III. Environmental Factors
The explosion occurred at around 11:00AM in the morning beside a gasoline station. Average ambient temperature may be 28-35 deg C and surely it can be classified as well ventilated area.
IV. Human Factor
As there are not data on this, we will analyze it using the data from MSDS with regards to handling and transfer of diesel.
For purposes of this analysis, let us define some terms (Source: IEC 60079):
- ambient temperature
- temperature of the air or other media, in the immediate vicinity of the equipment or component
- lower explosive limit (LEL)
- concentration of flammable gas, vapour or mist in air below which an explosive gas atmosphere will not be formed
- upper explosive limit (UEL)
- concentration of flammable gas, vapour or mist in air, above which an explosive gas atmosphere will not be formed
- flashpoint
- lowest liquid temperature at which, under certain standardized conditions, a liquid gives off vapours in a quantity such as to be capable of forming an ignitable vapour/air mixture
- ignition temperature of an explosive gas atmosphere
- lowest temperature of a heated surface which, under specified conditions will ignite a flammable substance in the form of a gas or vapour mixture with air
- auto-ignition temperature (AIT)
- lowest temperature (of a hot surface) at which under specified test conditions an ignition of a flammable gas or vapour in mixture with air or air/inert gas occurs