How can flammable and combustible liquids be a fire or explosion hazard?
At normal room temperatures, flammable liquids can give off enough vapor to form burnable mixtures with air. As a result, they can be a serious fire hazard. Flammable liquid fires burn very fast. They also give off a lot of heat and often clouds of thick, black, toxic smoke. Combustible liquids at temperatures above their flashpoint also release enough vapor to form burnable mixtures with air. Hot combustible liquids can be as serious a fire hazard as flammable liquids. Spray mists of flammable and combustible liquids in air may burn at any temperature if an ignition source is present. The vapors of flammable and combustible liquids are usually invisible. They can be hard to detect unless special instruments are used. Most flammable and combustible liquids flow easily. A small spill can cover a large area of workbench or floor. Burning liquids can flow under doors, down stairs and even into neighboring buildings, spreading fire widely. Materials like wood, cardboard and cloth can easil
