1 gallon of gasoline (vapor) = 20 sticks of dynamite!
Gasoline is readily available and routinely used in most households. In spite of the routine use of gasoline, many people are unaware of or unappreciative of the dangers of gasoline. Gasoline is dangerous because it is highly volatile. The fumes are capable of ignition up to12 feet away from a pooled source. It can float on water and may spread long distances, making ignition and flash back possible. Gasoline may ignite from a nearby spark, flame, or even static electricity and become a "fireball" with a temperature of 15,000 degrees F.
Two physical properties explain why gasoline is significantly more hazardous than other flammable liquids found in the home:
- Flash point?the minimum temperature at which the liquid will give off sufficientvapor to form an ignitable mixture with air.
- Vapor density?ratio of density of vapor to the density of air. Substances with avapor density greater than 1 are heavier than air and tend to accumulate in low orenclosed spaces.