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API Gasoline Refueling Advisory and Safety Guidelines for Consumers

8 February 2000

API Gasoline Refueling Advisory and Safety Guidelines for Consumers

    WASHINGTON, Feb. 4 -- The American Petroleum Institute offers
the following consumer advisory and safety guidelines on vehicle refueling to
help consumers avoid potential problems with refueling and static electricity.
    One of many possible causes of static electricity build-up is reentering
your vehicle during refueling, particularly in cool or cold and dry climate
conditions.  This can cause a buildup of static electricity similar to
shuffling your feet on the carpet when the air in your home is dry.  If you
return from your vehicle interior to remove the filling nozzle without
discharging the static buildup, in rare circumstances, a brief flash fire
could occur at the filling point if the static discharges and the resulting
spark ignites gasoline vapors around the fill spout.
    A simple precaution to help avoid this potential problem is to stay near
the vehicle's fueling point.  Do not get back into your vehicle during
refueling -- even when using the nozzle's automatic hold-open latch.  If you
must reenter your vehicle, discharge the static electricity buildup when you
get out by touching the outside metal portion of your vehicle, away from the
filling point, before attempting to remove the nozzle.
    If a flash fire occurs during refueling, the consumer should leave the
nozzle in the vehicle fill pipe and back away from the vehicle.  Notify the
station attendant at once so that all dispensing devices and pumps can be shut
off with emergency controls.  If the facility is unattended, use the emergency
intercom to summon help and the emergency shutdown button to shut off the
pump.
    API is aware of a few unusual fire incidents involving self-service
customers who were refueling their vehicles in cool or cold, dry weather
conditions.  These incidents may be related to static electricity build-up and
discharge.
    Here are additional safety guidelines for consumers on vehicle refueling:

    * Always turn your vehicle engine off while refueling.

    * Never smoke, light matches or use lighters while refueling.

    * Do not get back into your vehicle during refueling -- even when using
      the nozzle's automatic hold-open latch.  If you must reenter your
      vehicle, discharge the static electricity buildup when you get out by
      touching the outside metal portion of your vehicle, away from the
      filling point, before attempting to remove the nozzle.

    * To avoid gasoline spills, do not over fill or top off your vehicle fuel
      tank.  The fuel dispenser will shut off automatically when the tank is
      full.

    * Use only the hold-open latch provided on the gasoline pump.  Never jam
      or force the hold-open latch open by using some other object such as the
      gas cap.

    * When dispensing gasoline into a portable gasoline can, use only an
      approved container.  Always place the container on the ground and keep
      the pump nozzle in contact with the container when refueling to avoid a
      static electricity ignition of fuel vapors.  Containers should never be
      filled inside a vehicle, in the trunk, on the bed of a pickup truck, a
      flat bed or on the floor of a trailer.

    * Additional consumer guidelines on proper storage and handling of motor
      fuel are available on API's web site at http://www.api.org/consumer.