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AALBORG
INDUSTRIES
HANDLING
FUEL
OIL
OM9280_02#A.2
Handling fuel oil
1
Language UK
Precautions to be taken with fuel oil
Fuel oil is usually the residue
of
crude oil after the removal by distillation
of
the most
volatile oils and gasses. Fuel oil in its liquid state is very difficult to ignite in bulk and
not capable
of
spontaneous combustion. However, the vapour is explosive when mixed
with air, and being heavier than air, it tends to accumulate in low levels such as bilges
and bottoms
oftanks
where it may remain undiscovered until ignited
by
a naked light
or spark.
It
is always present in a partly filled oil tank or in a tank which has contained
fuel oil and is given
off
through the vents from tanks in the process
of
being filled.
If
allowed to continue, a leak in any part
of
the oil burning system may result in an
accumulation
of
this explosive vapour.
Ignition
of
the vapour can be caused by an open light, electric spark, smoking, spark
caused by striking metal, heat from the filament
of
a broken electric lamp, sparks from
funnel or can be communicated from galley or fires under boilers.
Note: An oil fire cannot be extinguished by water,
but
may
be
extinguished by
sand, steam
or
chemical fire extinguishers.
An intelligent appreciation
of
the properties
of
fuel oil as described above is a better
prevention
of
accident than adherence to any set
of
rules that may be pre-described.
21-3/60
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