Why are there "No Smoking" signs in Gasoline Stations?

Richard

The hydrocarbons in the gasoline readily vaporize. The mixture of gasoline vapors and air is highly explosive.

A spark, a tiny flame, even the hot tip of a cigarette are all enough to initiate an explosion.

Based upon insurance industry reports there are two common causes for fires and explosions at Gasoline Stations. The first is smoking while dispensing the product. The second is attempting to fill a ungrounded container (such as for a lawn mower or chain saw). ESD or electrostatic discharge is usually involved with this second type.

These lead to the laws and the posting of instructions at Gas Stations. Several hundred incidents still happen every year.

Hosedragger18

It's not the chemicals in gas (petrol) that mix with cigarette smoke. The fumes/vapors from gasoline are highly explosive. Granted you may be outside but the vapors are still present when your fueling your vehicle. So, if you have a person fueling their vehicle and an accumulation of vapors around or near that person who decides to "light one up" makes for bad times. In addition to not smoking there's a need to watch for static electricity. Individuals that get into and out of the vehicles (because it may be cold outside) while fueling, can build up a static charge (kinda like scraping your feet across a carpet to build up a static charge). Then go to finish fueling their cars and if they don't discharge, i.e. touch something metal, they then can cause an explosion or fire. Sorry for the length, but important info.

Sir Marksalot

Holy Banana ... what a dumb question! I think the chemical reaction is in your brain to not realize the threat that this could cause ... on the other hand, why don't you check it out for us, go flic your Bic at the gas pump while filling up and see what happens. If you survive, report back to us. (Please warn everyone around you, before lighting up)

25 years experience!

You actually have to ask?

It's not the smoke it's the smoldering thing sticking between your fingers of your pump hand because you're too busy talking on your cell phone to hold it away from the tank.

Therefore you have a "lit" object 4 inches away from your gas tank, as fuel is going in fumes are being pushed out right past that "LIT" object( I assume you light yours-right?).

KABOOM!!!!!!!!! Now who do you think you'd blame if that sign wasn't there. Yourself I don't think so. You'd sue for millions and because you can show you don't actually understand the relationship between of fuel fumes+ignition source =fire/explosion you would probably win enough to smoke free for the rest of your life. Those 3rd degree burns you suffered may shorten it somewhat but hey were smokin'....WHOOPI!

Scott H

Are you really that stupid?

izzie

it's not the smoke, it's the temperature of lit end which may ignite gasoline vapors and blow you up!
Just like the movie's.

you gotta be kiddin me! did you see the lit tip of a cigarrette? that burns... fire+gasoline=big friggin' bang.

schultzie2000

its not the smoke it is the cigarette that lights the fire

slap-happy

They are in the stations, so they won't get wet when it rains outside.

claire

Are you being serious? You don't think it could be to do with the nakes flame of a lighter or a buring cigarette and the vapours from a highly flammable liquid do you?!

SLF

it's not the smoke in cigarettes that's dangerous, it's the fact that they are alight. Petrol is a flammable substance, so it's dangerous to bring it into contact with a flame of any kind

therustedknight

It is Not the smoke
It is a physical reaction
the burning coal on the end
and the heat
will ignite gasoline VAPORS

Michael C

It's not the smoke, Einstein, its the burning ember causing the smoke that makes gasoline go boom.

elaeblue

Its not the smoke its the fire!! Duh!

Al Mac Wheel

Cigarettes have burning ash coming off the ends of the cancer tubes. These hot sparks hit the ground. Many cigarette smokers are somewhat careless not looking at where they are flicking their cigarette ash.

At any typical gasoline station there is self service with some spillage of droplets in fueling any vehicle. There is also risk of spillage of oil and other chemicals used in operating internal combustion engines. There are lots of rags around that have been used to wipe off surfaces with grease.

Thus, if typical cigarette smokers were doing their thing at a typical gasoline station, or repair garage, we would have a lot of fires being started, which the cigarette smoker might say was by accident, or unintended consequences of how gasoline stations conduct their business.

Typical cigarette smokers are totally oblivious to the consequences of smoking on the people around them, like placing their butts in ashtrays where small children put things in their mouths. Because of this mental attitude problem of cigarette smokers in general, various rules have to be enacted to protect society from them.

This is unfortunate for the minority of cigarette smokers who behave responsibley.

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