Flammability

Flammability
 Flammability is the ability of a chemical to burn or ignite, causing fire or combustion. The degree of difficulty
required to cause the combustion of a chemical is quantified through fire testing.
 Flammability is the ease with which a combustible substance can be ignited, causing fire or combustion or
even an explosion. The degree of difficulty required to cause the combustion of a substance is quantified
through fire testing
 Flammable and inflammable do not mean the same thing. Flammable things can be set fire to, such as a piece
of wood. However, inflammable substance is capable of bursting into flames without the need for any ignition.
The opposite of both words is non-flammable.
 A combustible material is something that can combust (burn) in air. Flammable materials
are combustible materials that ignite easily at ambient temperatures. In other words, a combustible material
ignites with some effort and a flammable material catches fire immediately on exposure to flame.
 Flammable and combustible liquids are liquids that can burn. The main difference between the two is
that flammable liquids can catch fire and burn easily at normal working temperatures,
whereas combustible liquids require higher than normal temperatures to ignite.
 The degree of flammability or combustibility in air depends largely upon the volatility of the material - this is
related to its composition-specific vapour pressure, which is temperature dependent. The quantity of vapour
produced can be enhanced by increasing the surface area of the material forming a mist or dust. Take wood as
an example. Finely divided wood dust can undergo explosive combustion and produce a blast wave. A piece of
paper (made from wood) catches on fire quite easily. A heavy oak desk is much harder to ignite, even though
the wood fibre is the same in all three materials.
Few notes on Flammability
The flammability of a substance is a measure of its ability to burn.
It would be convenient if all substances could be categorized as either
flammable or non-flammable but, unfortunately, a significant
proportion of substances fall into the category of burning under
certain conditions.
Burning, generally means self-sustained combustion.
The heat generated when a substance is oxidized must be sufficient to
overcome any heat losses and heat up fresh fuel to its ignition
temperature.
The ability of a substance to do this will depend upon its condition,
geometry, and environment. For example, flammability is normally
considered with reference to burning in fresh air, but many
substances which are not normally flammable will burn easily in an
environment of pure oxygen.
Flammability
 Flammability of Gases
Flammability of Liquids
Flammability of Solids
Flammability of Gases
Gases are the easiest substances to define in terms of flammability.
LFL or LEL: For a flammable gas/air mixture, there exists a lower limit of fuel
concentration below which self-sustained burning does not occur. This is
called the lower flammability or lower explosion limit (LFL or LEL). For
hydrogen, for example, the LFL is about 4% by volume. Even this basic limit
can be affected by geometry with the LFL for downward propagating flames,
for example, being different to that for upward propagating flames.
UFL or UEL: The flammable gas needs air to burn and, as the fuel
concentration increases, the concentration of air is decreased until a point is
reached where burning again cannot be sustained. This point is termed
the upper flammability or upper explosion limit (UFL or UEL). It should be
noted that these various limits are normally quoted for a gas mixed with pure
air. The presence of other additional gases or particulates or aerosols (such as
water sprays) can significantly affect the flammability of the fuel
Flammability of Liquids
It is normally the vapor given off from liquids which burns rather than the
liquids themselves. For a fire to be initially ignited, the concentration of the
vapor needs to be above the LFL. This is strongly affected by the
temperature of the liquid (hence the rate at which it is evaporating), as
well as the ambient conditions and geometry.
Flash point: The liquid temperature necessary to produce ignition is

termed the flash point.
Fire point: Whether a fire, once started, can be sustained will depend upon
the rate of feedback of the heat from the flames to the liquid fuel. The
liquid temperature required to generate sufficient vapor for this is termed
the fire point.
Flammability of Solids
Solids burn by the heat from the flames causing volatile gases to be
given off from the surface of the material.
Whether a fire can be sustained is therefore very dependent upon the

geometry and conditions.
 In general, situations where heat losses are minimized and the ratio of
surface area to solid mass is greatest are the most favuorable to
sustained burning.
Various standards and tests exist to demonstrate whether burning will

be sustained in various geometries, e.g., propagation up a vertical wall,
propagation from a lighted cigarette on a seat.
Flash Point
 The flash point of a liquid is defined as the lowest temperature at which a substance generates a sufficient amount
of vapour to form a (vapor/air) mixture that can be ignited (piloted ignition).
 At that temperature, the vapor pressure of the liquid provides a vapour concentration that equal to the
lower flammability limit.
 If ignition is attempted when the liquid reaches its flash point, a flash flame will occur but the flame will not sustain.
 The cloud will burn and the fire will self-extinguish because the energy released by the combustion and transferred
to the remaining fuel is not sufficient to produce enough vapours to sustain the flame.
 A lower flash point indicates higher flammability. Liquids with lower flash points ignite easier.
 Flammable liquids have a flash point of less than 100°F.
 Combustible liquids have a flashpoint at or above 100°F.
 Flash point is mainly used to distinguish flammable liquids from combustible liquids and non-flammable liquids.
 GHS classification criteria for flammable liquids. A liquid with a flash point between 23 and 60 Celsius degrees will
be classified as flammable liquid category 3. A liquid with a flash point above 93 Celsius degrees does not meet
GHS classification criteria and will not be regarded as a flammable liquid or a hazardous chemical.
Category Criteria
1 Flash point < 23 °C and initial boiling point ≤ 35°C
2 Flash point < 23 °C and initial boiling point > 35°C
3 Flash point ≥ 23°C and ≤ 60°C
4 Flash point >60°C and ≤ 93°C

Flash Point
 All liquids have a specific vapor pressure, which is a function of that liquid's temperature and is subject to Boyle's
Law.
 As temperature increases, vapor pressure increases. As vapor pressure increases, the concentration of vapor of a
flammable or combustible liquid in the air increases. Hence, temperature determines the concentration of vapor of
the flammable liquid in the air.
 A certain concentration of a flammable or combustible vapor is necessary to sustain combustion in air, the lower
flammable limit and that concentration is different and is specific to each flammable or combustible liquid.
 The flash point is the lowest temperature at which there will be enough flammable vapor to induce ignition when
an ignition source is applied.
Fire Point
 The fire point is the lowest temperature at which vapours of the material will keep burning after the ignition source
is removed.
 The fire point is higher than the flash point, because at the flash point more vapor may not be produced rapidly
enough to sustain combustion.
 The fire point of a fuel is the lowest temperature at which the vapour of that fuel will continue to burn for at least 6
seconds after ignition by an open flame of standard dimension.
 Although in general the fire points can be assumed to be about 10 °C higher than the flash points, although there is
no substitute for testing if the fire point is safety critical.
Autoignition Temperature
 The autoignition temperature or kindling point of a substance is the lowest temperature at which it spontaneously
ignites in normal atmosphere without an external source of ignition, such as a flame or spark. This temperature is
required to supply the activation energy needed for combustion.
 The temperature at which a chemical ignites decreases as the pressure or oxygen concentration increases. It is
usually applied to a combustible fuel mixture.
 The ignition temperature of a substance is the least temperature at which the substance starts combustion.
 Substances which spontaneously ignite in a normal atmosphere at naturally ambient temperatures are
termed pyrophoric .

Flammability

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Flammability

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What is the difference between flammable and combustible materials?

What factors affect the flammability of a substance?

Flammability

Flash point: The liquid temperature necessary to produce ignition is

Whether a fire can be sustained is therefore very dependent upon the

Various standards and tests exist to demonstrate whether burning will

1 Flash point < 23 °C and initial boiling point ≤ 35°C

2 Flash point < 23 °C and initial boiling point > 35°C

3 Flash point ≥ 23°C and ≤ 60°C

4 Flash point >60°C and ≤ 93°C

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