Fueling Operations & Static Electricity
The discharge of static electricity while dispensing fuel is a serious hazard that can potentially result in a catastrophic fire or explosion. To help you understand the need for bonding and grounding of fuel dispensing equipment, the following information is offered. It can help you identify conditions and situations that are hazardous and provide you with knowledge to make decisions that you can (literally) live with.
Much of the research on bonding requirements involves dispensing fuel from Service Stations. All piping, tanks, valves and dispensing equipment must be bonded continuously so that all non-current carrying metal parts have the same potential to ground. This is especially important at the dispensing hose and nozzle because fuel passing through a hose creates static electricity. The risk of static electricity discharge is greatest when the nozzle is being removed from the tank being filled.
All dispensing equipment including pumps, hoses and nozzles must be Underwriters Laboratories (UL) listed for the intended usage. This UL listing ensures that the hose and nozzle are designed to provide a continuous bond from equipment to the tank being filled, which allows static electricity to flow to ground. When the hose and nozzle are not bonded to equipment, static electricity dissipates slowly. Under these conditions, when the nozzle is removed, a spark is likely to occur.
To avoid static electricity discharge, all equipment must be bonded. If UL listed equipment is not used, it is necessary to attach a bonding wire from piping to both the nozzle and the tank being filled.
Static electricity is “an accumulation of electric charge on an insulated body.” Don’t set it free to disperse and create havoc in the presence of flammable and combustible fuels.
Questions:
- All pumps, hoses, and nozzles must have what listing?
- Static electricity is ___________________________?