Flammable Liquids

An expert may examine photographs, containers, piping and other equipment, physical evidence of the release, product and safety data, liquid properties, temperature and ventilation conditions, witness accounts, transfer procedures, equipment records, and relevant testing. This information can help reconstruct the likely release conditions, evaluate where flammable vapor could have accumulated or migrated, and assess whether the proposed ignition source and resulting fire are consistent with the physical and documentary evidence.

Flash point is the minimum temperature at which a liquid gives off enough vapor, under specified test conditions, to form an ignitable mixture with air near the liquid surface. In a disputed incident, an expert can consider flash-point data together with the liquid's actual temperature, vapor characteristics, environmental and ventilation conditions, handling practices, and potential ignition sources. A published flash point is therefore an important property, but it should not by itself be treated as a complete explanation of whether or how ignition occurred in a particular incident.