Potential Hazards; Compressed Natural Gas - Honda CIVIC Emergency Response Manual

Potential Hazards

Flammability in Air
(Volume %)
50
40
30
20
5.3 to 15%
1 to 7.6%
10
0
Gasoline
Explosivity in Air
(Volume %)
6.3 to 13.5%
1.1 to 3.3%
Compressed
Natural Gas

Compressed Natural Gas

The CNG used in the Civic GX is a nontoxic
gas that cannot spill and cannot
contaminate the ground water.
Like other fuels, however, CNG is both
flammable and explosive. As illustrated in
the graph, when mixed with air, CNG has
much higher flammability and explosivity
limits than gasoline. Its ignition temperature
is also very high (1,200ºF), twice as high as
gasoline.
To reduce the chance of CNG leakage, the
Civic GX has many built-in safety features to
help contain the fuel, detect a leak, and
automatically shut off fuel flow if a leak is
detected (see pages 4-5). As with the natural
gas used in homes and industry, an odor is
added to the CNG that helps you detect a
leak before it can become a problem.
Since CNG is much lighter than air, a leak
occurring in an open area would quickly rise
and dissipate into the atmosphere. In an
enclosed space, CNG would collect in the
uppermost areas.
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