Physikalisch-Technische Bundesanstalt (PTB): 3.41 Safety Characteristics

Structure > Div. 3 Chemical Physics and Explosion Protection > 3.4 Fundamentals of Explosion Protection > 3.41 Safety Characteristics

Safety Characteristics

Working Group 3.41

- Recent scientific results

D. Pawel, E. Brandes
Abhängigkeit sicherheitstechnischer Kenngrößen vom Druck unterhalb des atmosphärischen Druckes

E. Brandes
Report of the Round-Robin test on the Sustained Combustibility according to EN ISO 9038

E. Brandes
Safety characteristics at non-atmospheric conditions

E. Brandes, W. Möller
Safety Characteristic Data
Vol. 1:
Flammable Liquids and Gases
2nd extended Edition

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- Database CHEMSAFE

Tasks

An adequate characterization of the flammable substances forms the basis of practical explosion protection. The relevant properties of the substances, such as flammability, ignitability (explosiveness) and flame transmission capability, are quantified by safety characteristics:

flashpoint	minimum ignition energy
upper and lower explosion limit	upper and lower explosion point
autoignition temperature	maximum explosion pressure
maximum experimental safe gap	maximum rate of explosion pressure rise

Safety characteristics are no pure substance data but depend to a varying degree on the method used for their determination. These methods are, therefore, usually standardized. Safety characteristics depend on pressure and temperature. Suitable measuring devices are available.

Autoclave to
determine
safety
characteristics
at elevated
output
pressures and
temperatures
(350 bar and,
at the same time,
temperatures of
up to 300 °C).

Safety characteristics are also the basis for the classification of flammable substances with regard to

testing and selection of explosion-protected electrical equipment
transports of dangerous goods in compliance with the recommendations/regulations for the transport of dangerous goods
classifying and labelling of the substances in compliance with the EC Directive for classification, labelling and packaging of dangerous substances