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Posted By Dave Cameron
This may sound like a strange question - but I am looking at a small section on fire within a guidance booklet where in one bullet point they refer to ... "kept clear of flammable materials..." and in the very next point they speak about "combustible materials should not be stored....." This is not a document on fire safety but part of a much larger booklet with a small section on general fire safety. People reading this booklet are not necessarily acquainted with fire terminology and I believe in the context they are being used they mean much the same thing. Grateful for any thoughts on this - I would prefer to use the same term, either flammable or combustible to avoid any confusion.
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Posted By Crim
Hi, I'm not a chemist but always understood flammable to cover anything that burns once ignited.
The differential would come in a fire risk assessment when trying to consider the degree of risk, i.e. combustable covers such as paper, cardboard, timber etc. Highly flammable is the likes of petroleum based liquids or solids that have a much lower ignition temperature and are covered by particular regulations.
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Posted By Ron Hunter
Two terms, two meanings. Easily ignited and free-burning (won't go out) (flammable) capable of ignition and burning (combustible). You'd want your people to be able to identify, discriminate and take appropriate precautions.
If necessary, define the terms and/or give pertinent examples.
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Posted By Dave Cameron
Ron
So simple to take on board when put like that. Thanks
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Posted By shaun mckeever
Not sure if this is what they are getting at in your book but generally materials with a flashpoint 32C = Highly flammable, flashpoint >32C 60C = Flammable, flahpoint >60C = Combustible
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Posted By shaun mckeever
oops! that should read 32C = Highly flammable
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Posted By shaun mckeever
It seems the 'less than' sign is omitted when the response is submitted.
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Posted By garyh
I teach fire safety such as the NEBOSH fire certificate.
I am careful to use the definitions as above - flammable and highly flammable refer to liquids which have flash points which are defined in CHIP.
I refer to Combustible as things which will burn under the right circumstances eg solids such as paper, wood plastic. I would also bring in high flash point liquids such as engine oil.
Hope this helps. Lay people often confuse combustible with flammable. I also still see "inflammable" in use, amazingly.
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Posted By Dave Cameron
Thank you all, comments really appreciated. The paragraph in question has now been amended - glad it was still in draft!!
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