2.3.1 Flammability

For a fire to set off a suitable combustible material along with oxygen at a certain ratio and a source of ignition with sufficient energy are required. To prevent the possibility of a fire or its continuation, only one item of the above so-called “fire triangle” (fuel – oxygen – source of ignition) needs to be eliminated. For handling and storing ethylbenzene the commonly applied precautions against fire and explosion for combustible and flammable liquids should be followed.

Ethylbenzene has a flash point of 19-23 °C (Abel), an auto-ignition temperature of 428-435 °C and is a volatile liquid with a flammable range in air of 1.2-8.0 % vol.; this has resulted in the product being classified as highly flammable (F; R11). In terms of transport classification, ethylbenzene is a Class 3 substance with Packing Group II. See Appendix 1 of this document for further details on typical physical properties.

It should be noted that a finely dispersed spray of ethylbenzene will ignite at a considerably lower temperature than would be expected based on its flash point. Similar effects are observed if ethylbenzene is spread over a large surface area, e.g. soil (in case of spills), or fibrous insulation material (in case of leakages).

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