ASTM D4865-09
(Guide)Standard Guide for Generation and Dissipation of Static Electricity in Petroleum Fuel Systems
Standard Guide for Generation and Dissipation of Static Electricity in Petroleum Fuel Systems
SIGNIFICANCE AND USE
Pumping, filtering, and tank filling of petroleum products, particularly refined distillates, can cause the generation and accumulation of electrostatic charges and can result in static discharges capable of causing fires and explosions. This guide provides an overview of the factors involved in the generation of such electrostatic charges. Methods are described for the alleviation of the problem, and cited authoritative references contain more details.
This guide is not intended to provide operating or safety rules for the handling of petroleum products to avoid electrostatic hazards.
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. This 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. This 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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Designation: D4865 − 09 AnAmerican National Standard
Standard Guide for
Generation and Dissipation of Static Electricity in Petroleum
1
Fuel Systems
This standard is issued under the fixed designation D4865; the number immediately following the designation indicates the year of
original adoption or, in the case of revision, the year of last revision.Anumber in parentheses indicates the year of last reapproval.A
superscript epsilon (´) 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.
1. Scope 2. Referenced Documents
2
2.1 ASTM Standards:
1.1 This guide describes how static electricity may be
generated in petroleum fuel systems, the types of equipment D56Test Method for Flash Point by Tag Closed Cup Tester
D93Test Methods for Flash Point by Pensky-Martens
conducive to charge generation, and methods for the safe
dissipation of such charges. This guide is intended to increase Closed Cup Tester
D323TestMethodforVaporPressureofPetroleumProducts
awareness of potential operating problems and hazards result-
ing from electrostatic charge accumulation. (Reid Method)
D396Specification for Fuel Oils
1.2 This guide is not intended to provide specific solutions
D910Specification for Aviation Gasolines
but indicates available techniques the user may wish to
D975Specification for Diesel Fuel Oils
investigate to alleviate electrostatic charges. This guide does
D1655Specification for Aviation Turbine Fuels
not cover the effects of stray currents or of lightning, either of
D2276Test Method for Particulate Contaminant inAviation
which can also produce sparks leading to fires or explosions.
Fuel by Line Sampling
1.3 This guide is not intended to address detailed safety
D2624Test Methods for Electrical Conductivity ofAviation
practicesassociatedwithstaticelectricityinpetroleumproduct
and Distillate Fuels
systems.
D2880Specification for Gas Turbine Fuel Oils
D3699Specification for Kerosine
1.4 ThevaluesinSIunitsaretoberegardedasthestandard.
D3948TestMethodforDeterminingWaterSeparationChar-
The values in parentheses are for information only.
acteristicsofAviationTurbineFuelsbyPortableSeparom-
1.5 This standard does not purport to address all of the
eter
safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the
D4306Practice for Aviation Fuel Sample Containers for
responsibility of the user of this standard to establish appro-
Tests Affected by Trace Contamination
priate safety and health practices and determine the applica-
D4308Test Method for Electrical Conductivity of Liquid
bility of regulatory limitations prior to use.
Hydrocarbons by Precision Meter
D5191Test Method for Vapor Pressure of Petroleum Prod-
ucts (Mini Method)
1
This guide is under the jurisdiction of ASTM Committee D02 on Petroleum
ProductsandLubricantsandisthedirectresponsibilityofSubcommitteeD02.J0.04
2
on Additives and Electrical Properties. For referenced ASTM standards, visit the ASTM website, www.astm.org, or
Current edition approved Aug. 1, 2009. Published November 2009. Originally contact ASTM Customer Service at service@astm.org. For Annual Book of ASTM
´1
approved in 1988. Last previous edition approved in 2003 as D4865–98 (2003) . Standards volume information, refer to the standard’s Document Summary page on
DOI: 10.1520/D4865-09. the ASTM website.
Copyright © ASTM International, 100 Barr Harbor Drive, PO Box C700, West Conshohocken, PA 19428-2959. United States
1
---------------------- Page: 1 ----------------------
D4865 − 09
D5452Test Method for Particulate Contamination in Avia- 3.1.9 flammable liquid, n—a liquid having a flash point
tion Fuels by Laboratory Filtration below 38°C (100°F) (see Test Methods D56 and D93) and
D6615Specification for Jet B Wide-Cut Aviation Turbine having vapor pressure (Test Method D323 or D5191) not
Fuel exceeding 276 kPa (40 psia) (see NFPA Standard No. 30).
3.1.9.1 Discussion—The definition of flammable is cur-
2.2 National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) Stan-
3
rentlyunderdiscussionbytheUNCommitteeofExpertsonthe
dards:
Transportation of Dangerous Goods.
NFPAStandard No. 30Flammable and
...
This document is not anASTM standard and is intended only to provide the user of anASTM standard an indication of what changes have been made to the previous version. Because
it may not be technically possible to adequately depict all changes accurately, ASTM recommends that users consult prior editions as appropriate. In all cases only the current version
of the standard as published by ASTM is to be considered the official document.
An American National Standard
´1
Designation:D4865–98 (Reapproved 2003) Designation: D4865 – 09
Standard Guide for
Generation and Dissipation of Static Electricity in Petroleum
1
Fuel Systems
This standard is issued under the fixed designation D4865; the number immediately following the designation indicates the year of
original adoption or, in the case of revision, the year of last revision.Anumber in parentheses indicates the year of last reapproval.A
superscript epsilon (´) indicates an editorial change since the last revision or reapproval.
1
´ NOTE—Warning notes were editorially moved into the standard text in August 2003.
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.
1. Scope
1.1 This guide describes how static electricity may be generated in petroleum fuel systems, the types of equipment conducive
tochargegeneration,andmethodsforthesafedissipationofsuchcharges.Thisguideisintendedtoincreaseawarenessofpotential
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. This 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 Thisguideisnotintendedtoaddressdetailedsafetypracticesassociatedwithstaticelectricityinpetroleumproductsystems.
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.
2. Referenced Documents
2
2.1 ASTM Standards:
D56 Test Method for Flash Point by Tag Closed Cup Tester
D93 Test Methods for Flash Point by Pensky-Martens Closed Cup Tester
D323 Test Method for Vapor Pressure of Petroleum Products (Reid Method)
D396 Specification for Fuel Oils
D910 Specification for Aviation Gasolines
D975 Specification for Diesel Fuel Oils
D1655 Specification for Aviation Turbine Fuels
D2276 Test Method for Particulate Contaminant in Aviation Fuel by Line Sampling
1
ThisguideisunderthejurisdictionofASTMCommitteeD02onPetroleumProductsandLubricantsandisthedirectresponsibilityofSubcommitteeD02.J0onAviation
Fuels.
Current edition approved June 10, 2003. Published August 2003. Originally approved in 1988. Last previous edition approved in 1998 as D4865–98. DOI:
10.1520/D4865-98R03E01.on Petroleum Products and Lubricants and is the direct responsibility of Subcommittee D02.J0.04 on Additives and Electrical Properties.
´1
Current edition approved Aug. 1, 2009. Published November 2009. Originally approved in 1988. Last previous edition approved in 2003 as D4865–98 (2003) . DOI:
10.1520/D4865-09.
2
ForreferencedASTMstandards,visittheASTMwebsite,www.astm.org,orcontactASTMCustomerServiceatservice@astm.org.For Annual Book of ASTM Standards
, Vol 05.01.volume information, refer to the standard’s Document Summary page on the ASTM website.
Copyright © ASTM International, 100 Barr Harbor Drive, PO Box C700, West Conshohocken, PA 19428-2959, United States.
1
---------------------- Page: 1 ----------------------
D4865 – 09
D2624 Test Methods for Electrical Conductivity of Aviation and Distillate Fuels
D2880 Specification for Gas Turbine Fuel Oils
D3699 Specification for Kerosine
D3948 Test Method for Determining Water Separation Characteristics of Aviation Turbine Fuels by Portable Separometer
D4306 Practice for Aviation Fuel Sample Containers for Tests Affected by Trace Contamination
D4308 Test Method for Electrical Conductivity of Liquid Hydrocarbons by Precision Meter
...
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