Flammable and combustible (F&C) liquids constitute, by far, the largest group of hazardous materials commonly used in Queensland. Because of their potential to cause, or exacerbate a fire, they are considered to present such a large risk that special provision for their storage and handling are needed.
The Dangerous Goods Safety Management Act 2001 (DGSM Act) was introduced to protect people, property and the environment from harm caused by hazardous materials. Under the DGSM Act, authority is devolved to Local Governments to licence premises where F&C liquids are stored and to set and enforce licence conditions.
A licence is required for any premises where the quantity of liquids stored exceeds the minor storage exemption limits set out in the Australian Standard - AS1940 "The Storage and Handling of Flammable and Combustible Liquids".
A Common example of a flammable liquid is Unleaded Petrol. A flammable liquid is a liquid which has the potential to ignite at temperatures below 62°C. This ignition temperature is known as the liquids' flash point.
A flammable liquid falls into a certain class according to specifications outlined in the Australian Standard for the Storage and Handling of Flammable and Combustible Liquids, referred to as AS1940-1993. This standard details what packaging group the flammable liquids fall into.
A common example of a combustible liquid is Diesel Fuel. A combustible liquid is a liquid that has the potential to ignite or combust. It is defined as being a liquid other than a flammable liquid that has an ignition point and furthermore, has an ignition point less than its boiling point. The temperature at which ignition occurs, is known as the liquids' flash point.
A combustible liquid falls into a certain class according to specifications outlined in the Australian Standard for the Storage and Handling of Flammable and Combustible Liquids, referred to as AS1940-2004. This standard details what packaging group the combustible liquids fall into.
How do you define a flammable or combustible liquid? The table below sets out the different categories:
| Liquid Type | Class | Package Group | Type (Examples) |
Flash Point | Boiling Point |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Combustible | C1 | NA | Diesel oil Distillate Furnace oil |
< = 150°C | NA |
| C2 | NA | Brake fluid Waste oil Transmission fluid |
>150°C | NA | |
| Flammable | 3 | I | Diethyl-ether Petroleum-ethers |
NA | < = 35°C |
| II | Petrol (unleaded and super) Lighter fluid Aviation fuel |
< 23°C | >35°C | ||
| III | Degreasing oil Mineral turpentine Kerosene |
23°C - 61°C | >35°C |
The flash point is the temperature at which a vapour of the liquid spontaneously ignites.