ASTM D4865-23

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

SIGNIFICANCE AND USE
4.1 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.  
4.2 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 stated in SI units are to be regarded as standard. The values given in parentheses after SI units are provided for information only and are not considered standard.  
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, health, and environmental practices and determine the applicability of regulatory limitations prior to use.  
1.6 This international standard was developed in accordance with internationally recognized principles on standardization established in the Decision on Principles for the Development of International Standards, Guides and Recommendations issued by the World Trade Organization Technical Barriers to Trade (TBT) Committee.

General Information

• Status: Published
• Publication Date: 31-Oct-2023
• ICS: 23.020.10 - Stationary containers and tanks
• Technical Committee: D02 - Petroleum Products, Liquid Fuels, and Lubricants
• Drafting Committee: D02.J0.04 - Additives and Electrical Properties

Relations

• Replaces: ASTM D4865-19 - Standard Guide for Generation and Dissipation of Static Electricity in Petroleum Fuel Systems
• Effective Date: 01-Nov-2023
• Refers: ASTM D1655-23a - Standard Specification for Aviation Turbine Fuels
• Effective Date: 01-Oct-2023
• Refers: ASTM D4175-23e1 - Standard Terminology Relating to Petroleum Products, Liquid Fuels, and Lubricants
• Effective Date: 01-Jul-2023
• Refers: ASTM D1655-23 - Standard Specification for Aviation Turbine Fuels
• Effective Date: 01-Jul-2023
• Refers: ASTM D4175-23 - Standard Terminology Relating to Petroleum Products, Liquid Fuels, and Lubricants
• Effective Date: 01-Jul-2023
• Referred By: ASTM D7321-21 - Standard Test Method for Particulate Contamination of Biodiesel B100 Blend Stock Biodiesel Esters and Biodiesel Blends by Laboratory Filtration
• Effective Date: 01-Nov-2023
• Referred By: ASTM D6615-22 - Standard Specification for Jet B Wide-Cut Aviation Turbine Fuel
• Effective Date: 01-Nov-2023
• Referred By: ASTM D5452-23 - Standard Test Method for Particulate Contamination in Aviation Fuels by Laboratory Filtration
• Effective Date: 01-Nov-2023
• Referred By: ASTM E772-15(2021) - Standard Terminology of Solar Energy Conversion
• Effective Date: 01-Nov-2023
• Referred By: ASTM D7547-23 - Standard Specification for Hydrocarbon Unleaded Aviation Gasoline
• Effective Date: 01-Nov-2023
• Referred By: ASTM D4807-05(2020) - Standard Test Method for Sediment in Crude Oil by Membrane Filtration
• Effective Date: 01-Nov-2023
• Referred By: ASTM D3699-19 - Standard Specification for Kerosine
• Effective Date: 01-Nov-2023
• Referred By: ASTM D6823-08(2021) - Standard Specification for Commercial Boiler Fuels With Used Lubricating Oils
• Effective Date: 01-Nov-2023
• Referred By: ASTM D7467-23 - Standard Specification for Diesel Fuel Oil, Biodiesel Blend (B6 to B20)
• Effective Date: 01-Nov-2023
• Referred By: ASTM D7960-21 - Standard Specification for Unleaded Aviation Gasoline Test Fuel Containing Non-hydrocarbon Components
• Effective Date: 01-Nov-2023

Standards Content (Sample)

This international standard was developed in accordance with internationally recognized principles on standardization established in the Decision on Principles for the
Development of International Standards, Guides and Recommendations issued by the World Trade Organization Technical Barriers to Trade (TBT) Committee.
Designation: D4865 − 23
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. A number 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* 1.6 This international standard was developed in accor-
dance with internationally recognized principles on standard-
1.1 This guide describes how static electricity may be
ization established in the Decision on Principles for the
generated in petroleum fuel systems, the types of equipment
Development of International Standards, Guides and Recom-
conducive to charge generation, and methods for the safe
mendations issued by the World Trade Organization Technical
dissipation of such charges. This guide is intended to increase
Barriers to Trade (TBT) Committee.
awareness of potential operating problems and hazards result-
ing from electrostatic charge accumulation.
2. Referenced Documents
1.2 This guide is not intended to provide specific solutions
2
but indicates available techniques the user may wish to
2.1 ASTM Standards:
investigate to alleviate electrostatic charges. This guide does
D56 Test Method for Flash Point by Tag Closed Cup Tester
not cover the effects of stray currents or of lightning, either of
D93 Test Methods for Flash Point by Pensky-Martens
which can also produce sparks leading to fires or explosions.
Closed Cup Tester
D323 Test Method for Vapor Pressure of Petroleum Products
1.3 This guide is not intended to address detailed safety
(Reid Method)
practices associated with static electricity in petroleum product
D396 Specification for Fuel Oils
systems.
D910 Specification for Leaded Aviation Gasolines
1.4 The values stated in SI units are to be regarded as
D975 Specification for Diesel Fuel
standard. The values given in parentheses after SI units are
D1655 Specification for Aviation Turbine Fuels
provided for information only and are not considered standard.
D2276 Test Method for Particulate Contaminant in Aviation
1.5 This standard does not purport to address all of the
Fuel by Line Sampling
safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the
D2624 Test Methods for Electrical Conductivity of Aviation
responsibility of the user of this standard to establish appro-
and Distillate Fuels
priate safety, health, and environmental practices and deter-
D2880 Specification for Gas Turbine Fuel Oils
mine the applicability of regulatory limitations prior to use.
D3699 Specification for Kerosine
1
This guide is under the jurisdiction of ASTM Committee D02 on Petroleum
Products, Liquid Fuels, and Lubricants and is the direct responsibility of Subcom-
2
mittee D02.J0.04 on Additives and Electrical Properties. For referenced ASTM standards, visit the ASTM website, www.astm.org, or
Current edition approved Nov. 1, 2023. Published November 2023. Originally contact ASTM Customer Service at [e-mail]. For Annual Book of ASTM
approved in 1988. Last previous edition approved in 2019 as D4865 – 19. DOI: Standards volume information, refer to the standard’s Document Summary page on
10.1520/D4865-23. the ASTM website.
*A Summary of Changes section appears at the end of this standard
Copyright © ASTM International, 100 Barr Harbor Drive, PO Box C700, West Conshohocken, PA 19428-2959. United States
1

---------------------- Page: 1 ----------------------
D4865 − 23
D3948 Test Method for Determining Water Separation Char- 3.2.6 combustible liquid, n—a liquid having a flash point at
acteristics of Aviation Turbine Fuels by Portable Separom- or above 38 °C (100 °F) (See Test Methods D56 and D93).
eter
3.2.6.1 Discussion—Subdivisions of this classification will
D4
...

This document is not an ASTM standard and is intended only to provide the user of an ASTM 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.
Designation: D4865 − 19 D4865 − 23
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. A number 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*
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 stated in SI units are to be regarded as standard. The values given in parentheses after SI units are provided for
information only and are not considered standard.
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, health, and environmental practices and determine the applicability of
regulatory limitations prior to use.
1.6 This international standard was developed in accordance with internationally recognized principles on standardization
established in the Decision on Principles for the Development of International Standards, Guides and Recommendations issued
by the World Trade Organization Technical Barriers to Trade (TBT) Committee.
1
This guide is under the jurisdiction of ASTM Committee D02 on Petroleum Products, Liquid Fuels, and Lubricants and is the direct responsibility of Subcommittee
D02.J0.04 on Additives and Electrical Properties.
Current edition approved July 1, 2019Nov. 1, 2023. Published July 2019November 2023. Originally approved in 1988. Last previous edition approved in 20142019 as
D4865 – 09 (2014).D4865 – 19. DOI: 10.1520/D4865-19.10.1520/D4865-23.
*A Summary of Changes section appears at the end of this standard
Copyright © ASTM International, 100 Barr Harbor Drive, PO Box C700, West Conshohocken, PA 19428-2959. United States
1

---------------------- Page: 1 ----------------------
D4865 − 23
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 Leaded Aviation Gasolines
D975 Specification for Diesel Fuel
D1655 Specification for Aviation Turbine Fuels
D2276 Test Method for Particulate Contaminant in Aviation Fuel by Line Sampling
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
D4175 Terminology Relating to Petroleum Products, Liquid Fuels, and Lubricants
D4306 Practice for Aviation Fuel Sample Containers for Tests Affected by Trace Contamination
D4308 Test Method for Electrical Conductivity of Liquid Hydrocarbons by Prec
...