Dos & Don’ts at the Gas Pump
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Static Electricity Fires –
How to Prevent Them
Cathy Burkett
Extension Educator
Rush County
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Objectives:
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How to handle, store, and dispose of
gasoline safely
What static electricity is and how it can
affect refueling your vehicle
Safety guidelines on vehicle refueling and
gasoline storage
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What Is Gasoline and How
Should It Be Stored?
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Liquid produces very flammable vapors
Store at room temperature
Store away from heat sources
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Handling & Storing Gasoline
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Approved containers
Disposal
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Kitty litter, absorbent clay, paper, or rags for
minor spills
Approved containers for larger spills
NEVER dispose into garbage, drains, toilets, or
sewers
Long-term storage – add stabilizer
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Precautionary Measures
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Do not smoke or light matches where
gasoline is handled or stored
Keep out of reach of children
Handle outdoors for ventilation
Keep containers tightly closed
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Precautionary Measures
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Do NOT mix gasoline with kerosene or
diesel
Store in a separate building, if possible
Refill lawn mower only when engine is
COOL
Fill no more than 95% to allow for
expansion
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Static Electricity
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Caused by imbalance of electrons on
surface of material
Most commonly caused by contact and
separation of materials
Shock occurs with transfer of static charge
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How Do Refueling Fires Happen?
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Static charge picked up when re-entering
vehicle
Touching nozzle without discharging
static electricity
A spark ignites fumes
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How Often Do They Occur?
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Fires are reported to the Petroleum
Equipment Institute Web site
Most static fires have been reported
since 1998
No one knows how many – 175 have
been reported since 1992
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Three Causes of Static Fires
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50% happen when the refueler returns to
the vehicle during refueling and doesn’t
shut the car door
29% happen when the refueler unscrews
the gas cap
21% happen for unknown reasons
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Why? Some Theories –
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Self-serve gas pumps
More electronics in cars
Seat cover fabrics
Clothing worn by driver
Tires
Dissimilar car parts
More volatile fuels
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Who Are the Victims?
78% are women who re-enter a vehicle to:
 Return credit card to purse
 Get money out of purse
 Check on the kids
 Write a check
 Get warm
 Write down odometer reading
 Use cell phone
 Apply lipstick
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Safety Guidelines
When Refueling
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ALWAYS turn off vehicle when refueling
STAY near vehicle fueling port
NEVER smoke, light matches, or use
lighters while refueling
NEVER prop open the refueling latch –
use only the hold-open latch on the
nozzle
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More Safety Guidelines
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DO NOT get back into your car when
refueling
DO NOT top off your tank
If a flash fire occurs, back away, contact
attendant, and most important:
LEAVE NOZZLE IN VEHICLE
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Guidelines for Gasoline Containers
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Use only approved containers
Set gasoline containers on the ground, do
not leave in vehicle – trunk, truck bed
Keep the nozzle in contact with the
container
Fill the container slowly to decrease the
chance of static electricity buildup and to
minimize spilling or spattering
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Self-Service
Pump Warning
This is a warning
sign that appears
on pumps today
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New Nozzle Signage
WARNING
 Improper use may cause a hazardous
condition
 No smoking/extinguish all flames
 Avoid static hazard — remain at nozzle
 Do not top off
 Licensed drivers only
 Refer to posted warnings
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New Pump Signage
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Discharge your static electricity before fueling by
touching a metal surface away from the nozzle.
Do not re-enter your vehicle while gasoline is
pumping.
If a fire starts, do not remove nozzle – then back
away immediately.
Do not allow children under licensed age to use the
pump.
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Additional Information

Go online at:
www.pei.org/static
 www.api-ec.api.org click on Safety
at the Pump
 www.static-sol.com click on Static
Shocks and How to Avoid Them
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A big thank you to Robert Renkes, executive vice president and general
counsel of the Petroleum Equipment Institute, and April Mason,
associate dean for discovery and engagement, Purdue University
School of Consumer and Family Sciences, for all of their
help and support in putting this program together.
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And Finally
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Be alert and be safe when refueling!
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