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API PUBL 2230 Document Information:
Title
Static Electricity Research Project
American Petroleum Institute
Publication Date:
Apr 29, 1994
Scope:
Safety Consulting Engineers, Inc. (SCE) has prepared this report for work on the Static Electricity
Research Project which was administered by the American Petroleum Institute's Committee on Safety
and Fire Protection (COSFP). This project was performed in three phases:
Phase I: The technical data and information contained in API RP 2003, Protection Against Ignitions
Arising Out of Static, Lightning, and Stray Currents, March 1982, validated to substantiate the
recommendations made therein.
NOTE: Since a new version of API 2003 has been released, some issues may not apply.
Phase II: Areas that are relevant to electrostatic ignition hazards in the petroleum industry but
are not covered, or are inadequately covered in the existing version of API RP 2008, were
identified and documentation was provided where it exists for these areas.
Phase III: Areas from Phase I or Phase II that require further research were identified and
research programs for these areas are proposed.
A. Background
Phase I
Recommendations stated in API RP 2003 are guidelines followed in the petroleum industry for
protection from electrical ignition of flammable vapors due to static, lightning and stray
currents. API RP 2003 is based on research and many years of practical experience in the industry.
Some substantiation of the recommendations given in API RP 2003 has already been documented through
COSFP's Technical Data Recovery Project and other technical literature. However, many items may
require further research to substantiate, such as the use of plastics and other nonconductive
equipment.
Phase II
Certain areas of API RP 2003 may require additional coverage, including the use of plastics, static
generation on clothing and surfaces, fiberglass storage tanks, and effects of various coatings.
Static charges are generated during the flow of fluids and can be a concern with low conductivity
fluids that may come in contact with flammable vapor/air mixtures. While earthing is the primary
means of protection from incendiary discharge for systems with metallic conductors, it is
ineffective when nonconductive plastic pipes, storage containers, sheets, coatings, liners, and
clothing are used. Plastics are readily charged by contact electrification and induction and can
dissipate charges very slowly, depending on resistivity, thereby producing hazards from discharges
from their surface or from nearby insulated conductors. Therefore, standard criteria needs to be
developed for the safe use of plastics in the presence of flammable atmospheres.
Phase III
For issues and recommendations contained in the current edition of API RP 2003 or identified in
Phase II of this project that were not able to be validated or resolved, additional research was
identified and programs were recommended for development and implementation were needed.
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