish to investigate to alleviate electrostatic charges. The guide does not cover the effects of stray currents or of lightning, either of which can also produce sparks leading to fires or explosions.
1.3 This guide is not intended to address detailed safety practices associated with static electricity in petroleum product systems.
1.4 The values in SI units are to be regarded as the standard. The values in parentheses are for information only.
1.5 This standard does not purport to address all of the safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the responsibility of the user of this standard to establish appropriate safety and health practices and determine the applicability of regulatory limitations prior to use.

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Status
Historical
Publication Date
09-Jun-1998
Current Stage
Ref Project

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ASTM D4865-98 - Standard Guide for Generation and Dissipation of Static Electricity in Petroleum Fuel Systems
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NOTICE: This standard has either been superseded and replaced by a new version or withdrawn. Contact
ASTM International (www.astm.org) for the latest information.
Designation: D 4865 – 98 An American National Standard
AMERICAN SOCIETY FOR TESTING AND MATERIALS
100 Barr Harbor Dr., West Conshohocken, PA 19428
Reprinted from the Annual Book of ASTM Standards. Copyright ASTM
Standard Guide for
Generation and Dissipation of Static Electricity in Petroleum
1
Fuel Systems
This standard is issued under the fixed designation D 4865; the number immediately following the designation indicates the year of
original adoption or, in the case of revision, the year of last revision. A number in parentheses indicates the year of last reapproval. A
superscript epsilon (e) indicates an editorial change since the last revision or reapproval.
INTRODUCTION
Every year a number of fires and explosions in petroleum product systems are attributed to spark
ignition from accumulated static electricity. Such fires require a flammable hydrocarbon/air mixture
and an ignition source. Safety practices can concentrate on the elimination of either factor, but this
guide provides a general background on how electrostatic charges are formed and how they may be
prevented or dissipated.
A subtle and often misunderstood feature of these incidents is the possible accumulation of
hazardous electrostatic charges in systems which are properly bonded and grounded. This can occur
because refined hydrocarbon fuels have low electrical conductivities and electrostatic charges may be
retained within the fuel and on its surfaces.
2
1. Scope D 56 Test Method for Flash Point by Tag Closed Tester
D 93 Test Methods for Flash Point by Pensky-Martens
1.1 This guide describes how static electricity may be
2
Closed Cup Tester
generated in petroleum fuel systems, the types of equipment
D 323 Test Method for Vapor Pressure of Petroleum Prod-
conducive to charge generation, and methods for the safe
2
ucts (Reid Method)
dissipation of such charges. This guide is intended to increase
2
D 396 Specification for Fuel Oils
awareness of potential operating problems and hazards result-
2
D 910 Specification for Aviation Gasolines
ing form electrostatic charge accumulation.
2
D 975 Specification for Diesel Fuel Oils
1.2 This guide is not intended to provide specific solutions
2
D 1655 Specification for Aviation Turbine Fuels
but indicates available techniques the user may wish to
D 2276 Test Method for Particulate Contaminant in Avia-
investigate to alleviate electrostatic charges. This guide does
2
tion Fuel by Line Sampling
not cover the effects of stray currents or of lightning, either of
D 2624 Test Methods for Electrical Conductivity of Avia-
which can also produce sparks leading to fires or explosions.
3
tion and Distillate Fuels
1.3 This guide is not intended to address detailed safety
3
D 2880 Specification for Gas Turbine Fuel Oils
practices associated with static electricity in petroleum product
3
D 3699 Specification for Kerosene
systems.
D 3948 Test Methods for Determining Water Separation
1.4 The values in SI units are to be regarded as the standard.
Characteristics of Aviation Turbine Fuels by Portable
The values in parentheses are for information only.
3
Separometer
1.5 This standard does not purport to address all of the
D 4306 Practice for Aviation Fuel Sample Containers for
safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the
3
Tests Affected by Trace Contamination
responsibility of the user of this standard to establish appro-
D 4308 Test Method for Electrical Conductivity of Liquid
priate safety and health practices and determine the applica-
3
Hydrocarbons by Precision Meter
bility of regulatory limitations prior to use.
2. Referenced Documents
2.1 ASTM Standards:
1
This guide is under the jurisdiction of ASTM Committee D-2 on Petroleum
Products and Lubricants and is the direct responsibility of Subcommittee D02.J on
2
Aviation Fuels. Annual Book of ASTM Standards, Vol 05.01.
3
Current edition approved June 10, 1998. Published August 1998. Last previous Annual Book of ASTM Standards, Vol 05.02.
edition D 4865 – 97.
1

---------------------- Page: 1 ----------------------
NOTICE:¬This¬standard¬has¬either¬been¬superceded¬and¬replaced¬by¬a¬new¬version¬or¬discontinued.¬
Contact¬ASTM¬International¬(www.astm.org)¬for¬the¬latest¬information.¬
D 4865
D 5191 Test Method for Vapor Pressure of Petroleum Prod- having vapor pressure (Test Method D 323 or D 5191) not
4
ucts (Mini Method) exceeding 276 kPa (40 psia) (see NFPA Standard No. 30).
D 5452 Test Method for Particulate Contamination in Avia- 3.1.9.1 Discussion—The definition of flammable is cur-
4
tion Fuels by Laboratory Filtration rently under discussion by the UN Committee of Experts on the
2.2 National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) Stan- Transportation of Dangerous Goods.
5
dards: 3.1.10 grounding, v—the practice of providing electrical
NFPA Standard No. 30 Flammable and Combustible Liquid continuity betwe
...

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