Cell Phones........Fires
23-Mar-2003 | 01:31 PM
#1
Thread Starter
Registered User
Joined: Sep 2002
Posts: 2,054
From: Richmond Hill
Cell Phones........Fires
The Shell Oil Company recently issued a warning after three incidents in
which mobile phones (cell phones) ignited fumes during fueling operations.
In the first case, the phone was placed on the car's trunk lid during
fueling; it rang and the ensuing fire destroyed the car and the gasoline
pump.
In the second, an individual suffered severe burns to their face when fumes
ignited as they answered a call while refueling their car.
And in the third, an individual suffered burns to the thigh and groin as
fumes ignited when the phone, which was in their pocket, rang while they
were
fueling their car.
You should know that:
Mobile Phones can ignite fuel or fumes
Mobile phones that light up when switched on or when they ring release
enough
energy to provide a spark for ignition
Mobile phones should not be used in filling stations, or when fueling lawn
mowers, boat! , Etc.
Mobile phones should not be used, or should be turned off, around other
materials that generate flammable or explosive fumes or dust, i.e.
solvents,
chemicals, gases, grain dust, etc.)
To sum it up, here are the: Four Rules for Safe Refueling
1) Turn off engine
2) Don't smoke
3) Don't use your cell phone - leave it inside the vehicle or turn it off
4) Don't re-enter your vehicle during fueling
Bob Renkes of Petroleum Equipment Institute is working on a campaign to try
and make people aware of fires as a result of "static electricity" at gas
pumps. His company has researched 150 cases of these fires.
His results were very surprising:
1) Out of 150 cases, almost all of them were women.
2) Almost all cases involved the person getting back in their vehicle while
the nozzle was still pumping gas, when finished and they went back to pull
the nozzle out the fire started, as a result of static.
3) Most had on rubber-soled shoes.
4) Most men never get back in their vehicle until completely finished.
This is why they are seldom involved in these types of fires.
5) Don't ever use cell phones when pumping gas
6) It is the vapors that come out of the gas that cause the fire, when
connected with static charges.
7) There were 29 fires where the vehicle was reentered and the nozzle was
touched during refueling from a variety of makes and models. Some resulting
in extensive damage to the vehicle, to the station, and to the customer.
8) Seventeen fires that occurred before, during or immediately after the
gas
cap was removed and before fueling began.
Mr. Renkes stresses to NEVER get back into your vehicle while filling it
with
gas.
If you absolutely HAVE to get in your vehicle while the gas is pumping,
make
sure you get out, close the door TOUCHING THE METAL, before you ever pull
the
nozzle out. This way the static from your body will be discharged before
you
ever remove the nozzle.
As I mentioned earlier, The Petroleum Equipment Institute, along with
several
other companies now, are really trying to make the public aware of this
danger. You can find out more information by going toSite
Once here, click in the center of the screen where it says "Stop Static".
which mobile phones (cell phones) ignited fumes during fueling operations.
In the first case, the phone was placed on the car's trunk lid during
fueling; it rang and the ensuing fire destroyed the car and the gasoline
pump.
In the second, an individual suffered severe burns to their face when fumes
ignited as they answered a call while refueling their car.
And in the third, an individual suffered burns to the thigh and groin as
fumes ignited when the phone, which was in their pocket, rang while they
were
fueling their car.
You should know that:
Mobile Phones can ignite fuel or fumes
Mobile phones that light up when switched on or when they ring release
enough
energy to provide a spark for ignition
Mobile phones should not be used in filling stations, or when fueling lawn
mowers, boat! , Etc.
Mobile phones should not be used, or should be turned off, around other
materials that generate flammable or explosive fumes or dust, i.e.
solvents,
chemicals, gases, grain dust, etc.)
To sum it up, here are the: Four Rules for Safe Refueling
1) Turn off engine
2) Don't smoke
3) Don't use your cell phone - leave it inside the vehicle or turn it off
4) Don't re-enter your vehicle during fueling
Bob Renkes of Petroleum Equipment Institute is working on a campaign to try
and make people aware of fires as a result of "static electricity" at gas
pumps. His company has researched 150 cases of these fires.
His results were very surprising:
1) Out of 150 cases, almost all of them were women.
2) Almost all cases involved the person getting back in their vehicle while
the nozzle was still pumping gas, when finished and they went back to pull
the nozzle out the fire started, as a result of static.
3) Most had on rubber-soled shoes.
4) Most men never get back in their vehicle until completely finished.
This is why they are seldom involved in these types of fires.
5) Don't ever use cell phones when pumping gas
6) It is the vapors that come out of the gas that cause the fire, when
connected with static charges.
7) There were 29 fires where the vehicle was reentered and the nozzle was
touched during refueling from a variety of makes and models. Some resulting
in extensive damage to the vehicle, to the station, and to the customer.
8) Seventeen fires that occurred before, during or immediately after the
gas
cap was removed and before fueling began.
Mr. Renkes stresses to NEVER get back into your vehicle while filling it
with
gas.
If you absolutely HAVE to get in your vehicle while the gas is pumping,
make
sure you get out, close the door TOUCHING THE METAL, before you ever pull
the
nozzle out. This way the static from your body will be discharged before
you
ever remove the nozzle.
As I mentioned earlier, The Petroleum Equipment Institute, along with
several
other companies now, are really trying to make the public aware of this
danger. You can find out more information by going toSite
Once here, click in the center of the screen where it says "Stop Static".
23-Mar-2003 | 01:44 PM
#2
Registered User
Joined: Apr 2002
Posts: 444
From: Toronto, Ontario
Never happen to me b4, i've always used my cell while fueling. It all depends on every station, they have this protective shield kinda thing. If this is the case then they (Gas station) should put a sticker on every pump sayin' "Do Not Use Cell Phone" while pumping.
23-Mar-2003 | 02:25 PM
#5
Registered User
Joined: Apr 2002
Posts: 2,607
From: Seething with anger at idiotic drivers on Steeles Avenue
I think that this warning it a load of bull. I'm sure that there is a slight risk, but it isn't anything to worry about.
Those stickers saying no cell phones at gas stations are most likely there only so that the oil companies can cover their own butts in the slim chance that this would ever happen.
Those stickers saying no cell phones at gas stations are most likely there only so that the oil companies can cover their own butts in the slim chance that this would ever happen.
23-Mar-2003 | 08:08 PM
#10
Registered User
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 17,846
From: on a race track
ok lets look at logic here to ower a cell phone you require 3.6 volts or so .. these phones are 0.6 watt phones (unless you have a 10 lb phone) now 3.6 volts will not cause a spark even a damaged phone... if you look at static electricity for example the spark you see when you rub your feet on the floor for a while and touch a door andle (you know what I'm talking about you've all done it) well in order to see an electrical arc like that from your finger to the door **** takes 1000 volts + of electrical build up ... something a cell phone is not possible to generate....think about how much power your spark plugs put out just to ignite a compressed mixture of air and fuel .... again something that a cell phone is not capable of. now look at the differences etween the compressed mixture in the engine and the air around the pumps, while yes there is air around the pumps that air is consistently moving ...even with no north west east south type air movement there is the up and down movement of air...I highly doubt that in canada there is the possibility of the air fuel mixture out side near a pump becoming mixed enough.. also these reports of "cell phones igniting gas" have come from the USA where the pumps tyhere are not a sofisicated and do not have all the safety features of canadian pumps... there have been ZERO reports of this happening in canada... and hey I'll challenge you guys find one case of it happening in canada where it was reported by a news agency and I'll retract my statement...
23-Mar-2003 | 11:16 PM
#11
Registered User
Joined: Jul 2002
Posts: 3,193
From: Mississauga
Hehe reading your post gatherer reminded me of the time when I touched my locker after walking down the hall at school. When I was like an inch away from my lock and a long spark shot out my finger, Rayden stylez lol 
Go Electrons!
Go Electrons!
23-Mar-2003 | 11:32 PM
#12
Registered User
Joined: Sep 2002
Posts: 1,625
From: 416
the easy solution to this is....... leave your phone in the car when fueling
about static....... the autoshow last year was HORRIBLE with static.... not so bad this year.... but last year..... you go to drool on a car and ZAP!
about static....... the autoshow last year was HORRIBLE with static.... not so bad this year.... but last year..... you go to drool on a car and ZAP!
24-Mar-2003 | 12:23 AM
#14
Thread Starter
Registered User
Joined: Sep 2002
Posts: 2,054
From: Richmond Hill
it's pretty cool though
u get to go down in stay
filling ur ride with high gas
prices...........l think the only
reason they are worried is cause
if it does blow we take the whole
gas line
making them waste the precious oil
lol
u get to go down in stay
filling ur ride with high gas
prices...........l think the only
reason they are worried is cause
if it does blow we take the whole
gas line
making them waste the precious oil
lol
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