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| Proforma Safety, LLC Proforma PSI…when performance counts. Static Electricity at the Pump Motorists refuel safely an estimated 16 to 18 billion times a year in the United States, but all should be aware of the potential for disaster if they reenter their car while fueling, which may create static electricity that can cause a fire. Static electricity has been linked to incidents at gas stations where there is no open flame, no cigarette, and the pump nozzle was properly grounded. The Petroleum Equipment Institute has documented more than 150 fires that are believed to have been started by static sparking. The institute concluded most of the fires resulted from a motorist re-entering the car during refueling. When the motorist touched the pump handle or the area around the gas cap, the spark discharged and ignited the gas vapors. And while many motorists do touch the car (not near the fueling area) to discharge electricity before they begin to fuel, the buildup can reoccur if they get back into the car. A videotape of such an ignition is available at http://www.pei.org/static/. The PEI report indicated these fires took place on dry weather days that were usually cold as well. Many of the drivers wore shoes with rubber soles, which insulated the wearer and prevented static electricity from being discharged into the ground.The institute recommends three rules for making refueling safer: Here are additional facts you should be aware of:
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