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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 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 grounded dispenser nozzle or the
fuel tank opening.
Operation
Static electricity and filling the gasoline tank:
22
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